Ritual of Death is one of two horror movies directed by Brazilian hardcore pornographer Fauzi Mansur (the other being Satanic Attraction, which I have yet to see), and as such it should come as little surprise to find that nudity and gore takes precedence over a logical plot. In fact, trying to describe the story for this bizarre supernatural slasher is something of a challenge, the action frequently making very little sense. Essentially, the film involves a theatre troupe who steal a cursed ancient manuscript on which they base their next play, and, in doing so, invoke an ancient spirit that possesses actor Brad (Olair Coan). However, there's more to it than that... stuff that is just plain bonkers, which goes to make this movie almost as abstruse as those other wild Brazilian horror films, the Coffin Joe series.
As the action unfolds, the movie randomly cuts to a mysterious old man in a bowler hat whose purpose is never made clear. Mansur makes the most of a smoke machine, although why there are billowing clouds of smoke inside a theatre isn't explained. Dancing South American indians and frogs make intermittent appearances, but once again, no fathomable reason for their presence is given. And as for the naked couple taking a blood bath with a severed goats head (real or prop? I couldn't tell), I'm still none the wiser.
Although the film remains a head-scratcher right to the end, the second half plays out much like a slasher/body count movie, as possessed Brad bumps off his fellow thespians in very bloody fashion: a man is drowned in a bath, his eyeballs floating to the surface (why?... don't ask me!); a woman is gutted with a claw hammer; a girl is stabbed and run over by a train wheel; a girl gets a knife pushed down her throat; a guy is crushed by the wheel of a wind machine (his innards spilling out onto the floor); and another poor bloke gets acid in his face before being chopped to pieces by the wind machine (which doesn't have a safety guard over the propellor).
Gorehounds will definitely have fun with Ritual of Death, as will those who appreciate a good looking gal: most of the women are attractive (Leticia Vota as Mary gets my vote for her vest and g-string combo, with sexy brunette Lilian Ramos a close second as Liza). Because I found the film so utterly confusing, and a little slow to start with, I'm not going to be overly generous with my rating, but for the splatter alone, it's worth at least a 5.5/10 (rounded up to 6 for IMDb).
