Folklore--we can’t get enough of it, and rightly so, really--because the fundamental
foundation of our cultural appreciation for horror fiction and cinema is built upon the
very bones of the cautionary tales that have carried us through the endless aeons and ages
of fear incarnate.
In many ways, the reason why we appreciate folklore in horror is because of that same,
shared experience.
The notion of not straying too far from the path, or not to wander in the woods after
dark--is a cautionary tale that we can all find function with--and because of that, it
makes for some incredible horror cinema.
Let’s take a look again, shall we?
Hello horror fans, what’s going on--and once again, welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube--Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch--as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Horror Movies Based On Folklore--Part 3.
Roll the clip.
Okay.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from Ben Wheatley’s phenomenal, mind-bending
British Folk Horror--A Field In England, and please note--that this film is *not* for everyone--which
is the reason that it’s not finding its way onto our list, but instead being today’s
most honorable of honorable mentions.
A Field In England is a film like no other, it’s hilarious--it’s deeply unsettling--and
it’s oddly beautiful.
But yeah, trust me--it’s weird.
Anyway, on that note--let’s begin.
Kicking off at Number 5 - The Hole In The Ground, 2019
Yeah.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing indie films of the year so far--and who better to pick
it up and distribute it, than A24--the studio that consistently seems to be knocking it
out of the park when it comes to originality in horror, who undoubtedly know a creepy tale
when they see one.
Written and directed by Lee Cronin in his debut feature film, The Hole In The Ground
is a film that covers many themes, mainly being the stress of parenthood, and the many
trials and tribulations that come with raising a child on your own--but more importantly,
it’s sprinkled heavily with an incredibly vivid and key aspect of Irish Folklore--which
is that of the Changeling, and the old Irish Legend of the sink-hole, often found out in
the woods--a symbol of something far more sinister than what it first may seem.
Now, although that’s probably quite a bit of plot revelation--it’s also obviously
the name of the film--and we can’t really talk about it’s relation to folklore without
touching on the significance of what it actually entails--but trust me, that’s all I’ll
say about the plot.
But--also, don’t worry about that, because start to finish--this film expertly manages
to pack in so much substance into its 90 minute runtime, and there’s a bucketload of slow,
creepy paranoia and deeply unsettling tones of the wilderness to chew on.
There is a lot to be found in this film, and surprisingly so--that’s what makes it highly
enjoyable.
Part and parcel of The Hole In The Ground is trying to juggle exactly what’s going
on, as we gradually attempt to unwind the many layers and myths of Irish folklore and
their significance to the modern era.
Yeah, as far as Irish Folklore goes--this one sits right beside some of the best.
Coming in at Number 4 -- Errementari, 2017
And
although Spanish Cinema often interweaves the magical and mystical aspects of folklore
into pretty much all of their cinematic canon, with films like The Orphanage, The Devil’s
Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth leading the charge in modern cinema--Errementari, also
known as The Blacksmith and The Devil, is perhaps one of the most vivid portrayals of
European folklore in recent times.
And it focuses entirely on what is essentially one of *the* oldest fairy tales of all time--The
Smith and the Devil--with this film portraying it’s folklore version from the Basque Region
of Spain and France.
If you’ve heard that tale before, one that can be found in all corners of Europe, from
Russia to Germany, Greece and Italy--then you’ll know exactly what it entails--but
if not, then I’ll keep schtum, and let you discover it for yourself.
From a technical perspective, Errementari is an absolutely beautiful film--and both
it’s practical and digital effects manage to vividly paint the picture of the eternal
magical mystery of Europen Folklore and the ancient customs and cultures that are held
within it.
If anything, this film is remarkably important, in that it accurately manages to tell a folk-tale
without once becoming boring, or even more importantly--it never misses the point.
In many ways it’s a period piece--in others, it’s a film that holds itself eternal with
the mysticism of it’s narrative--and it captures that same charm of being told a fairy
tale when we were kids.
Although--on the flip side to that, that same magic means this film isn’t *entirely* terrifying.
Trust me, you won’t be screaming into your hands and shuddering with fear--and for fans
of more explicit horror, Errementari may miss the mark in several ways.
But--please don’t let that put you off, because for fans of folklore and the cautionary
tales of European culture--this film is one of a kind--and there should be more like it.
Also, it’s on Netflix--so give it a watch.
Next up at Number 3 -- Wake Wood, 2009
A surprising entry of the last decade--and much like our Number 5 spot of this list--one
of the most vivid depictions of Irish Folklore, and yet one that is also threaded with the
ancient customs and allegories of Pagan Mysticism to pin it’s bones down in a bizarre, ritualistic
manner--more akin to the likes of 1972’s The Wicker Man, more so than anything.
Oh yeah--and also, this film stars Petyr Baelish himself, Aidan Gillen--and don’t worry,
there’s no dodgy accent in this film--and Gillen manages to knock 2009’s Wake Wood
out of the park as the--not quite sure what to do, but just trying to keep my family apart--kind
of father, alongside Eva Birthistle as his wife Louise.
Written and directed by David Keating, Wake Wood tells the tale of Patrick and Louise
Daley--who’s young daughter, Alice is savagely and tragically killed by a dog during the
films opening events.
Distraught and grieving, the couple move to the remote, rural village of Wakewood--where
they seek peace and quiet, in the hope of finally coming to terms with their daughters
death.
But--of course--hell no.
This is a horror movie, and Patrick and Louise quickly become confronted by their own grief--in
the discovery that the village of Wakewood, is of course--home to a strange and secretive
sect of pagan practitioners, and the couple very swiftly understand the meaning of being
very careful in what you wish for.
