Its easy to understand why a lot of people wont like this film - its a long way from mainstream Hollywood product, or even independant underground cinema. Its more like a film from the sixties or seventies, the old idea of the Head Movie. It reminded me slightly of the Incredible String Band film Be Glad For The Song Has No Ending. Like that film, its theatrical and amateurish, but that just gives it a homemade charm. Its also deeply, deeply pretentious, but what art of value isn't ? Better that than trying to be all things to all people just to chase the dollars.
The earnestness of the film really impressed me, it felt like someone was desperately trying to communicate his or her thoughts and feelings rather than just regurgitating ideas and memes from other films. Its also quite beautiful, rich in greens and greys and browns and blues, a reflection of the summer when this was shot. The acting is fine, a bit theatrical, and the cast are young, which probably puts some viewers off, but made me think of mummers plays and radical theatre, which worked well with the aesthetic of the film.
This isnt really a folk horror film, or even a horror film at all. If you need to put it with company, its like the little cousin of Jodorowsky or Derek Jarman rather than the Wicker Man. Its film as folklore, an evocation of myth, rather than a horror film that uses those tropes as subject matter.
A knowledge of myth and folklore will help when watching this - without it, you're going to be lost. Thats your problem, however, not a problem with the film.
It could have used a bit more visual flamboyance - costumes and camera angles and such - but its obviously a very low budget production, so thats easy to forgive.
This film succeeds because of its ambition, because it dares to do something unique, because its full of imagination, because its full of personality and individualism, and because its an attempt to work a magick ritual as film. Oh, and just for the record - i have no connection with whoever made this film, im just someone who has an open mind and enough imagination to enjoy being challenged by culture rather than stupefied by it.
