FOLK HORROR FILM RECOMMENDATIONS

[@-filiporoz]

My recommendation is "Leptirica", a Yugoslav horror movie from 1973. The movie is an authentic representation of the belief in vampires, which was common in Balkan, and I like the simplicity of that movie. There is no special effect, so even reality by yourself here is like horror, lol.

[@loveandlightsabers]

I just watched it recently!

[@leedwyer161]

Considering both Le Fanu and Stoker were Irish Id beg to differ

[@luketheyoda]

I really enjoyed the movie recommendations you had on this list. You inspired me to rewatch Midsummer. I still have to watch "Marita Lazarova." Though I would like to recommend "Onibaba" - that movie nightmarishly portrays a timeless story that works beautifully as an unsettling cautionary tale, a ruthless coming-of-age story, and haunting folklore, never abandoning its deeply claustrophobic atmosphere. I also think that it would be a good idea to check out the rest of Robert Eggers' filmography, given that you enjoyed his breakout movie "The VVitch." His fourth movie, "Nosferatu," is coming out this Christmas! I would also like to mention that there is a podcast produced by A24 and hosted by Robert Eggers and Ari Astor as they discuss the life and works of the greatest and most prolific swedish director, Ingmar Bergman. If you have not seen any of his movies, I think you would really really enjoy them. Especially persona and cries and whispers

[@leedwyer161]

Marketa

[@TumbleFourYa]

If anyone wants a folk horror novel, I highly recommend Slewfoot by Brom! The writing is so lush and the author is also a visual artist, so each chapter is headed with a mini painting. There are also some pages of full-color illustrations! I'd also like to give a shoutout to the short story collection Haunted Nights in which each story centers around a different Halloween tradition.

[@karissalove]

omg this is incredible, folk horror is my favorite genre !!!!❤

[@karissalove]

also must recommend the novel Slewfoot by Brom if you haven’t read it!! gothic folk horror madness, it’s excellent!

[@bellabyers2929]

Ariana what are you doing here

[@teddybearbooks]

The way that I just watched The Witch two nights ago and posted on letterboxd that I needed more films of that caliber… it’s like you were reading my mind !!!!!!!!

[@kiplinkaldahl1298]

You might enjoy The Devils (1971) by Ken Russell if you haven’t seen it! It explores christianity, sexuality, and violence in a medieval French town and was considered highly controversial and was even banned in some countries :p

[@LouLou1706-j2q]

I literally watched "The Witch" yesterday and was looking for similar films right when you uploaded this. I think I am going with Hereditary now, thanks Dakota 😃

[@gourmetghost]

check out Midsommar too it's great..also Under the Silver Lake (less horror more mystery but think you will dig)

[@pvnkswag]

Beautiful list! Loved the sound effects! For my recommendation I will say When Evil Lurks (an Argentinian film that got pretty famous last year but I still think it deserves a mention even if it's not necessary) this film is set in a small remote village which, ofcourse, is filled of weird demonic events mixed with pagan superstitions. I don't think my description makes the film justice, tho. Another one recent from Argentina is The Horned Frog, I have heard good reviews about it but haven't been able to watch it yet, so take this one with a grain of salt.

[@natasham4184]

Surprisingly enough, when I was in primary school in England, we had a whole module about Aboriginal culture. It wasn't about colonisation but focused on folklore and tradition. All these years later, it really stuck with me. I'd love to learn more and Walkabout sounds like an incredible film that I'll definitely try to watch - thanks for recommending it!

[@Wishbone-Mayonnaise]

I had that in America too! Although it was very short :(

[@natasham4184]

The Wicker Man is so iconic, I need to rewatch it soon. My recommendation to add to this list is The Village, directed my M. Night Shyamalan. I had no idea what to expect, but found it really thought provoking. It's currently on Disney+.

[@indigo_diary]

I second that recommendation, very interesting movie

[@scottemerson7202]

Excellent list. Blood on Satan's Claw, which you mentioned, is a great example of the genre as well. I would also recommend Eyes of Fire and Witchfinder General.

[@leonasindlerova1727]

I remember when we watched Markéta Lazarová in school, I was definitely way too young to understand it back then :D I should finally rewatch it. The whole film is actually here on YT with English subtitles. I wanted to send you here link to a google drive with a lot of other Czech and Slovak films but I suppose youtube isn't very kind to foreign links. Enjoy

[@emmabluu]

it’s not really folk horror but has folk horror elements. shadows of our forgotten ancestors (1967) dir. sergei parajanov. a brilliant piece of soviet film history, i love the way that parajanov explores themes of tragedy while keeping with the love story.

