The horror genre comes from many different sources. Something that the writer Stephen King remembered in the prologue of his collection of short stories All dark and starless (2010). According to the author, known for his macabre stories turned into horror films, although always linked to the nature of man, fear drove culture to tell stories. Especially, those that were capable of disturbing because they were credible. Those that moved away from monsters, religions and dogmas, to delve into the supernatural. An impulse destined to try to explain the invisible through allegories and also to accept that a good part of reality is still an enigma.
For the cinematographic world, this perception of what is terrifying is capital. Furthermore, what allows the different arguments and visions on the subject to cover always surprising scenarios. From beliefs in primitive rites and divinities to the chilling that resides in exotic places. Modern horror reflects on the creepy through inexplicable events that go beyond any scientific explanation. In particular, the folk horror genre, has explored how fear is directly linked to collective paranoia and concerns.
We leave you five films of the genre that you can watch right now in a marathon and which streaming services they are on. From a creature that devastates a tiny town in North America, to a Swiss town where evil manifests itself in broad daylight. The selection covers several of the horror films in history and also their mysterious background. The cruelty of human beings, without extenuating circumstances.
Antlers: Dark Creature (Disney+)
Directed by Scott Cooper and produced by Guillermo del Toro, it is one of those horror films of a voracious entity, and a reflection on invisible horror. Based on the short story The Quiet Boy by Nick Antosca, The script reinvents the topic about ancient creatures that survive in the midst of the modern world.
To do this, the script follows the school teacher Julia Meadows (Keri Russell) and her brother, the local sheriff Paul (Jesse Plemons). They both reside in a small town and go through their own pains, which separates them despite living under the same roof. But when they discover that one of the students of Julia, Lucas Weaver (Jeremy T. Thomas), hides a secret, they will join forces to discover it. What you can’t imagine, is that they take it for physical abuse, it is, in reality, a fearsome enigma that involves the region and its history.
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The mix between folkloric horror with obvious English roots and the North American context gives the film a marked personality. But it is its bleak and pessimistic ending that maintains, perhaps, its singular strength as an argument about fear and suffering. All, under the shadow of a fearsome and voracious monster.
The Wicker Man (Filmin)
This 1973 British cult film directed by Robin Hardy was one of the first folk horror films to become an international hit. The film combines elements of mystery, horror and drama, and has become a classic of genre cinema.
The plot focuses on Sgt. Neil Howie (Edward Woodward). In the midst of investigating a disappearance, he travels to the remote island of Summerisle to dig deeper into some clues. Upon his arrival, he encounters a pagan community that practices strange rituals and worships ancient Celtic gods. As he digs deeper into his investigation, Howie discovers that the island hides dark secrets and faces a terrifying fate.
The wicker man is known for its haunting atmosphere, intriguing narrative, and shocking ending. The film explores themes such as religion, superstition and culture clash. In addition, it is full of symbolism and references to Celtic mythology and nature.
The Ritual (Netflix)
David Bruckner directed the adaptation of Adam Nevill’s novel of the same name, to create a sinister perspective of terror and dehumanization. Everything, in the middle of an unexpected incident and at the end, a careful look at the nature of the paranormal.
Like the novel, the plot follows Luke (Rafe Spall), Phil (Arsher Ali), Hutch (Robert James-Collier) and Dom (Sam Troughton) in the midst of a shared grief. After the tragic death of one of their friends during a store robbery, they agree that it is the best time to strengthen their bonds of friendship. So they decide to take a hiking trip through the valleys of Sweden in his honor. However, they soon find themselves lost and trapped in a dark, ancient forest. There, they will face invisible forces and their worst nightmares.
With an oppressive and regretful atmosphere, the film combines elements of folklore, mythology and ancient cults. At the same time, it explores themes such as guilt, pain and the fight for survival in a hostile environment. Although it initially went unnoticed at the box office, it has gained popularity among fans of the genre. Particularly for bringing folk horror to a new generation.
The Apostle (Netflix)
The horror and suspense film, directed by Gareth Evans and which came directly to the Netflix catalog, is an exploration of the fear of the supernatural. But, much more, a journey towards the regions most terrifying aspects of faith and religious fanaticism.
The argument focuses its interest on Thomas Richardson (Dan Stevens), a man who embarks on a dangerous journey to a remote island. His intention is to rescue his sister, kidnapped by a mysterious religious sect.
But what begins as a clumsy plan ends up becoming a journey into unknown horrors. As he infiltrates the community, Thomas discovers that what seems like excessive devotion is, in reality, worship of a mysterious entity. Which will lead Thomas to confront his concept of reality and especially, the foundations of their beliefs in the realm of the invisible.
Midsommar: terror does not wait for the night (Filmin)
Ari Aster’s second film after his acclaimed debut in the horror genre with Devil’s Legacy, is a curious atmosphere experiment. Much of the plot takes place in daylight. At the same time, it uses frontal shots or shots at uncomfortable angles, which give the sensation of an enigmatic distortion of reality. Which allows us to narrate the origin of fear and evil as a collective fact.
The plot explores the life of Danny (Florence Pugh), a young woman who is going through a difficult personal situation after a family tragedy. She with her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) and his friends embark on a trip to a summer festival in an isolated Swedish town. As the celebration develops, Dani and his friends find themselves involved in a series of circumstances that, without being completely supernatural, are disturbing. Especially when they challenge your perceptions of reality and your own sanity.
Amid themes such as grief, codependency, the toxicity of relationships and belonging to a community, the film incorporates faith as a link to the invisible. Also, with a type of terror that defies simple explanations. Its highest point.