“THE CEREMONY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN” (2024) Is A Found Footage Nightmare That Lingers (REVIEW)
Found footage horror can be just as terrifying as any big-budget horror movie because it strips away the safety net of most polished cinematography. It does so by throwing viewers directly into the chaos from start to finish. The raw, unfiltered POV style makes every shadow, shaky camera movement, and unseen threat feel unnervingly real. It almost feels like you’re experiencing the nightmare yourself. Without the comfort of dramatic scores or sweeping camera angles, the bone-chilling fear feels immediate and unpredictable, as if the horrors could reach out to you beyond the screen at any moment.
Recently the found footage fanatics here at Macabre Daily got our conspiracy and cult googles on to experience the newest found footage horror movies from Terror Films Releasing called “The Ceremony is About to Begin”.
“The Ceremony is About to Begin” is the latest from writer/director Sean Nichols Lynch. The movie stars John Laird and Chad Westbrook Hinds. It is a slow-burning descent into ritualistic madness that uses its handheld perspective to an unsettling effect while keeping you guessing what will happen next with its creative storyline and mockumentary style. It follows recently divorced documentary filmmaker Keith (portrayed by John Laird) sets out to investigate a mysterious cult known as The Osiris Collective, a group rumored to have been taken over from Father Osiris by Anubis (portrayed by Chad Westbrook Hinds). Keith’s also trying to find his college girlfriend who reached out to him and attempted to uncover Anubis’ secrets.
A fairly straightforward investigation with interviews and enlightened commentary takes a darker turn when Keith is invited by Anubis to share his visions for his documentary and uncover some hidden truths about what happened to all the cult members. As Keith arrives at the empty compound, skepticism slowly turns into paranoia, especially as his surroundings become more surreal. This is enhanced by Anubis’ eccentric ideas and alcohol-driven conversations on camera.
From there, the movie spirals into a suffocating nightmare where Keith starts to worry he is there for unsafe reasons, while the line between truth and lies becomes dangerously blurred. Unlike many found footage films that rely on an explosive final act to justify the slow build-up, which pays off with the escalating fear brought by the storyline. “The Ceremony is About to Begin” maintains a consistent, creeping dread throughout as Anubis becomes intense and acts more maclicious towards Keith. Every discovery that Keith makes only leads to more questions, and by the time the climax arrives, the audience is treated to one hell of a twisted fate for one of our main characters.
Sean Nichols Lynch’s screenplay understands the power of ambiguity in horror. Rather than force-feeding boring exposition, he trusts that the audience will pick up on subtle things as the story progresses with the solitude of Anubis and what truly happened with the cult members who decided to stay under his leadership. There are no convenient “info-dumps” or sudden explanations that kill the mystery. Instead, it leaves just enough clues for the audience to piece together the mystery without ever fully revealing the scope of what’s happening or rushing to the point.
The dialogue also feels incredibly natural. Keith and Anubis speak like real people (granted Anubis’ dialogue is more erratic) rather than horror movie archetypes. Keith’s obsession with uncovering the truth of what happened to his ex-girlfriend Maddy never veers into unwanted territory with him staying on topic and investigating things as sneakily as he can.
Great-found footage films need to hone in on the aesthetic of the format to be successful, and the cinematography in “The Ceremony is About to Begin” is a masterclass in how to use the handheld format to enhance tension. Early in the movie, the camera movements are smooth, and almost professional, as Keith is setting the foundation for the movie. As the story progresses and his situation worsens, the cinematography subtly shifts from the perfectly framed and bright lighting to the dark shaking camera angles we are all too familiar with. Long, unbroken takes force the audience to scan the background for hidden meaning (like the random Anubis statues that are placed throughout the room Keith is staying in), while eerie silences stretch just a bit too long, creating a growing sense of unease.
One particularly effective sequence involves a single-camera shot inside the basement tomb rumored to have been used by the cult for future burials. Keith goes in to investigate, and for nearly three minutes, nothing happens. That is until something we see some gruesome things present themselves to the audience and Kieth. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment with him looking into the Egyptian jar as well as scanning the area, but it’s these kinds of details that make the horror feel so immersive.
Many found footage films fall into the trap of over-explaining their mythology, but Lynch understands that fear thrives in the unknown. Are the strange events real, or are they the result of more sinister things? By the time the final act rolls around, we are shows featuring a harrowing sequence lit only by the camera, waiting to see what will jump out at Keith or end up causing his doom. The horror has taken hold, and we’re left wanting more.
With its expert use of perspective, chilling performances, and an ending that refuses to let you breathe, The Ceremony is About to Begin” is a welcome addition to the found footage horror genre. Whether you’re a longtime fan of this sub-genre or a skeptic who’s been burned by too many cheap jump scares, this is one ceremony worth witnessing.
“The Ceremony is About to Begin” from Terror Films Releasing is now available on digital platforms including Tubi TV, Chilling, Scare Network TV, Kings of Horror, Watch Movies Now and many more. Stay tuned to Macabre Daily for all things horror and horror movie reviews.
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