[@Napping_Hermit]

I can't recommend "The Vourdalak" highly enough! It came out earlier this year, but when i was watching it, i really got the vibe that it was made in the 60s or 70s. It's based on a book of the same name and tells the story of a family that takes in a stranded French nobleman, but then becomes haunted when their father returns from battle... not quite as he left.... it's probably my favorite movie of the year!

[@rayvenous5085]

I'd recommend, The Company Of Wolves from 1984. Great take on the Little Red Riding Hood tale. Lots of symbolism, metaphor with a darkly magical atmosphere

[@BiSIDOLISDEAD]

Marketa Lazarova was released by The Criterion collection in, I believe, 2013 and available in both DVD and Blu-Ray formats.

[@purpleprince8413]

As someone form Czechia myself, I'm really glad you mentioned Markéta Lazarová and not only Valerie. It's very intense but beautiful film. Another imo maybe more niche movie from the folk horror genre is Slovak movie Nightsiren/Svetlonoc (description from letterbox: mysterious woman returns to her mountain village home to confront her painful past. As she tries to uncover the long-buried truth, the local villagers accuse her of witchcraft and murder) It's again very intense and hauting, loved it a lot! And i cannot forget to mention You Won't Be Alone. This movie changes me and still haunts me in the best strange way. Incredibly shot, it really goes under you skin and into your bones. Folk horror is prolly my fave horror genre and you all should try and watch these

[@amalieprilucikova3820]

@@purpleprince8413 I concur, I'm Czech as well & I really loved Světlonoc! It covers the topics of mental health, feminism, marginalization and others, and the visuals are just stunning... Such a great movie, thank you for mentioning it.

[@purpleprince8413]

​@@amalieprilucikova3820 omg mame tu mini klubik ceskych fans Dakoty v komentarich, nejvic cute haha

[@BaileeWalsh]

There is an upload of Marketa Lazarová (1967) on youtube by the channel "Czech and Slovak Movies with English Subtitles." Besides that in the US it's available from Criterion- same with Walkabout. I recommend The Blood on Stan's Claw (1971), November (2017), and of course the documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021) and most of the films in the All The Haunts be Our Compendium of Folk Horror. And especially because you have Valerie here, other films I think are in the same realm as those you mention but not necessarily FOLK horror are: The Company of Wolves (1984), Morgiana (1972), Panna a netvor (1978), Laurin (1989), Lemora: A Child’s Tale of the Supernatural (1973), The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973).

[@purpleprince8413]

November was so good!! And so nice to see so many Czechoslovak movies here (I'm Czech myself haha) - You all should also check the work of Jan Švakmajer... it's more surreal but still incredible.

[@BaileeWalsh]

@purpleprince8413 I love Czech fairytale films and those adjacent to fairytales! 💗 Probably my favorite first-time watch of this year is Malá mořská víla (1976), which I watched back in February. Last month I watched The Girl on the Broomstick (1972). And around Christmastime I like rewatching Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973). I've seen Alice and Faust from Švankmajer. I'd definitely like to check out others by him.

[@purpleprince8413]

@@BaileeWalsh Love that you like so many of these! Czech fairytale films are so dear to me, classics really!

[@BaileeWalsh]

@purpleprince8413 There's something especially charming about them! And I really appreciate their craft- granted, I'm unfamiliar with the history of children's and teen media within Czech film, but it's nice seeing what could be viewed as "just for kids," or a younger audience, taken more seriously and like any other film. Plus the darker aspects or sadder tones at times, depending on the film. Classics for sure!

[@francis7621]

if you have a letterboxd, please do share your username! i would LOVE to follow you, you have such a stellar taste

[@stringbean88]

I'd recommend the South Korean film The Wailing (2016) :D

[@honeybrown4946]

the ending GAGGED me

[@janciadmcv1417]

as a girl from czech republic, i love dakota's pronounciation of czcech names, its so wrong and co cute

[@taniafrant2777]

Based on these recommendations I think you would adore the movie Mother! 2017 one

[@vov.7397]

I'm not a huge Aronofsky fan, but mother! worked for me. It tends to divide audiences, so I'm always reticent to recommend it, but I thought it was fantastic.

