Folk horror movies have become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to the popularity of A24 films like Midsommar and The Witch, so it seems like an apt time to take a look at a few of the different folk horror stories we've seen released by the indie distributor. Most people are aware of the aforementioned films as they are the most popular, but there are a couple of other A24 folk horror movies that not many people have seen.
Typically, this subgenre focuses on rituals, towns with dark secrets, exploration of ancient traditions, and sometimes Paganism. There's often a sense that something is wrong beneath the surface and folk horror loves making scary things happen in the daytime. Some of the classics of the genre include The Wicker Man and Witchfinder General.
Midsommar (2019)
Midsommar was many peoples' introduction to folk horror, myself included. It's basically textbook folk horror, utilizing some of the most popular tropes of the subgenre with its deep roots to ritual practices and dark tradition. Ari Aster helped usher in a folk horror revival with the release of Midsommar, as many films since have been heavily influenced by its themes.
Florence Pugh stars as a grief stricken woman named Dani struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss of her sister and her parents. Her boyfriend, Christian, and his friends are planning a big trip to Sweden to celebrate the midsummer festival and Dani ends up getting invited along for the trip. There, the group slowly realizes that this seemingly beautiful place is hiding very disturbing and violent secrets.
Men (2022)
This surreal movie from Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Warfare) received a polarizing reception when it debuted in 2022, but it certainly fits the bill for folk horror as it's set in a creepy little village where a woman discovers a bunch of eerily similar men.
After her husband's death, Harper travels to the idyllic town of Cotson for a getaway, but not long after arriving she becomes aware of the increasingly odd behavior of the village's male population.
The Witch (2015)
When Robert Eggers made his feature directorial debut with this movie, he truly hit the ground running. Featuring the breakout role for Anya Taylor-Joy, The Witch is set in 1630s New England in a Puritan settlement where fears of the Devil and witchcraft are at an all time high.
It's sort of like a dark fairy tale, or folk tale, in many ways, albeit one with a unique narrative. A family blames their oldest daughter, Thomasin (Taylor-Joy) when their youngest son disappears. Since Thomasin was the one in charge of watching him, they become suspicious that she might have ulterior, and even sinister, motives.
Lamb (2021)
Lamb is a little more unique than the other movies on this list as it forces you to embrace the idea of a hybrid human/sheep. It's a horror film, but also feels a little like a dark fantasy at times. Noomi Rapace and Hilmir Snær Guðnason star as a farming couple who are shocked when one of their flock gives birth to this strange hybrid creature, but they decide to take it into their care and raise it as their own.