There are few better ways to tap into our primal fears than tuning into a folklore movie. Harking back to our days of sitting around a campfire and discussing the carvings on the walls, folklore remains a central component of horror and thriller to this day.
So, let's delve into the chilling world of folklore and give you our selection of movies to stream this weekend.
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The Wicker Man, 1973
A seemingly idyllic Scottish island turns out to be anything but in this '70s classic, dominated by the one and only Christopher Lee. When Edward Woodward's Sergeant Howie arrives from the mainland to investigate the disappearance of a girl, his suspicions quickly turn to murder as the islanders slowly but surely show their true colors.
Led by Lee's Lord Summerisle, the inhabitants lead a lifestyle that the strictly religious Howie, and many viewers, would view as highly immoral. But the existence of this Celtic pagan society soon turns to downright evil as their intentions to commit a ritual sacrifice come to the surface.
"The Wicker Man" is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
Midsommar, 2019
A movie that will leave you stunned and speechless for some time after viewing, Ari Aster's "Midsommar" is a shocking and often baffling movie. A grieving young woman and her partner join a group of friends and head to remote Sweden to visit what their friend describes as "a crazy festival, special ceremonies and dressing up," all in the pursuit of finding peace and seizing the day.
This seemingly ethereal experience soon begins to sour as all semblance of reality begins to crumble, and their remote ritualistic society slowly engulfs the lives of their visitors.
Graphic, stunning and mind-boggling, "Midsommar" takes time to digest but is a movie that will stick with you, whether you want it to or not.
"Midsommar" is currently streaming on Hulu.
The Lighthouse, 2019
Set in — you guessed it — a late-Victorian lighthouse off the New England coast, this stunningly odd movie by Robert Eggers is as unhinges as its main characters.
After Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson's keepers assume their roles running the lighthouse, slowly but surely, the isolation, approaching storms, living conditions and the environment take their toll on the two weary keepers, who unravel as the days and weeks tick by.
As these alcohol-dependent and exhausted men drift further apart, becoming ever more unbalanced, the two are pushed to the limits of sanity, which are beautifully reflected by the conscientiously confined and reflective cinematography.
Shot exclusively on black and white Kodak Double-X 35mm film, using lenses from the early 20th century, per the Hollywood Reporter, this heavily stylized movie is a clear labor of love and as much of an art piece as a form of entertainment.
"The Lighthouse" is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
Nosferatu, 1922
The original vampire movie, F. W. Murnau's celebrated work not only defines an era of German expressionist cinema but also influences movies to this day.
A movie that looks at any semblance of realism in the rear-view mirror, "Nosferatu" follows Count Orlok, played by Max Schreck, as he attempts to lure a local woman into his world, leaving a trail of devastation along his way. It's a marvel of the age of silent movies.
"Nosferatu" is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
The Red Shoes, 1948
A somewhat overlooked gem, "The Red Shoes" is perhaps the most coveted work from renowned duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.
It depicts the career of an increasingly well-known ballet dancer, played by Moira Shearer, as she battles to become the best she can be while maintaining a love for both the art and those around her.
As her personal life is slowly swamped by her career, the question turns to whether or not the physical and mental toll/torture brought on by the performance that helped her reach her ambitions is ultimately worth it.
"The Red Shoes" is impressive in that it is reflective of the Golden Age of Hollywood, thanks to its use of Technicolor technology amid the glamorous surroundings of Monte Carlo, as well as cynical of the entertainment industry. Look no further for proof of this than comments made by Powell himself: " 'The Red Shoes' told us to go out and die for art."
"Dance you shall!" he told her. "Dance in your red shoes until you are pale and cold, and your flesh shrivels down to the skeleton. Dance you shall from door to door, and wherever there are children proud and vain you must knock at the door till they hear you, and are afraid of you. Dance you shall. Dance always." - As written by Hans Christian Andersen, upon which the movie was based.
"The Red Shoes" is currently streaming on HBO Max.
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