In this episode of The Film Jury Podcast, we put The Ritual (2017) on trial.

Directed by David Bruckner and adapted from Adam Nevill's novel, The Ritual follows four friends who venture into the forests of Sweden to honor a fallen companion. What begins as a grief-driven hiking trip quickly becomes a descent into isolation, psychological terror, and ancient horror rooted in Norse mythology.

Jurors James, Kat, and Meagan examine the film's slow-burn approach, unsettling atmosphere, creature design, and thematic focus on guilt, trauma, and survival. We debate the effectiveness of the mythology, the shift in tone during the final act, and where The Ritual fits within the modern folk horror landscape.

After deliberation, all three jurors return NOT GUILTY verdicts, finding The Ritual to be a haunting and effective entry in contemporary horror that earns its reputation through mood, tension, and mythic dread.

If you enjoy thoughtful horror breakdowns, courtroom-style verdicts, and deep dives into what makes a genre film work or fail, this episode is for you.

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This week on The Film Jury, we put the 1986 cult classic Critters on trial. Furry aliens, bounty hunters with questionable disguises, and small town chaos are all entered into evidence as jurors James, Kat, and Meagan revisit the horror comedy that helped define a generation of VHS rentals.

Does Critters hold up as a clever genre mashup, or is it pure nostalgia fueled chaos? We examine the film's creature effects, tone, scares, humor, and overall execution, then debate whether it deserves cult status or a cinematic conviction.

After careful deliberation, all three jurors return the same verdict. Not guilty.
Critters walks free, claws and all.

Tune in for sharp analysis, fun arguments, and a verdict that might surprise you if you have not revisited this one in years.

In this episode of The Film Jury Podcast, jurors James, Heidi, and Kat put the cult horror-comedy Feast (2005) on trial and unanimously deliver a Not Guilty verdict.

Directed by John Gulager and produced through Project Greenlight with backing from Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Wes Craven, Feast is a chaotic, blood-soaked monster movie that gleefully breaks horror rules. Set almost entirely inside a remote desert bar, the film traps a group of strangers as they fight for survival against relentless and grotesque creatures with no interest in playing fair.

The jury breaks down the film's bold tonal swings between horror and comedy, its unapologetic gore, and its meta approach to character archetypes and on-screen "rules." They also discuss Gulager's fast-paced, aggressive directing style and how the film embraces shock value as part of its identity rather than a gimmick.

The episode dives into performances from Balthazar Getty, Navi Rawat, Krista Allen, Henry Rollins, and Judah Friedlander, along with memorable cameos that helped cement Feast as a cult favorite. From creature design to editing choices and audience expectations, the jury examines why this scrappy, no-holds-barred horror film still resonates with genre fans nearly two decades later.

Is Feast crude, chaotic, and excessive? Absolutely. And according to the Film Jury, that is exactly why it works.

Verdict: Not Guilty.