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The clicking of film running through a projector and a slight wow on the pastoral soundtrack ushers in footage of “the blue hills” of The Cotswolds in 1945. It’s a beautiful area of England, replete with picturesque villages and historical monuments. However, the twee public information film stylings aren’t allowed to roll on for long and they’re interrupted – and ultimately halted – by cuts to something far more disturbing. The film becomes grainy and unfocused, the music disquieting and we’re told of of a bizarre, gruesome murder which happened on Meon Hill to one Charles Walton. Charles was reputed to be a friendly, harmless old man, yet he was battered to death with a stick, pinned to the ground with his own pitchfork and the sign of the cross was cut into his chest with his own billhook.

The crime would baffle investigators for decades and, aside from...

Screened as part of the Frightfest strand at the 2025 Glasgow Film Festival, The Last Sacrifice has been billed as a film about the murder that inspired The Wicker Man. Whilst this will doubtless appeal to some, others will already have seen countless Wicker Man-related films, and will be more hesitant. The good news is that Rupert Russell’s documentary is really about much more than that. The said murder is fascinating in its own right, not least for the ways that it reveals connections backwards and forwards in time. As Russell presents it, it’s a keystone in the history of neo-Paganism and the birth of the folk horror genre. His film is a patchwork of ideas as varied as the fields of England when seen from above, yet somehow everything comes together.

Charles Walton was, as far as anyone has been able to prove, an unremarkable man –...

The Last Sacrifice

On Valentine’s Day in 1945, an elderly man was found by a hedgerow in a quiet Cotswolds village. He had been murdered in a bizarre, ritualistic fashion. The crime, which was never solved, led to one mystery after another, and had a tremendous influence on British culture. Rupert Russell’s latest documentary, which is screening as part of the Frightfest strand at the 2025 Glasgow Film Festival, explores the stories surrounding the killing itself and examines its impact at a pivotal moment in the island’s history.

With a background in sociology, Rupert, who is the son of Ken Russell, has spent most of his career in film working on political documentaries. When we connected, shortly before the festival, I asked if he sees this as a different way of looking at politics.

“It's interesting,” he says. “I'd say politics isn't quite the right word, but it's a more explicit analysis.

A story that’s perhaps unfamiliar but its influence reverberates worldwide as we witness in Rupert Russell’s The Last Sacrifice.

This documentary takes a look at the 1945 murder of Charles Walton in what is believed to be a witchcraft killing and events that inspired The Wicker Man. It is said to have sparked the birth of the folk horror genre.

We sit down with Rupert Russell to talk about what shocked him about the story and more!

You can watch the full interview below:

Watch the trailer here.

The Last Sacrifice will be released later in 2025 and the full FrightFest programme can be found here

The post Director Rupert Russell on documentary The Last Sacrifice, art imitating life and the Teletubbies appeared first on HeyUGuys.

The chilling true story that inspired The Wicker Man is about to receive an unsettling re-examination as The Last Sacrifice makes its UK premiere at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest Glasgow 2025. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Rupert Russell, this investigative documentary delves into the notorious 1945 witchcraft murder of Charles Walton, a case that continues to haunt Britain’s cultural and cinematic history. The screening is set for March 7 at 3:30 Pm at the Glasgow Film Theatre, promising audiences an unnerving deep dive into a case steeped in folklore, paranoia, and ritualistic terror.

Walton’s brutal killing in the Warwickshire village of Lower Quinton has long been shrouded in mystery. His mutilated body, discovered near a tree with a crucifix carved into his chest, became the subject of widespread speculation. Some believed it to be a modern witch hunt; others suspected it was an occult sacrifice linked to ancient pagan traditions. The case remains officially unsolved,...

Few films have left an imprint on the British horror landscape quite like The Wicker Man. The 1973 classic, with its eerie folk rituals, unsettling sense of isolation, and an ending as iconic as it is horrifying, has become synonymous with the genre now known as British folk horror. But according to filmmaker Rupert Russell, the chilling tale of Sgt. Howie’s doomed investigation on Summerisle may have more grounding in reality than many realise.

