2021 Directed by Kier-La Janisse
Explores the folk horror phenomenon from its beginnings in a trilogy of films – Witchfinder General, Blood on Satan’s Claw and The Wicker Man – through its proliferation on British television in the 1970s and its culturally specific manifestations in American, Asian, Australian and European horror, to the genre’s revival over the last decade.
Robert Eggers Alice Lowe Ian Ogilvy Kevin Kölsch Dennis Widmyer Piers Haggard Abraham Castillo Flores Adam Scovell Alexandra Heller-Nicholas Amanda Reyes Gail-Nina Anderson Mariano Baino Geraldine Beskin Richard Blackburn Lawrence Gordon Clark Katrin Gebbe John Leman Riley Linda Hayden Sean Hogan Robert Wynne-Simmons Samm Deighan Mikel Koven Ian Cooper Jonathan Rigby Bruce G. Hallenbeck Mitch Horowitz Kier-La Janisse Sam Dunn Kat Ellinger Show All…
Michael Felsher Elle Schneider Jim Kunz Iain Marcks Jarret Gahan Neil Edwards Jacqueline Castel Sarah Appleton Keith Pendred Laird Jimenez
Everything you always wanted to know about pagan blood sacrifices and the lingering psychic traumas of colonialism (but were afraid to discover for yourself), Kier-La Janisse’s “Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched” crams an entire semester’s worth of Hauntology 101 into a numbingly comprehensive 193-minute documentary that unearths the history of cinematic folk horror in such loving, erudite, and seductive detail that you almost can’t wait for it to be over so you can start watching some of the 100+ films that are excerpted along the way.
Not that such patience will necessarily be required. Trusting that her subject matter is fertile enough to merit such a scholarly approach, and also bewitching enough to survive it, Janisse connects the dots between…
A terrific work of criticism, never for a moment feeling remedial, and which goes far beyond the typical clip-reel enthusiasm of this type of thing to become a sort of collage, full of formal curlicues that allow the films under appraisal to talk to each other in real time. As essential a text as House of Psychotic Women, really formidable.
Usually these type of documentaries are glorified extra features or animated Wikipedia entries. This stands on its own as an encyclopedia, an academic critique, and a love letter to a whole "mode" (as one interviewee puts it) of genre fiction. Am I biased because I did a small bit of archival assistance on this film? No, it's great. I hope Kier-La Janisse makes more movies!
Incredibly comprehensive documentary about one of my favorite sub-genres of horror and I mean COMPREGODDAMNHENSIVE! Kier-La Janisse doesn’t miss a beat in giving you everything you could possibly want to know about folk horror. Sure, some of my favorite smaller indie films aren’t covered here, but there are actually so many movies that are covered I had to start a list of ones I haven’t seen! And I couldn’t believe how many I haven’t! Talk about important work to do, mmkay?
At almost 3.5 hours, it does push the limits of how much one can watch in one sitting and since it’s not dependent on a plot, I might suggest watching it over 2 sittings? I got a little restless…
the 193 minute runtime is daunting, but this is absolute catnip for genre fans - full of film clips (definitely of stuff you’ve never seen before) and talking heads that have no shortage of insight on the topic, this is every bit the deep dive that I was hoping it would be and the rare epic doc that I can’t wait to revisit
major props to Kier-La Janisse and the Severin team for pulling this off
Yes, I did rewatch Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched not even 24 hours after my last viewing. I love folk horror!!! And I wanted to put together a list of all the films mentioned in order of appearance.
SXSW Watch #16
Possibly the greatest piece of filmed cult cinema criticism I’ve ever encountered. Academic, yet never dry. Thorough, yet never overwhelming. Long, but hypnotically edited. To be quite frank: intimidating. Embarrassed to admit my new list of works to track down resembles a college syllabus. If you’re remotely a champion of movies or curiosity, I have no idea how this isn’t for you.
Quite possibly the best documentary on anything horror related I've ever seen. Kier-La Janisse's deep dive into folk horror spreads so much rich analysis and sinister imagery over 3 hours, making for an unrelentingly mind-blowing examination. Not one talking head here feels like filler as every single writer, filmmaker, and genre-based thinker provides articulate theories further widening the scope and power of this gnarly topic.
Starting with the OG trilogy of Witchfinder General, Blood on Satan's Claw, and The Wicker Man, we get our first taste of what is considered "Folk Horror" before moving through more British, then American, and then into other notable parts of the world. With every new region, the ideas are diversified but cemented with it…
This is a documentary made by Severin and included in their excellent folk horror box set. It's a rather comprehensive look at folk horror. The film spans over three hours, but is broken down into sections - starting with an dissection of three classic films (Witchfinder General, Blood on Satan's Claw and The Wicker Man) and then breaking down folk horror by region and links to religion. The documentary features clips from the films along with discussion from various filmmakers and critics, all creating a very interesting analysis of something that is a concept in cinema rather than a genre. The whole "folk horror" concept is broadened out beyond just the obvious films with links to witchcraft and folklore. The…
“If non-indigenous people are going to be afraid of Indian Burial Ground then I’ve got news for you, it’s all an Indian Burial ground.”
Kier-La Janisse, author of ‘House of Psychotic Women’, and very probably North America’s most interesting horror film scholar, has created something extraordinary. An exploration of the tonal, thematic, and symbolic construction of ‘folk horror’ and its application as an idea or an engine in our literature and cinema. And, also, in our lives.
This always insightful film is never more so than when it calls out real world ‘folk horror’, like Nazi national socialism, or profound U.S. southern poverty after the civil war, or urbanizing society’s fear of nature, or the entire human history of otherizing…
“Devil, Devil, I defy thee” 🎶
Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched is an extensive look into the heart and lore of the folk horror phenomenon. With mentions of The Witchfinder General to its peak influence in 70s British television to fan favorite The Witch, Woodlands covers everything and I mean everything there is to know about this sub genre. Told in six parts (third being my favorite bit) it is incredibly hard not to love and appreciate what Kier-La Janisse has done here, the amount of information jam packed into this masterful documentary will leave genre fans swoon and eager to explore the almost overwhelming amount of films mentioned.
It is safe to say…my watchlist is screaming.
This was truly something special and if you have any interest in folk horror or horror in general then please seek this out!
Kicking myself for not grabbing the Severin boxset, kickinggggg myself.
As a self proclaimed horror fanatic, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched was a must watch for me.
Thorough is an understatement. Over the course of the 180+ runtime, the documentary goes in depth on topics ranging from the social climate of Britain in the 1960’s all the way up until the resurgence of folk horror found in films such as Robert Eggers’ The Witch.
Experts from the field provide fascinating commentary on the role folk horror has played in depicting societal thoughts as well as how folk horror has impacted societal thoughts.
SXSW Watch #15
2021 Ranked
