Compared to most subgenres in horror, folk horror isn’t as easy to classify. It’s agreed that The Wicker Man, The Witchfinder General, and The Blood on Satan’s Claw are the holy trinity of folk horror, but beyond that, it gets a little murky because there are no clear-cut rules. Folk horror does have a few defining traits, though.
The landscape is integral; often set in rural or country areas, the landscape is used aesthetically. Nature is a visual tool in creating atmosphere and mythos. They tend to be steeped in paganism, or similar, and feature sacrifice to appease the spirits or gods of the land. Above all, folk horror explores the folklore through horror, which, in turn, can lend to the vagueness of the subgenre.
This week’s streaming picks are all about the folk horror beyond the holy trinity. Even better, they’ll make you relieved to stay inside, far away from the terrors in nature.
A Field in England – Prime Video, Tubi
Director Ben Wheatley broke out with folk horror film Kill List. This couldn’t be further removed from his previous foray into folk horror. Shot in black and white, A Field in England follows a group of deserters fleeing from battle in 1648 A.D. England. They come upon a mushroom field, decide to eat some for dinner, and descend into a chaos of arguments and paranoia. It’s the English Civil War on magic mushrooms, and it’s every bit as crazy as it sounds. A creepy allegory full of twisted humor, this film is polarizing. It’s like watching one seriously demented acid trip, so beware for those that prefer a more traditional story structure.
Apostle – Netflix
Writer/Director Gareth Evans brings every bit of the bone-crunching brutality of The Raid and The Raid 2 for his period folk horror film. The Guest’s Dan Stevens stars as Thomas, a man who travels to a remote island to infiltrate the cult that’s kidnapped his sister for ransom. The cult leaders claim that the barren island was made fertile through blood sacrifice, and in his quest, Thomas learns the grim truth behind those sacrifices. Set in 1905, Apostle is a slow-burn intent on building mystery, but it’s worth the wait. The twists and visceral violence make for a gripping, gory final act with torrential bloodletting.
Jug Face – Tubi, Vudu
Ada (Lauren Ashley Carter) lives in a rural backwoods community that worships a mysterious pit with healing powers. They regularly sacrifice one of their own to the pit, decided upon by whoever’s face Dawai (Sean Bridgers) sculpts onto a jug. When Ada discovers her face on Dawai’s latest jug, she hides it to avoid her sacrifice. In retaliation, the entity within the pit lashes out in anger, causing a domino effect of tragedy. This low budget indie isn’t so polished, but it is moody and unrelenting in bleakness. Its strong performances carry it.
The Shrine – Hulu
If slow burn folk horror movies aren’t typically for you, try this one on for size. After the disappearance of a backpacker, a journalist traces it back to a small village in Poland and enlists two friends to come along on her quest for answers. They’re met with hostile locals, which forces the journalist to try and circumvent them. It results in the trio becoming the next targets of ritualistic human sacrifice among the villagers. There’s much more than meets the eye to this standard set up, though. The Shrine merges folk horror with another tried and true subgenre, offering a surprising crossover full of scares with its fresh take. A brisk pace and some subverted tropes make for an entertaining entry in the subgenre.
The Wailing – Crackle, Prime Video, Shudder, Tubi, Vudu
A mysterious stranger’s arrival creates suspicion among the residents of a rural village, which becomes full-blown paranoia when a sickness starts to spread. The illness seems to render the afflicted homicidal, without reason. The stakes get personal for the investigating officer when his daughter falls ill, too, and he looks to a shaman for answers. The tension builds gradually as it infuses several different horror tropes in this unique tale. Look for murder, exorcisms, and great evil to highlight its messaging. While folk horror is a subgenre often considered set in the past, The Wailing proves how ageless and terrifying it can be.