[@Andi-s2z]

I would say it's maybe less pure folk horror more comedy horror with folk horror elements, but I would always recomend The Lair Of The White Worm. It's about a Scottish archeologist who travels to the north of England to do a dig and discovers that the legends surrounding the local area might have some truth to them... its from 1988 and directed by Ken Russell. it is fairly psychological, exploring themes of the threat of the unkown, although quite 80s in the sense that there are often young women running about in their underware. overall an absolutely brilliant film that i will never stop recomending :)

[@anastasia_editz]

probably more psychological horror than folk horror, but I'd recommend the cremator, a 1969 Czechoslovakian film

[@elm33]

I haven’t seen several of these so I’m really excited for them, thank-you! I highly recommend A Field in England and other Ben Wheatley films, they’re like 21st century folk horror love notes ♥

[@adriannavarro5120]

If you liked "Valerie and her week of wonders", you might like "Lemora: A child’s tale of the supernatural" Also, "Sanarorium pod Klepsydra" was quite good

[@xiav3318]

oh my goshhhhh, my absolute favourite genre! what a treat :D

[@m4ddyr0s3]

i was waiting for the midsommar mention and right after the australian film was perfect ❤️ i love midsommar so so much, and have been planning to watch hereditary and many others in this list! so i hopefully will soon!!! I’m so glad to have stumbled across this pg, love from aus ❤️

[@cathiew21]

another film recommendations video from dakota? this feels like a blessing from the gods

[@leafpile1373]

anyone who is at all interested in folk horror should check out the Silt Verses, its an audio drama and outstanding VA'ing and writing

[@vov.7397]

I subscribed to that but I haven't started it yet. Nice to hear a good opinion about it.

[@MercedesHawks]

Not a folk horror recommendation, but a psychological horror recommendation would have to be Saint Maud! The ending scene is horrifyingly perfect and I feel the film is right up your ally. It is relatively well known, being made by A24, but it is fantastic.

[@JAY-jg6fo]

Sit with your friends and have a ritual feel

[@The5n0w]

I recommend November (2017), from Estonia, visually stunning and Hagazussa. Also The Borderlands (2013), might look like your average catholic demon movie at first, but wait for that ending 😉

[@melvyncollins7305]

Ooh, right up my alley, glad to know that Wicker Man's soundtrack is one of your faves, mine too. Walkabout is a very famous film to my generation probably down to Jenny (Railway Children) Agutter getting her kit off! May I suggest a few TV ideas to watch such as Penda's Fen, Children Of The Stones, Robin Redbreast and maybe the BBC's Ghost Stories for Christmas, all excellent stuff and even more creepy than some of the bigger budget films, it's almost as if the small TV budget makes the director work harder to get the eerie feel. Xx

[@bubbles577]

The Witch is my one of my favorite movies ever!!!

[@munirafatima3414]

there’s a movie called ‘Bhediya’ (which means wolf) made in India which fits perfectly into this genre. It’s set in rural north-eastern India (which is quite cut off from the mainland) and engages in their lore and environmentalism. Do check it out!

[@nandinimittal1455]

omg i love that movie 😭😭

[@Bloodlesstheimmortal]

Recommendations that are a little more obscure (some more than others) The Ritual Apostle November (estonian movie) The Wailing

[@miltonmania18]

i recommend November (2017). it's visually a visually immaculate Estonian film. proper beauty.

[@chapter_black3234]

I would absolutely follow you on letterboxd if you ever choose to share your thoughts on movies and recommendations on a social media platform made for it. That being said, I also really love Celia and Pan's Labyrinth when it comes to folk horror. They seem very similar in some ways but are both spectacular in different ways. I do really love the Ari Aster double-feature of Hereditary & Midsommar as well. Me and a date went as Peter from Hereditary and Dani from Midsommar for Halloween last year. Not sure if the Suspirias could count as folk horror, but both have a conspiracy of witches and the original is in the middle of the woods, so I'd say so. The original is so psychedelic, crazy in color with a stellar soundtrack. It is my all-time favorite horror movie ever 🚕⛈️🌲🩰🔪🔮🦚🏳️‍🌈

[@fishinghookz]

She does have a Letterboxd! Her username is ladydakota :)

[@BaileeWalsh]

She does have a Letterboxd: Lady Dakota

[@djflippy5]

Magickal Miss Dakota, please do watch You Won’t Be Alone. It’s not about witches, it’s about being a witch. You like to think and this will empower to do so. If you never see this message, I will be quite sad, because I’m trying to get my friend from Sweden to watch it, but I don’t know if she will like it or not. You will.

[@AScreenwritersJourney]

Love your picks! The soundtracks for WICKER MAN and VALERIE are enchanting. I would also recommend VIY (1967) from Russia, and INCANTATION (2022) from Taiwan.

[@Pazoo_underscore]

ive never heard of folk horror, but i want to watch every film you mentioned

[@carapicciotto7537]

have you seen the white reindeer from 1952? It is a finnish production with a story set in a village of the sami people and not just gorgeously shot, but depicted sami culture for the first time. it follows a newly wed woman and her struggles after an enchantment goes wrong and she turns into a white reindeer at night, that is hunted down by the villages men.

