4 Best New Folk Horror Movies if You Liked Starve Acre With Matt Smith
The nature around you can be threatening.
Legends and ancient myths hold many mysteries, so it is not surprising that folklore is often the focus of filmmakers. Mystical tales, closely tied to the occult and pagan beliefs are both terrifying and captivating.
If you have already seen Starve Acre but want more, you will definitely like these four recently released folk horror films.
1. In My Mother's Skin, 2023
1945, the end of the Second World War. In the Philippines, a soldier named Aldo lives in a rich mansion with his wife and two children. The Japanese soldiers occupying the area believe that Aldo has stolen gold hidden in the house and are willing to do anything to get their hands on it.
To save his family, Aldo leaves to seek help. A few days later, the children notice that their mother no longer gets out of bed. Fear and hunger force them to go to the forest. There they meet a woman in a rich dress who promises to heal their mother with a ritual.
Kenneth Dagatan's horror film is based on Filipino fairy tales about a flesh-eating fairy who appears to people in the form of a charming maiden in sparkling dresses.
2. The Watchers, 2024
Many years ago, Mina lost her mother, but still cannot come to terms with the loss. The woman has moved to an Irish town and works in a pet shop during the day and goes to a bar at night, where she tries on a new image every time.
One day, the owner of the pet shop asks Mina to take a parrot to a zoo near Belfast. The road leads through the forest. Suddenly, in the middle of the wilderness, Mina's car breaks down, leaving her without communication with the outside world.
The Watchers is the directorial debut of Ishana Night Shyamalan, the daughter of M. Night Shyamalan.
3. The Devil's Bath, 2024
In 1750, a young woman named Agnes gets married, but she's not happy in her marriage: her husband barely pays attention to her, and her mother-in-law spends more time at the newlyweds' house than at her own, constantly pointing out Agnes' shortcomings.
Agnes tries to find understanding in God, but as her depression worsens – an illness that had no name in the 18th century – her behavior becomes more desperate.
The Devil's Bath by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala is a historical drama that tells about the little known horrors of the past. The monstrosity of the rituals that believers resorted to in stalemate situations disarms and leaves you with a feeling of absolute hopelessness.
4. The King Tide, 2023
The inhabitants of a small fishing island have lived without contact with the mainland for many years. Mayor Bobby leads the community. One day, he finds a boat off the coast with a newborn baby girl in it. The mayor takes the child in and names her Isla.
It soon becomes clear that the girl has a gift: she can heal all wounds and slow down the aging process. Over the course of ten years, life in the community has changed dramatically, and now everything depends on Isla. But a tragedy turns the community's life upside down and forces them to make a difficult choice.
The King Tide is a folk horror film that explores the limits of human fear. What are we willing to do to save our own lives?