In rural 17th-century England, a group of men gather to carry a coffin on the long walk to the local graveyard for burial. Much ancient folklore and superstition surround the pathway to the church, and several of the party are afraid to walk it after dark. Squire Marlow, the grieving father of the dead man, promises to double their wages if they agree to make the mysterious journey full of unexpected revelations.
South Korea12
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
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Frightfest
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South Korea
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So, if you encounter an eyeless dude pointing at the darkness, just go the other way? Got it movie, thanks! ദ്ദി(ᵔᗜᵔ)
And yet, they say that horror tales impart no wisdom. Those lying scurrilous jackanapes! (╭ರ_•́)
The first entry in an annual series of holiday season ghost stories for Shudder, akin to the classic BBC series A Ghost Story for Christmas (which Shudder also recently added to their catalogue, meaning rewatches in my near future). This is a solid start to the series, with striking black and white visuals, and an excellent premise. It largely tells rather than shows, which isn't always bad, but did leave me wanting a little more, though there is ample tension and a few quality scares.
An intensely atmospheric and moody period piece, barely feature-length, detailing four pallbearers' arduous trek to a churchyard whilst surrounded in inky blackness and the unholy creatures within it. As they prattle on to keep the ghouls at bay, each of their sinful transgressions is visited upon them one-by-one. It contains some terrific period detail and appropriately archaic language, plus an eerie vibe that is difficult to come by. However, the screenplay is too verbose for its own good, and there's a great deal of exposition instead of finding a more cinematic solution. But it does have at least one remarkable performance by the morbidly hilarious James Swanton, whose provocations and grotesque manner help to keep things lively between minor scares.…
Seems Shudder are getting in on the Ghost story for Christmas. My interest is peaked.
This is the first entry in an annual tradition. I think this is the 2024 entry even if it does say 2023. It is included on the All the haunts Vol 2 boxset (how I have seen it) but no sign of it on Shudder yet (in Ireland anyway).
Anyway, its a decent effort but despite the B&W it is just too polished looking. Takes a lot away from it for me. I also found the acting of one of the characters very OTT and distracting. I will watch them each year if they are available in my area.
All The Haunts Be Ours Volume Two Disc One
For the majority of the film, I was delighted. The premise of four (clearly doomed) men bearing a coffin across the moors as secrets and supernatural fears rise unbidden reminds me of the pathetic aesthetic of such games as Warhammer Fantasy Role Play and Trophy. I love that stuff.
Unfortunately, a twist late in the telling takes a step too far for my sensibilities and completely deflates the sense of fun. Exaggerated performances which had amused me now annoyed because of the sordid, performatively edgy nature of the premise revealed. It's not quite Katie Vick territory, but it's close enough to be distasteful in an otherwise lighthearted bit of genre fluff. Unfortunate.
Well this was fun. It's like Keir-la And Severin were like "let's bring back the Xmas ghost stories". (If that was their goal, I never heard about it, I just turned on shudder and there it was).
It's a long night walk down a haunted path and sins not forgiven.
Edit: I now realize it's on the Haunts second box set which I haven't been able to get yet.
This is part of Severin Films’ The Haunted Season show on shudder.
Great looking short film, but man is it talky! I really wish they would’ve found a way to show certain plot points rather than do everything through dialogue. The performances weren’t strong enough to support all that dialogue either.
Despite this I look forward to the others!!
First movie watched out of the folk horror boxset I impulsively bought after drinking WAY too much coffee, going on a 90-minute walk to walk it off, getting home and eating so much cheese, and then finally, FINALLY spending an undisclosed amount of money on this. It did not fix my caffeine-induced mania but I am glad I have it!
Pleasantly surprised by this! Was kind of bothered by how digital it looked at first, but as I settled into it I started to recognize just how much it feels like one of those BBC Ghost Story For Christmas TV movies, slow and creepy and patient, and the slow accumulation of omens really worked on me. Good meat-and-potatoes horror!
Ghosts might be out there in the dark but your fellow man is real and he's right behind you.
A little bare-boned black-hearted folk nightmare. Fun!
