The Droving

A slow-burning British horror that's about as unconventional as they come, 'The Droving' is a treat for anyone who can accept its pace and minimalist approach.

The story is about Martin, a military man who returns home to search for his lost sister who went missing around the time of a mysterious festival known as The Droving.

It's hard to say much without spoiling it, but this is the type of folk horror that relies heavily on its atmosphere, with the setting and dialogue contributing immensely. The film gradually builds up its unease through Martin's solo investigation; the tension snowballs into an uncomfortable knot in the stomach as he makes discoveries, before uncoiling into something despicable and ambiguous.

Overall, 'The Droving' is refreshingly different yet atmospherically potent, suppressing the urge to go full-on horror without sacrificing all the feelings fans of the genre are well acquainted with.

7.5/10

Set in a beautiful location with a creepy Wicker Man village vibe, the tension and sinister feel slowly builds in this great indie thriller. Also really liked the opening score, it sets the haunting tone of this film well.

The Droving has already been compared to The Wicker Man, Midsommer, even Kill List, plus several other "folk horror" films. And that's OK. But it's its own film, whichever category you want to place it in.

First, the setting - the English Lake District, which apart from being glorious, beautiful and haunting (watch it again to identify all your favourite spots) has its own folk legends and superstitions. Many of which are touched on here. It's a fabulous, atmospheric and immersive film in this respect alone.

Then, the imagery. Landscapes, set scenes, long static shots, all add to the scope and beauty of the film. Colours are often bright then subdued - I'd love to see this in the cinema.

The story - the word haunting comes up again, but also in turn horrific, tragic, and shocking. Perhaps a bit of a slow burner to begin, but things soon get moving. Not too shabby an ending either...

Finally, the score. It fits perfectly, whether its following the scenic shots or the more intense scenes, composer Matthew Laming has done it large and well.

If you're into folk horror, this is a 10/10. If you're into thrillers, it's still a 10/10. Give it a go, and if if ever appears in the cinema, I'll be first in the queue.

Worth the watch. I had seen this English director's past film so watched this to see what he would do next. This film was a marked improvement on a good film. The acting was superb by the lead actor. Maybe it's the accents, scenery or murky settings but I was hooked on this film. It delivered suspense and delivers well over it's budget. Worth a watch for the scenery and cinematography alone.

I always enjoy these foreign flicks...but don't worry...its all in english. It had a somewhat indie vibe but big pretty studio looks. I thought it was easy to get sucked up into the differences of the accents, and patter, and different country. The story is edgy digging into the mystery drama trauma of what happened to a person that disappeared during a festival. It's a good watch that is refreshing to see and be in a different place, land, and way. The performances were solid which made me care. Watch a flick and take a vacation too.