In a world where TikTok algorithms rule and Netflix recommendations reign supreme, something refreshingly analog is pushing back: a brand-new indie film zine called Ritual has officially arrived in Los Angeles.
The project celebrates cinema in all its forms—and it's already loaded with A-list creative muscle. According to Deadline, Edgar Wright is contributing an end-credit playlist to the premiere issue, while comedy icon Patton Oswalt is penning "Seen It, Now Read It" essays that bridge the gap between films and literature.
The timing is sharp. While streaming platforms promise infinite choice, audiences are drowning in algorithmic noise. Ritual offers a countercultural move—a tangible, physical object designed to reconnect moviegoers with something increasingly rare: intentional curation.
Wright's involvement alone signals serious cinematic credibility. The director of Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver, and Last Night in Soho doesn't typically lend his name to every project. His end-credit playlists—riffs on the music that accompanies film credits—suggest the zine is thinking beyond traditional film criticism into cultural deep dives.
Oswalt's essays promise equally cerebral entertainment. The comedian-turned-filmmaker has built a reputation for connecting pop culture dots that others miss. Positioning films alongside books adds layers to how readers might engage with cinema.
The launch comes at a moment when print publications aimed at niche audiences are experiencing unexpected renaissance. Ritual isn't competing with Variety or The Hollywood Reporter—it's carving out space for the kind of film fandom that requires a slower, more tactile experience.
This is the kind of project that gets passed hand-to-hand among cinephiles. Whether Ritual becomes a sustainable publication or a lovingly curated one-off remains to be seen, but its ambition is clear: reminding us that sometimes the best way to experience cinema culture is to hold it in your hands.