I’ll say no more about the film’s plot--but trust me, for a film produced by the legends
of horror, Hammer, who traditionally speaking--are notorious for not exactly having the most
substantial of narratives--but recently, their studio revival has been knocking it out of
the park--and because of that, there is a *BOATLOAD* of depth to find in this film.
2009’s Wake Wood is tough to handle, and although it’s low-budget is pretty telling
on some occasions--for the most part, the themes that it covers--folklore or otherwise--are
particularly hard-hitting.
Yeah, give this one a watch.
Swinging in at Number 2 - Witchfinder General, 1968
Vincent.
Price.
The man, the myth--the undoubted legend of cinema, who secured his eternal horror credentials
with his absolutely bone-chilling performance as Matthew Hopkins, the witchfinder general
himself--in a time where both folklore and the maligned nature of superstition in English
history came to their most prominent forefront.
And, our reverence for Mr. Price aside, 1968’s Witchfinder General, also known as The Conqueror
Worm, is one of the most important horror films in British Folk cinema--where it vividly
portrayed the infamous, murderous, witch-hunting exploits of Matthew Hopkins, a 17th Century
English Lawyer who claimed to have been appointed as the Witch Finder General by Parliament
during the English Civil War.
Hopkins claimed that he was appointed to root out sorcery and witchcraft, where he took
advantage of the superstitious nature and mis-aligned fear of the East Anglian locals.
I mean, that historical notion--in itself, forms an absolutely huge part of British Folklore--and
the atrocities committed by Hopkins are the stuff of cultural cautionary legend--but the
reason that it makes its way onto our list--is purely for the fact, in terms of folklore--Witchfinder
General is one of the most brutal and genuinely unnerving films of the genre.
I mean, granted--it’s not as outwardly magical and mystical as many of the other films of
this list--but trust me, the historical credentials are there.
Written and directed by Michael Reeves, based upon the 1966 novel of the same name by Ronald
Bassett--Witchfinder General embodies the essence of British Folk Horror.
There are no good guys.
There is no omnipotent force that is ready and waiting to save the day.
There is only pain and misery, and a misguided superstition that drives humanity toward it.
Yeah, in terms of Cautionary Tales--this one is near the top of the pile, and it makes
for some legendary horror cinema.
And finally -- coming in at our Number 1 spot -- Ravenous, 1999
I absolutely adore this film, and truth be told--I’ve been looking for a reason to
feature some North American folklore on this list, and what better way to do so than with
one of the most disgustingly underrated horror movies of the 20th century--1999’s Ravenous.
This film is *so* damn good, and the fact that it still gets disregarded by critics
to this day is a travesty--but forget about them, because if you’re in the mood for
some North American Folklore Horror--set in the mid 1800s, pinned down by the Native Myth
of the Wendigo and the cultural taboo of cannibalism that comes with it--then Ravenous is exactly
what the doctor ordered.
Just please, don’t eat the stew.
From a historical perspective, the folklore of this film is wrapped up in some truly bleak
accounts of American and European culture--mainly being the horror of the Donner/Reed Party,
as well as the legend of Sawney Bean, the monstrous cannibal of 16th century Scotland.
Put it this way--it’s somewhere between the two.
Directed by Antonia Bird and written by Ted Griffin, Ravenous tells the tale of Lieutenant
John Boyd--a man who is promoted to Captain by dubious means during the Mexican-American
War, and is sent to Fort Spencer, a remote military outpost high in the Sierra Nevada
Mountain Range.
Here--after succumbing to the bleak inhospitality of the region, a mysterious stranger emerges--who
has word of a particularly terrifying tale.
I won’t say anymore--because although this film is pretty telling in it’s folklore
nature--the actual delivery of it’s narrative is a horror experience to be held, and even
as it descends into pure gore and grotesque madness--it still manages to maintain its
many textures of storytelling--albeit ones that are bleak and horrifying.
Also, the cast to this film is absolutely stacked--and it’s tantamount to late-nineties
cinematic greatness.
Guy Pearce.
Robert Carlyle.
The Late John Spencer.
David Arquette.
Jeremy Davies.
Yeah.
There’s a lot to be found in Ravenous, it’s a fantastic depiction of North American Folklore--capturing
the historical misery and isolation of the time--and it’s a straight up horror gem
that deserves a watch.
Well, there we have it folks--our list for the Top 5 Scariest Horror Movies Based On
Folklore -- Part 3.
What did you guys think?
Do you agree?
Disagree?
Have any more to add?
Then let us know your thoughts down in the comment section below, as well as any choice
picks of your own.
Before we depart from today’s video--let’s first take a quick look at some of your more
creative comments from over the past few days.
First up, Krynesh Lilith says--
What is your least favorite horror remake?
-- Uh.
Sadly an easy one, cos I try not to hate too much on remakes--but it definitely has to
be Psycho by Gus van Sant--mainly because I love Gus Van Sant, and mainly because I
also love Vince Vaughn--and that film just kind of wasn’t a thing that ever needed
to be made.
Yeah.
That’s my pick.
And finally, Zulphur says--
Jack, do you have some connection to Scandinavia?
And what's your favourite Scandinavian horror flick?
-- Well Zulphur, I’m 11% Norwegian--but my main connection to Scandinavia is probably
the fact that I used to raid with a guild of Swedes, Danes and Norwegians back in the
day when I played WOW.
Hej dag isbjorne.
As for my favourite Scandinavian horror flick--it’s gotta be Let The Right One In.
That film is insurmountable.
Well on that note, that’s unfortuantely all we’ve got time for in today's video--cheers
for sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, or just Top 5 Scary Videos in general, then please--be
a dear and hit that thumbs up button, as well as that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing
you in the next one.