In his new documentary The Last Sacrifice, which makes its UK premiere at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest Glasgow 2025, Russell embarks on a true-crime investigation into the brutal, unsolved 1945 murder of Charles Walton, an elderly farm labourer found horrifically mutilated in a Cotswolds field. His killing—described as a “slaughterhouse horror” by Scotland Yard detective Robert Fabian—sparked nationwide speculation about ritual sacrifice, occult killings, and an eerie, insular community that seemed unwilling to give up its secrets.

Be prepared for mayhem, menace and monstrosity as this year’s FrightFest three-day event, housed at the iconic Glasgow Film Theatre, presents a curated programme of new features and shorts which showcases the vibrant mix of talented filmmakers currently bursting onto the genre scene. The programme includes four world premiere features, while the short film showcase – a regular fixture at Frightfest London taking place for the first time in Glasgow – highlights filmmakers exclusively from the UK and Ireland, including two from Scotland.

FrightFest kicks off in mind-bending style with a special screening of Psyche, directed by Stephon Stewart (Bigfoot County). This thought-provoking sci-fi thriller boasts a riveting performance by Sarah Ritter, as Mara, who, with the aid of a vintage 1980s computer, embarks on a surreal journey where nothing is as it seems. Stephen will be attending the screening.

FrightFest’s traditional two-day pass event kicks off on Friday 7 March...

Pigeon Shrine FrightFest returns to the Glasgow Film Festival from 6–8 March 2025, celebrating its 20th anniversary with a thrilling line-up of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. Hosted at the iconic Glasgow Film Theatre, the three-day event is set to deliver world premieres, UK debuts, and an exciting showcase of rising talent, reaffirming its status as a cornerstone of genre cinema.

Over the years, FrightFest has established itself as a powerhouse for horror and fantasy filmmaking, playing a key role in launching the careers of visionary directors such as Neil Marshall and Eli Roth. This year’s edition continues that legacy, boasting four world premieres and a spotlight on fresh talent from the UK and Ireland through an exclusive short film showcase.

FrightFest co-director Alan Jones praised the Glasgow audience’s unique energy, calling them “vibrant and welcoming,” and expressed excitement about sharing this year’s dynamic programme. Featuring a blend of unsettling tales,...

The world premiere of David Luke Rees’ UK horror thrillerByThe Throat andPedro Kos’ feature debut In Our Blood are among the 11 features in the line-up for UK horror and fantasy festival Glasgow FrightFest.

It will take place as part of the Glasgow Film Festivall from March 6-8.

By The Throattells the story of a housekeeper who is haunted by evil forces and stars Patricia Allison, whose credits includeSex Education.

Further world premieres areAdam Marcus’ documentary Hearts Of Darkness: The Making Of The Final Friday;Jack Lawrence McHenry’s 1940sThe Doom Busters; andAndy Edwards’ version of the Brothers Grimm fairytale,Rumplestiltskin.

Head north for your fill of screams this March.

Pigeon Shrine Frightfest Announces 2025 Glasgow Film Festival Line-up

FrightFest, the UK’s No.1 horror & fantasy film event, is back at the renowned Glasgow Film Festival for its 20th year, running from Thurs 6 March to Sat 8 March 2025.

Be prepared for mayhem, menace and monstrosity as this year’s FrightFest three-day event, housed at the iconic Glasgow Film Theatre, presents a curated programme of new features and shorts which showcases the vibrant mix of talented filmmakers currently bursting onto the genre scene. The programme includes four world premiere features, while the short film showcase highlights filmmakers exclusively from the UK and Ireland, including two from Scotland.

FrightFest co-director Alan Jones said:

There has never been a better time to be a fan of the horror, fantasy and science fiction genre and FrightFest, the UK’s biggest and most influential event, plays its vital...