[@laindarko3591]

There's a wonderful documentary called Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched that serves as a great overview of folk horror in film. I discovered a lot of movies to watch just by watching the documentary (including Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, which I can't stop thinking about ever since watching it!!) This subgenre just enchants me like no other!

[@winterywillow.]

I really needed this!

[@WilliamNobleBonninActual]

Thanks Dakota Warren Peace. Cool video

[@skyefriend9127]

Not a film but rather a magazine recommendation I have for anyone who loves folk horror and the occult is Hellebore. It's uk indie published and reasonably priced, and definitely full of stunning articles and visuals

[@user-Brian_Gregory]

You should watch a movie called EYES OF FIRE from 1983. It's about a group of Europeans in 1700s North America who settle in a valley believed (correctly) by the indigenous people to be cursed. I saw it (on VHS) when it first came out, and was impressed by its originality. It was impossible to find for decades, then got a digital release a few years ago. On rewatching it, it didn't live up to my fond memories. Still, if you're a folk horror completist, you'll want to track it down.

[@littlec6946]

Häxan (1922) is another great swedish folk horror- half documentary, half fictional story- it tells the history of witches in Europe and the following persecutions. Obviously, it has some great stills:)

[@ginger-uz8je]

Wicker man is set Scotland and sergeant Howie is from Scotland (west Highlands)

[@amalieprilucikova3820]

I would recommend a Czechoslovakian movie from 1962 called Ďáblova past by František Vláčil, as I believe it very much fits into the genre. It has the fantastically disturbing soundtrack by Zdeněk Liška in it... Also, not a folk horror movie (rather a historical drama about love, duty and religion) but have you seen Údolí včel from 1967, directed by Vláčil as well? I think you might really like it.

[@katie.andreas27]

If you haven't seen The Ritual you should watch it! Love The VVitch and also anything Ari Aster does. Haven't seen The Wickerman but it's been on my list for years.

[@arabian800]

Now this is interesting

[@Axël_der_Steppenwolf]

i was expecting the last one to be hard to find, but there's a criterion collection release. and i see it's based on a novel that also happens to have an english translation!

[@ic3peak276]

dakota and film!!

[@fyfesandy3491]

You might, if you have not already done so, want to take a look at M R James' A Warning to the Curious, and Other Ghost Stories (1925). A collection of short stories said to inspire Folk Horror.

[@richardbrown8966]

walkabout is an english film made and set in australia, not an australian film. nic roeg the director is english as is jenny agutter the main actress.

[@backbenchintellectual]

Anybody looking for recommendations outside of the west, here's a few from India: Tumbbad : Greed, cosmic horror, body horror, treasure hunt (ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL CINEMATOGRAPHY) Bulbbul: Feminist, love, vengeance, witch (ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL CINEMATOGRAPHY)

[@erraticskul]

do you have books and movies recommendations on platonic love to provide us?

[@oaky9877]

You should check out “Kill List.” It’s a British film about two hitmen trying to complete a contract and then things go a little…sideways.

[@Drink.lacroix]

I just looked it up Marketa Lazarová is available on criterion streaming service in the US at least

[@carrie227]

Enjoyed this, love Folk Horror 🖤 Lucifer Rising stars with Marianne Faithfull as Lilith✨Not entirely sure if it’s Folk Horror or Folk Art Horror 🤔

[@francis7621]

i would recommend November (2017) dir. Rainer Sarnet!

[@ic3peak276]

where do you guys watch these kinds of films?? i used to go on internet archive but they have gone weird...

[@oaky9877]

Hereditary is brilliant, just line up some looney tunes or Disney movies as aftercare.

[@Pazoo_underscore]

your doorbell made me jump out of my skin how do you live with that

[@jacquelinenichols5330]

what's the opening song? 🙂‍↕️🎶

[@josephinebelliveau8488]

Can we get a list of books that align with folk horror themes? ❤

[@bzztthundaa]

❤

[@shanii_lvh]

Does anyone have any folk horror book recommendations??!:)

[@Dynsdead]

Slewfoot, Trough the woods, The Ritual. ( ans I don’t think if Lapvona is folk but it’s set in the deep countryside and it’s gross so I add it here 😂)

[@WilliamNobleBonninActual]

Blaire Witch lmao

[@claralunir7648]

I would recommend the documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched : a History of Folk Horror by Kier-la Janisse and regarding folk horror in books I highly recommend the Lottery by Shirley Jackson, Monte Verita by Daphne du Maurier and the Birds by Daphne du Maurier !

[@TimBamford-s1e]

Great video as usual. Your video on Warhol inspired me to write most of the songs on this album kzbin.info/aero/OLAK5uy_lAeyWcNsekoNuV9we5yzzvXPfgjoziIvQ 😊