The Ritual Killer

{{Infobox film

| image = The Ritual Killer.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = George Gallo

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

Robert T. Bowersox
Jennifer Lemmon
Francesco Cinquemani
Giorgia Iannone
Luca Giliberto
Ferdinando Dell'Omo

}}

| story = {{Plainlist|

Joe Lemmon
Francesco Cinquemani
Giorgia Iannone

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Joe Lemmon
Bret Saxon
Jeff Bowler
Andrea Iervolino
Monika Bacardi
Danielle Maloni

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Andrzej Sekuła

| editing = Yvan Gauthier

| music = Tom Russbueldt

| studio = {{idp|Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment}}

| distributor = Redbox Entertainment

| released = {{Film date|2023|3|10}}

| runtime = 92 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

The Ritual Killer is a 2023 American action-thriller film directed by George Gallo. It stars Morgan Freeman and Cole Hauser. It was released by Screen Media and Redbox Entertainment on March 10, 2023.

Premise

Unable to process the death of his daughter, and suicide of his wife, Clinton, Mississippi Homicide Detective Lucas Boyd embarks on a hunt for a serial killer who murders according to a brutal tribal ritual known as Muti. The only person who can help Boyd is Dr. Mackles, an anthropologist and local college professor hiding an unspeakable secret.

Cast

Morgan Freeman as Dr. Mackles
Cole Hauser as Detective Lucas Boyd
Vernon Davis as Randoku
Giuseppe Zeno as Inspector Mario Lavazzi
Murielle Hilaire as Detective Kersch
Luke Stratte-McClure as Detective Claussen
Mayumi Roller as Deelie Boyd
Brian Kurlander as Shelby Farner
Julie Lott as Doctor Mannheim
Destiny Loren as Katie Franklin
Peter Stormare as Captain Marchand

Production

In August 2021, it was reported that George Gallo would direct the action thriller film Muti. The screenplay was written by Bob Bowersox, Jennifer Lemmon, Francesco Cinquemani, Giorgia Iannone, Luca Giliberto, and Ferdinando Dell'Omo, based on a story by Joe Lemmon, Cinquemani and Iannone. Cole Hauser, Morgan Freeman, Peter Stormare, and Vernon Davis were announced as part of the cast.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/morgan-freeman-cole-hauser-george-gallo-movie-muti-1234816326/|title=Morgan Freeman & Cole Hauser To Lead George Gallo Action-Thriller Muti; The Exchange To Handle Sales|date=August 17, 2021|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817221110/https://deadline.com/2021/08/morgan-freeman-cole-hauser-george-gallo-movie-muti-1234816326/|archive-date=August 17, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=August 17, 2021}} Filming began that same month in Jackson, Mississippi, with Murielle Hilaire and Julie Lott joining the cast.{{cite web|first=Rosalyn|last=Anderson|title=Filming underway in the Capital City on Muti starring Morgan Freeman|date=August 26, 2021|website=WLBT|url=https://www.wlbt.com/2021/08/27/filming-underway-capital-city-muti-starring-morgan-freeman/|access-date=September 3, 2021}}{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|title=Exclusive: Murielle Hilaire Joins Cole Hauser and Morgan Freeman in Serial Killler Thriller Muti|date=August 19, 2021|website=Collider|url=https://collider.com/muti-movie-cast-murielle-hilaire-cole-hauser-morgan-freeman/|access-date=September 3, 2021}}{{cite web|first=Jacob|last=Gallant|title=Morgan Freeman movie filming in Jackson|date=August 25, 2021|website=WLOX|url=https://www.wlox.com/2021/08/25/morgan-freeman-movie-filming-jackson/|access-date=September 3, 2021}} Additional filming took place in Rome, Italy.{{cite web|title=Movie starring Morgan Freeman, Vernon Davis now filming in Mississippi|date=August 26, 2021|website=WTOK-TV|url=https://www.wtok.com/2021/08/26/movie-starring-morgan-freeman-vernon-davis-now-filming-mississippi/|access-date=September 3, 2021}}

Release

In September 2021, Redbox Entertainment acquired distribution rights to the film in the United States and Canada.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/morgan-freeman-cole-hauser-muti-redbox-deal-north-america-1234828729/|title=Redbox Picks Up Rights To Morgan Freeman & Cole Hauser Action Movie Muti|date=September 8, 2021|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 8, 2021}} In February 2023, the film's trailer was released, revealing its new title, The Ritual Killer. It was released by Screen Media in theaters, on demand and as a DVD and Blu-Ray Redbox exclusive on March 10, 2023.{{cite web|last=Echebiri|first=Makuochi|title='The Ritual Killer' Trailer Shows Morgan Freeman & Cole Hauser Hunting a Vicious Killer|website=Collider|date=February 16, 2023 |url=https://collider.com/the-ritual-killer-trailer/|accessdate=February 21, 2023}}