Powerful

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

At first I was starting to wonder if there was anything to this. It starts out rather slow with some crazy hallucination stuff happening. We get what seems to be a paper thin story line mixed with some atrocious dubbing, crappy acting, weird editing cuts, and poor lighting on all what seems like poor VHS quality film. This usually isn't a problem of mine as long as something actually happens to draw me in. It finally manages to kick into gear, with a naked couple who bath in goats blood. Our lead character munches on some raw goat meat and his face starts to melt off. All of this is based around the cast of this play who manage to steal a sacred text and change it, unleashing a curse. There is also some old man who goes by Mr. Parker who is in several of the hallucination scenes. We find out he is actually a ghost wanting to return to life and is planning on possessing or main man to do so. He then completely loses it and that's when the fun starts. Eventually the gore does come, and its pretty good stuff, apparently this thing was going to be given and X rating here in the States so the company that released it on VHS "Complete Entertainment" did the smart thing and just put it out unrated. It was the second of two horror features directed by Brazilian porn director Fauzi Mansur, the other being "Satanic Attraction" (1989), I would love to eventually see that film if or when it ever comes available.

Director Fauzi Mansur is one of those Brazilian director's which movies are extremely hard to find. None of them are out on DVD. Fauzi was known for his porn flicks but the last two flicks he directed immediately became cult because he tried to make some kind of horror. Ritual Of Death do pops up sometimes on ex-rental VHS but his Satanic Attraction (1990) is harder to find.You don't watch this flick for the acting because that's as wooden as it can be. This flick is hunted down for it's gore and secondly for it's nudity. Made in 1990 it more looks like an early eighties flick due the cheap effects used but it's still worth watching. It even reminded me of those old Italian horrors because they also used the lighting to give some scary effects and they also overdubbed the track with sound of the wind or whatsoever. It never is frightening but the killings makes it all worth searching. Green goo is coming from hands and faces but that's what makes it a bit cheesy at times. But the face ripping scene is still one for the gorehounds but the drowning of a man and his eyes coming out of his face is really cheesy. Between the gory parts girls do go naked or having sex in a bath full of blood together with a goat's head chopped off. If you are a collector surely one to pick up if you can find it. About the actors I can only tell that the main leads, Karina Palatnik did her final appearance in this flick (only did 3 flicks) and Olair Coan died in a car accident in 2007. None of the others made it in the international scene. Gore 3/5 Nudity 1,5/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

The story of Fauzi Mansur's "Ritual of Death" concerns a teenager named Brad,who starts having some weird hallucinations about ancient Egyptian/Indian Satanic rituals.It all has to do something with some sort of a devilish book.Brad enjoys eating raw and bloody goat liver and there is a bloody bath of Brazilian babe with a severed goat head.Brad becomes possessed by an ancient spirit and goes on a bloody killing spree.Cheesy Brazilian slasher flick with lots of gore and naked female flesh.The acting is terrible and the characters are incredibly dumb,but if you are in the mood for some graphic grue "Ritual of Death" will satisfy your bloodthirst.7 goat heads out of 10.

saw last night and even though it evoked a mood of unknown horror it appeared mudled story wise to keep a continous attention on it for me. i liked the ritual scenes of ancient native brazilians and the semi naked gorgeous brazil women running around trying to escape the murderer but it is not enough to recommend. if anyone knows where to get older movies from FAUZI MANSUR (the director) please let me know.