By Jon Donnis
Released by Black Mandala, Lily’s Ritual is a haunting folk horror film directed by Manu Herrera and set against the dark mysticism of late 1990s Spain. Rooted in atmosphere and unease, the film draws its power from silence, ritual, and the slow realisation that faith, when left unquestioned, can become something monstrous.
The story unfolds in 1999 as four friends retreat to a secluded cabin deep within the forest. What begins as a spiritual initiation soon curdles into something far more disturbing. Witchcraft, sacrifice, and betrayal surface as the true intent of the gathering reveals itself. A demon as old as the world is summoned, and blood will be spilled.
Set during the autumn equinox near Madrid at the end of the 20th century, the film follows Lily, a pale and withdrawn young woman travelling with her friends to a remote woodland cabin. She believes she is there to be initiated into witchcraft. As preparations are made and night falls, the ritual begins. When Lily collapses mid ceremony, she later awakens bound, injured, and alone. She does not yet understand that she herself has been chosen as the sacrifice. Nothing, however, unfolds as planned.
As a demonic laugh echoes through the forest, alliances fracture and buried lies come to the surface. The ritual turns violently against those who created it, unleashing a force that cannot be controlled. What was meant to bring harmony instead exposes betrayal and fear, as belief becomes the very thing that destroys them.
Blending atmospheric dread, pagan mythology, and psychological horror, Lily’s Ritual explores blind devotion, hidden motives, and the terrifying cost of belief. Its slow burn tension and striking visuals place it firmly alongside elevated folk horror such as The Witch, Midsommar, and Kill List, without losing its own distinct identity.
With next level practical effects and an unwavering commitment to mood and menace, Lily’s Ritual is set to become one of the must see highlights for horror fans in 2026. It is a dark and unsettling descent into ancient evil, where harmony is an illusion, friendship is a lie, and some doors should never be opened.
Directed by Manu Herrera, with a script by Javier Fernández Moratalla and Herrera, the film stars Maggie García, Patricia Peñalver, Elena Gallardo, Eve Ryan, Mike Fajardo, and Antea Rodríguez.
Coming 2026
