Fresh from Panic Fest 2024, The Ceremony is About to Begin unwraps itself like a meticulously preserved mummy, serving up a fresh twist on the horror mockumentary scene. Directed by Sean Nichols Lynch, this found footage film cleverly marries the allure of ancient Egyptian rituals with the chilling uncertainty of cult dynamics, all captured through a ‘documentary’ lens.
“…a fresh twist on the horror mockumentary scene.”
From the outset, Lynch sets the tone with a series of eerie, documentary-style interviews featuring ex-cult members that echo the polished yet ominous feel of a Netflix or HBO true-crime special. These initial snippets offer a glimpse into the enigmatic and unsettling past of the cult, setting a solid foundation for horror fans to cling to. It’s here that we meet our filmmaker protagonist, Keith (John Laird), who’s driven not just by professional curiosity but by a personal quest—his ex-girlfriend vanished after joining this very cult, and Keith’s on a mission to find out why.
As the plot thickens, Keith decides it’s time to take his questions directly to the source. He ventures to the rural commune where the cult still operates under its new leader, Anubis (Chad Westbrook Hinds), who took over after the cult’s original leader died under mysterious circumstances atop a mountain—with none other than Anubis as the sole witness. With camera in hand and a mix of trepidation and resolve, Keith dives into the heart of the commune.
Here, the film transitions into the familiar territory of found footage horror, drawing clear parallels to the tense, character-driven dynamics of Creep (2014). As Keith digs deeper for answers, the dynamic between him and Anubis becomes increasingly fraught. Anubis’s behavior grows progressively more disturbing, mirroring the unpredictable and eerie presence of Mark Duplass’s character in Creep. However, despite its compelling premise and strong start, the film struggles to sustain the same level of tension. The narrative, heavily reliant on just two actors to carry the intrigue, sometimes trudges along, saving too much for a climactic reveal that demands a charisma akin to Duplass’s to truly captivate. The film could have benefited from tighter pacing or more consistent thrills to keep the audience fully engaged until the end.
That said, the film’s premise is its shining sarcophagus. The mockumentary format is leveraged to full effect, creating a realistic backdrop against which the horror elements can unfurl more believably. Lynch and his co-writers, Chad Westbrook Hinds and John Laird (yep, the stars of the film), craft dialogue that feels completely natural and spontaneous. This authenticity is a gold star on the mockumentary checklist, making every chilling moment feel genuinely plausible.
Moreover, the title The Ceremony is About to Begin might ring a bell for fans of The Doors, echoing Jim Morrison’s foreboding intonation from “Celebration of the Lizard.” This nod, whether intentional or coincidental, layers an additional veneer of doom, suggesting that just as in Morrison’s song, something transformative (and perhaps terrifying) is just on the horizon.
While the film’s journey to its climactic horrors isn’t as gripping as one might hope, the setup and the journey are worth the ticket. The Ceremony is About to Begin‘s realistic portrayal will hook you in, and even if the payoff doesn’t terrify, it certainly delivers intrigue.
“…for fans of found footage who enjoy sinister, character-driven stories, this film provides an intriguing glimpse into the cryptic world of cults and ancient Egyptian rites.”
While The Ceremony is About To Begin offers a strong and enticing setup with its mockumentary style and compelling backstory, the execution doesn’t always deliver the punch needed to fully captivate. Nonetheless, for fans of found footage who enjoy sinister, character-driven stories, this film provides an intriguing glimpse into the cryptic world of cults and ancient Egyptian rites. It’s a promising venture into horror that, while it may not keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, certainly makes you ponder the mysteries that lie just beneath the surface of the unknown.
