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.
A prime example is Robert Eggers' recently released The Northman - the latest addition to his remarkable filmography.
So what better time to delve into the chilling world of folklore and give you our selection or suggested movies to stream this coming weekend?
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 can be enjoyed via subscription 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 resemblance of reality begins to crumble and their ritualistic society digs 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 in a way few do if you decide to stream is via subscription 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 feels as unhinges as its main characters throughout.
After Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson's keepers assume their roles running the lighthouse, slowly but surely the isolation, approaching storms, living conditions, and perhaps the environment itself take their toll on the two weary keepers who unravel as the days and weeks tick by.
As these increasingly 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 can be experienced via subscription on Amazon Prime.
Nosferatu, 1922
The original vampire movie, F. W. Murnau's celebrated take work not only arguably defines an era of German expressionist cinema but influences movies to this day.
A movie that looks at any resemblance 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.
A marvel of the age of silent movies, Nosferatu can be watched via subscription 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.
The Red Shoes 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 both reflective of the golden age of Hollywood thanks to its use of Technicolor technology amidst the glamorous surroundings of Monte Carlo, as much as it is 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 can be watched via subscription on HBO Max.
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