Folk horror films tap into our deep-rooted fear of the unknown, drawing on ancient myths, rural landscapes, and unsettling traditions to create a sense of dread. We cling to fables and myths because they provide a way to explain the mysteries of the world, offering cautionary tales and moral lessons. Here’s 10 frightening folk tales to get your blood pumping this week!
The Hallow (2015)
Adam and his family move into a new house in the woods. However, they soon realise that they will have to fight a demonic presence if they want to live happily in their new home.
On Prime/AppleTV
The Wicker Man (1973)
Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents’ frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow (Britt Ekland), daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders’ strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child.
On AppleTV/Shudder
Children of the Corn (1984)
A traveling couple end up in an abandoned Nebraska town inhabited by a cult of murderous children who worship a demon that lives in the local cornfields.
On Prime/Hulu
The Lair of the White Worm (1988)
On a farm owned by Eve Trent (Catherine Oxenberg) and her sister Mary (Sammi Davis), young archaeologist Angus Flint (Peter Capaldi) discovers a large and inexplicable skull, which he soon deduces belonged to the D’Ampton Worm, a mythical beast supposedly slain generations ago by the ancestor of the current Lord D’Ampton (Hugh Grant). The predatory Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohoe) soon takes an interest in both Flint and the virginal Eve, hinting that the vicious D’Ampton Worm may still live.
On Prime/Plex
The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971)
A farmer discovers the remains of a demon while plowing his land, which leads to a series of supernatural events that grip the village.
*This logline skirts the sheer insanity of this film – mwahahaha!
On Screambox/AppleTV/Prime
The Ritual (2017)
A trip to the Swedish wilderness turns murky as four friends try to mend their strained relationships. However, in the forest, they realise that they are not alone.
On Netflix/Prime/Disney+
The Wind (2017)
A woman settles with her husband on a remote stretch of land on the 19th-century American frontier. However, things start falling apart after she begins to feel the presence of a sinister entity.
On Prime/AppleTV
The Village (2004)
An isolated town lives in fear of an unknown monster from the surrounding woods. But when one from the community is badly injured, a blind girl sets out into the woods to find help from beyond.
On Prime/Disney+
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
The small town of Bright Hope is terrorised by a tribe of cannibalistic savages known as the troglodyte clan. However, soon the town’s men decide to put an end to the tribe.
On Prime/AppleTV
1922 (2017)
A farmer who is going through a financial crisis murders his wife with the help of his son. However, consumed by his guilt, his life soon spirals out of control.
On Netflix
NightTide Magazine 
Leave a comment