10 Horror Movies That Wage War On Your Senses
6. A Field In England
Ben Wheatley's psychedelic seventeenth-century odyssey truly is a film like no other. An entirely idiosyncratic blend of horror, folklore, and mushroom-related madness, A Field in England really is one of those "you've got see it to believe it" affairs.
Set during the English Civil War, we follow an unlikely group of alchemists and army deserters as they travel across a vast field in search of a promised alehouse. Old rivalries, supposed black magic, and heavy use of psychedelics soon begin to splinter the group, and whispers of a nearby treasure creates further conflict.
Right off the bat, the stark black and white cinematography coupled with the story's barren setting creates a harsh and uncaring atmosphere, one that's further exacerbated by the distant sounds of war and the encroaching effects of the mushrooms they've consumed - all of which culminates in one of the trippiest finales you're ever likely to see.
Despite the seemingly random mix of ideas, everything fits together organically to create a disconcerting and impossible to predict narrative - so much so that by the end it will have you wondering what's real, what's the influence of the local fungi, and what the hell you've just watched.