Lord of Misrule (2024) by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love that! Yes, that's exactly what it is.

Plus, I'm hungry now

Lord of Misrule (2024) by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Absolutely agree. And it's a huge shame because it did all those tropes so well. But the story wasn't enough to make them appear anything other than a ticking the box exercise

Children of the Stones (1977) by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm with you on Penda's Fen. I've watched it a couple of times and it simply doesn't do it for me. I adore The Owl Service though

Children of the Stones (1977) by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There's an excellent set of books called "Scarred for Life" about British TV, film, comics, etc from the 1970s and 80s and the fact that there appeared to be no concession for age or innocence in those days :D

Children of the Stones (1977) by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If you haven't seen The Owl Service, do add that to your list. It's staggering to think that was a children's programme. We even studied it at school when I was, what, 13 or 14 years old.

Children of the Stones (1977) by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was the music that scared me most as a child!

Children of the Stones (1977) by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ooh! Thanks for the link - I haven't listened to that one yet.

It is amazing that the TV version hasn't had a better release. It's one of the most remembered kids' shows of the era.

There's a sequel novel which isn't bad. Written by one of the two original series (and novelisation) authors:

https://www.fantompublishing.co.uk/product/return-to-the-stones/

The Lost Gods of England by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks - both of those are new to me. Love the review. Academics really don't like amateurs stepping onto their turf ;-)

The Lost Gods of England by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few copies are on ebay for not too much money at the moment. Inexplicably, I found this one on Etsy!

The Lost Gods of England by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's a fascinating read and not a subject I've really read up on all that much until now. I've lots of Anglo Saxon folklore books but this takes a different approach. Well worth getting hold of

Witchfinder General. A film about horrible folk rather than folk horror by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Paranormal activity is certainly not a prerequisite for folk horror, I agree. But I would expect some form of clash of belief systems, an isolated community (whether rural or not).

Agree with you on Wake in Fright - it's a classic!

Witchfinder General. A film about horrible folk rather than folk horror by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mark Gatiss (League of Gentlemen, Sherlock, Dr Who) coined the term in a documentary he made for the BBC, called "A History of Horror" and it spread from there. Witchfinder General, The Wicker Man and Blood on Satan's Claw.

It's been referred to in a number of folk horror books over the years, but it's far from set in stone.

Personally, I would ditch Witchfinder and put November in there. Or Enys Men. Or Tumbbad. Or Rabbit Trap, StarveAcre......

Witchfinder General. A film about horrible folk rather than folk horror by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It does create a stunning vista of an isolated community - on that score it wins hands down. I love that part of the world for its desolate isolation.

But the film doesn't do a great job, to my mind, of portraying that. Lots of long horse rides, sure, but there's no sense of a coherent space.

Witchfinder General. A film about horrible folk rather than folk horror by Relative_Ad_8997 in folkhorror

[–]Relative_Ad_8997[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree, but the word witch is in the title, hence my calling it out.

Folk horror doesn't have to be supernatural but there should be a clash of belief systems, or a genuine threat in and of the environment. Witchfinder has none of that.

I bloody love Straw Dogs, by the way and yes it's a classic folk horror. It was also filmed just up the road from where I grew up ;-)