10 Folk Horror Movies To Lead You Astray

The only film on this list that was released in the tumultuous year of 2020!

Directed by Oz Perkins, Gretel and Hansel is an adaptation of the classic tale, Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm.

As more narratives are being told from female perspectives, horror has started to change. Women have become less shrieking final girl, and more fully realised protagonist… in some cases, at least. This idea is utilised in Gretel and Hansel, which twists the familiar tale to feature the sister as the lead character.

As Gretel and her young brother are forced to travel into the woods, they find refuge in the home of an old, eccentric woman who’s house is laden with food. We all know this tale: the woman is a witch who wants to eat the children.

Well, not quite. The horror here resides not in the fear that Gretel will be harmed, but that she will cause harm to others. She begins to realise her own magical tendencies as the woman teaches her witchcraft. The more she immerses herself in it, the more of a threat she starts to pose to her brother.

This is a theme being explored in folk horror more frequently nowadays: what if the ancient forces that threaten the world are running through your own bloodlines? What if you are destined to be the pagan evil that destroys modern society?

The cinematography and art direction are also incredibly beautiful in this film and deserve a mention in their own right.