Happy Goat Horror

Dark bleatings, everybody! One of our favourite writing events is back next month, and to celebrate, we invited the organisers, Alex Davis and Kelly White, to tell us about their favourite lesser-known, mouth-watering, folk horror treats.

Take it away, Alex and Kelly!

Folk horror is a genre with a long and varied history, and we’re sure we don’t need to tell you or wax lyrical about some of the classics or indeed the prominent modern examples. You all know The  Wicker Man and The Blood on Satan’s Claw, Midsommar and The Witch, so ahead of Darkness in the Fields 3 we’re going to delve deeper into some of the lesser known parts of folk horror – let’s just hope we don’t get lost in the wilderness as we explore…

Alex Davis, Darkness in the Fields co-organiser

I’ll be zooming in on some little-known TV and film for my five!

Murrain, 1975

There’s plenty of very well-known works by Nigel Kneale, who is a name that certainly won’t need any introduction to lovers of horror and sci-fi on television. Part of the Against the Crowd anthology series – and boy do I wish there were more anthology series on TV there days – this is a fascinating tale of a doctor visiting a small village where people believe a witch is living in their midst, and one to check out for any fans of Kneale’s work.

Sky, 1975

Children’s TV was really something else in the 1970s, and folk horror certainly had its place within that. Sky is an intriguing example that has typically not been discussed as much as classics like Children of the Stones or Penda’s Fen, bringing a strange mix of science-fiction, time travel and folk horror. A curio worth some exploration.

Jug Face, 2013

While we might think of folk horror as a far more British genre, this American take on the field is an exploration of a tucked-away community in the midst of the forest and the strange traditions that exist within it. This one features some great performances and its feel of the US ‘backwoods’ gives this something distinctive from many folk horror movies.

Gwen, 2018

2018’s Gwen seemed to go by with barely a ripple, but this is a very effective piece of British folk horror, with a great performance by Maxine Peake. This movie is particularly striking in its characterisation, with the family relationships being as its very heart, and this is a more modern folk horror that I feel deserves a bit more love.

Gwlled (The Feast), 2021

Maybe not the most obscure on the list, but I’ve not seen as much love around for this Welsh-language folk horror as I might have expected. This one is a real slow-burn, but when it does hit full gear it hits full gear big time, and carries the story well with its cast of deeply unlikable characters. This movie is well worth taking a bite of…

Kelly White, Darkness in the Fields co-organiser

Looking beyond British shores, here are five lesser-known folk horror films from around the globe…

The White Reindeer, 1952 – Finland

When lonely Pirita visits a local shaman for help with her marriage, the subsequent ritual transforms her into the shapeshifting, vampiric white reindeer, drawing the men of the village to her one by one. This menacing fairy tale invokes a sense of dread that is made mesmeric by the haunting snow-covered landscape. Directed by Erik Blomberg in his feature film debut, it is one of the few folk horror films that have played at Cannes.

Alison’s Birthday, 1981 – Australia

When sixteen-year-old Alison plays the Ouija board with a couple of friends, what is meant to be a bit of fun, ends in tragedy. Three years later, Alison returns to the home of her Aunt and Uncle for her birthday, only to slowly realise they are preparing for something else entirely. With ancient rituals and a stone circle hidden in Australian suburbia, Alison’s birthday ends with the kind of twist that instantly fills you with terror.

Noroi: The Curse, 2005 – Japan

Noroi starts with footage from a documentary by Masafumi Kobayashi, a paranormal researcher investigating a serious of strange occurrences. Only now Kobayashi is missing and his wife has been found dead. As we follow the threads of the paranormal activity captured by Kobayashi and his cameraman from the city and into the countryside, we realise that all of these events may be interconnected. Found footage, folklore and a narrative that unravels from true crime documentary into pure horror, Noroi: The Curse is a perfect example of the horrific potential of Japanese folklore.

Luz: The Flower of Evil, 2019 – Columbia

Somewhere in the Andes, a preacher promises his small community of followers that Jesus will appear to them as an innocent child. When the latest child arrives, kept chained outside, the villagers start to question the preacher’s authority. Shot using a filter, the colours in this film are more vibrant than Midsommar, the beautiful landscapes jarring against the growing menace. This is fundamentally a story about faith. Violent, shocking and yet still beautiful. This is definitely one for fans of The Witch.

Sator, 2019 – USA

This slow-burning indie horror, written and directed by Jordan Graham, who also did every job on the film other than acting in it, includes Graham’s own Grandmother, whose belief in the being called Sator forms the basis of the film’s narrative. A nightmarish exploration of the belief in the supernatural the tales we tell ourselves.

Darkness in the Fields 3 takes place online on the 9^th September, with a day full of folk horror talks and interviews – for more information, or to pick up your tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/darkness-in-the-fields-3-tickets-660382520897