WINNER 2024

LECTURE:
Dark Forests and Forgotten Rituals

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Fairy tales, legends, myths, and folklore are deeply rooted in our culture—and cinema gratefully draws from that rich tradition. Set against rural backdrops, folk horror delves into themes of isolation, tight-knit communities, pagan customs, and the supernatural. Populated by vivid, often unhinged characters, these stories explore moral lessons about good and evil—while reminding us that not everything in the world has our best interests at heart.

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When we look closely at our own fairy tales, we find essentially gruesome stories filled with murder, death, and cannibalism. Yet through these kinds of narratives and films, we also get a fascinating window into the folklore of various regions—and how cinema in turn creates its own mythology.

Cultural historian and film lecturer Constant Hoogenbosch guides us through the world of folk horror, discussing a compelling range of examples, including The Wicker Man, The Ritual, Thale, The Feast (Gwledd), Jordskott, Midsommar, The Witch, The Apostle, Wake Wood, and Halloween.