Mike Flanagan Loves this “Unnerving” New Folk Horror Movie, Now Streaming
Folk horror is having a renaissance. Last year, both The Vourdalak and The Devil’s Bath ranked on my Top 10 international horror movies of the year list. They’re both incredible, and I’m naturally always keen to check out the latest and greatest in folk horror, even if that means revisiting Wake Wood for the twelfth time. I love that little movie. Folk horror all day, every day.
Horror streamer Shudder is a must-have for folk horror fans, especially. The Devil’s Bath and The Vourdalak are streaming there, and you can also catch: The Hallow, Pyewacket, A Dark Song, and the sensational documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror among others. Recently added to the handy, curated folk horror list is additionally one of this year’s most surprising horror movies. So much so, it even caught the eye of acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan. Learn more about Fréwaka, now streaming on Shudder, below:
Per Shudder: Shoo is sent to a remote village to care for an agoraphobic woman, who fears both the neighbors and the Na Sídhe – sinister folkloric entities she believes abducted her decades before.
In our review of the film out of last year’s London Film Fest, we wrote, “Packed with plenty of scares, Aislinn Clarke’s latest film takes well-worn folk horror tropes and makes them feel unique.” Additionally, in an interview with director Aislinn Clarke, we touched on her debut, The Devil’s Doorway, and how Fréwaka endeavors to tackle Irish trauma. She remarked, “Ireland is already a very emotional place, but it’s all completely pushed down. So it’s my admittedly very subjective lens on Irishness, on Irish people, and where we are now.” Fréwaka is heavy, but absolutely worth a watch. Just ask Mike Flanagan.
On website Letterboxd, Mike Flanagan recently logged Fréwaka and left a review, calling the film “a waking nightmare that slowly eats the protagonist – and the viewer – alive.” Flanagan further added that Fréwaka is “Highly recommended for fans of slow-burn, atmospheric horror. Aislinn Clarke is definitely a director to watch.” You can check out the quote in full below:
Excellent horror tale that burrowed under my skin early on and stayed there after the credits rolled. Great performances and a wicked tone distinguish this unnerving Irish-language folk horror and create a waking nightmare that slowly eats the protagonist – and the viewer – alive. Highly recommended for fans of slow-burn, atmospheric horror. Aislinn Clarke is definitely a director to watch
What do you think? Any plans to check out Fréwaka this week. I think you should. If you do, let me know what you think over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
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