The Severed Sun (2025)

 

"Beguilingly Weird British Folk Horror"

Writer-Director Dean Puckett's THE SEVERED SUN, which is based on his own 2018 short THE SERMON is getting a digital release from Blue Finch.

In an isolated rural British community some time after an unspecified apocalypse, Magpie (Emma Appleton from LOLA and the first two episodes of THE WITCHER) kills her abusive husband, possibly while under the influence of a tall, taloned, glowing-eyed Beast (James Swanton). Following this, another abusive man in their village is killed, after which Magpie is accused by Andrea, the man's wife, (Jodhi May, also from Season One of THE WITCHER) of being a heretic. 

Magpie is almost hanged but is saved by the intervention of the community's leader and pastor (Toby Stephens) who also happens to be Magpie's father. However soon even he begins to realise that to control his flock he may have to sacrifice some of the members of his own family.

THE SEVERED SUN benefits immensely from gorgeous landscape photography, some beautiful compositions, and from not being shy of splashing the gore about where necessary. That plus its measured pacing means it could make an excellent companion piece on a double bill with Robert Eggers' THE WITCH (2015) and if you're a fan of that film then you may well like this, too. 

Those who want subtext with their folk horror won't have to dig too deep to find it, and there's an effective electronic music score by 'Unknown Horrors' that adds to the creeping atmosphere of dread and claustrophobia, one that's skilfully constructed to contrast with the backdrop of the wide open spaces of the story's setting (actually Bodmin in Cornwall). Here's a trailer:

Dean Puckett's THE SEVERED SUN is out on Digital from Blue Finch Releasing on Monday 6th October 2025. There will be selected cinema Q&A screenings from Monday 29th September

The Outcasts (1982)

"Welcome Restoration of This Irish Folk Tale"

Because, as writer-director Robert Wynne-Simmons attests in one of the extras on the BFI's new Blu-ray, THE OUTCASTS isn't really a horror film, although it does have horror elements in it. 

We're in 'pre-famine' (again according to the director) Ireland. Times are muddy and grim, especially if you only have and need to get them married off. Hugh O'Donnell (Don Foley) grudgingly agrees to the marriage of one of his, Janey, (Bairbre Ni Chaoimh) to neighbouring farmer's son Eamon (Mairtin Jaimsie). The wedding receives a visit from mysterious fiddler Scarf Michael (Mick Lally) whom people claim has returned from the dead. 

He certainly seems to have some magical powers, and takes a liking to Maura O'Donnell (Mary Ryan), Hugh's least loved daughter who is considered something of an outcast by the rest of the village. He shows her she can fly and they spend the night talking before he disappears and she returns to the village. Famine and pestilence ensue and people believe Maura is to blame for consorting with Michael. Her only salvation may lie in her becoming a true outcast, both from the village and from normal humankind altogether.

Shown on Channel 4 back in 1984 and pretty much unseen since then, THE OUTCASTS has been called 'Folk Horror' due to Robert Wynne-Simmons being the writer of 1970's BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW. It's more fairy tale than horror, but one for adults, and in the newly filmed interview here he talks of his frustration with film executives who couldn't understand that fairy tales don't have to be just for children. 

THE OUTCASTS was the first major Irish film for 50 years. Even so it was filmed in 16mm and blown up to 35mm, so even though this is a restoration expect a pleasingly grainy look to the proceedings. Other extras include The Fugitive - an early 8mm Wynee-Simmons project, THE OUTCASTS in Pictures, which is 15 minutes of the director discussing still photographs with Vic Pratt , and the five minute animation The Wanderings of Ulick Joyce. There's also a commentary track from folk horror expert Dr Diane Rogers, who talks about the film, BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW and folk horror in general. The disc also comes with an illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the film

THE OUTCASTS is out on Blu-ray from the BFI on Monday 23rd September 2024

Lord of Misrule (2023)

"Top Notch British Folk Horror"

Tuppence Middleton and Ralph Ineson star in the new film from horror specialist William Brent Bell (THE BOY, WER, ORPHAN: FIRST KILL), now getting a UK digital release from Signature Entertainment.

The English village of Berrow is preparing for its annual Harvest Festival, which includes a ritual in which the masked Lord of Misrule casts out the evil spirit Gallowgog. This year the Harvest Angel is to be played by Grace, the young daughter of the local vicar, Rebecca (Middleton). When Grace goes missing at the festival Rebecca uncovers a tale of Pagan (and Christian) horrors stretching back hundreds of years, one in which both she and her daughter are now destined to play a part.

LORD OF MISRULE is an engrossing, well made folk horror picture that gets so much right it's a joy to watch. The production design and set dressing are wall to wall creepy, there are fine performances from the leads, with Ineson playing the leader of the Pagans and a bunch of British character actors who look born to play weird villagers. The literate script that deals with the Christian versus Pagan religion is by Tom DeVille, best known to readers here for his 2000 TV anthology series URBAN GOTHIC.

Guiding everything with a sure and steady hand is director William Brent Bell. I've previously likened Bell's style to that evinced by some of the great British B horror directors of the 1960s like Don Sharp, whose 1964 WITCHCRAFT is a classic, and LORD OF MISRULE may well be Mr Bell's best film yet. It's assured, creepy and doesn't miss an opportunity for a well-orchestrated scare or a chance to build creeping unease. A must-see for fans of British horror films, LORD OF MISRULE has the makings of a future classic. Here's the trailer:

William Brent Bell's LORD OF MISRULE is out on Digital Platforms from Signature Entertainment on Monday 8th January 2024