‘Beware the harvest’
Lord of Misrule is a 2023 American horror film in which a new minister in a rural English village searches for her missing daughter.
Directed by William Brent Bell (Separation; The Boy and Brahms: The Boy II; Wer; The Devil Inside) from a screenplay written by Tom de Ville (The Quiet Ones; TV series: Hannibal; Urban Gothic).
The Riverstone Pictures-Bigscope Films-REP Productions 12 movie stars Tuppence Middleton, Ralph Ineson (The Pope’s Exorcist; The Northman; The Green Knight; Brahms: The Boy II; The Witch 2015), Matt Stokoe, Evie Templeton, Alexa Goodall, Rosalind March, Anton Valensi, David Langham, Robert Goodman, Jane Wood, Catriona Yuill, Evie Templeton, Luc Ineson, George Keeler and Sally Plumb.
Plot:
Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton) has recently taken over as priest of an English village. When her daughter Grace goes missing at the local harvest festival, a desperate search begins. The closer they edge towards finding Grace, the more secrets emerge from the village’s dark past. Soon, Rebecca must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to rescue her daughter from the grip of evil…
Reviews:
“The finale ultimately satisfies, given Rebecca’s character arc, but Lord of Misrule is carried by the strength of its intriguing mythology and stunning production value. Burrow is a deeply weird town that feels lived in, rich with details and history. The creepy atmosphere and striking imagery on display help offset a folk horror entry that eventually tries to shake up the blueprint, though it’s not wholly successful along the way.” ★★½ Bloody Disgusting
” …a rich and haunting tale that is as much an epic horror tale as it is social commentary. This spellbinding cinematic tale is a complex visual and narrative experience that feels like it could be based on a bestselling novel from a master of the genre. Lord of Misrule is a film worth going to the cinema to experience.” Fears Magazine
“For viewers newer to folk horror cinema, Lord of Misrule should offer plenty to keep them captivated. More seasoned fans of the subgenre will find much of the film familiar and perhaps even derivative at times, but it does serve up enough positive qualities to recommend it to this group for a watch, as well.” ★★★½ Gruesome Magazine
“The female lead is good, but some of the elements involving somewhat gender-stereotypical actions and reactions just didn’t work for me. Or to put it plainly; They made me immediately think: “A man must’ve written this!” which is never good […] It doesn’t ruin anything for the story overall, but it did make me stop and take notice.” ★★★ Heaven of Horror
” …Lord of Misrule doesn’t do enough with its potentially interesting historical situatedness. Like everything else in the film, it’s all surface, no depth […] My disappointment was compounded because I thought Bell’s The Boy was an innovative film, weaving gothic horror with (unexpectedly) slasher traditions. There is no such innovation here – just paint-by-numbers folk horror.” Horror Homeroom
“Lord of Misrule blends the folk horror, possession, and murder-mystery genres in a way that lessens the impact of all three. While the film’s invented version of British folklore gives it some interesting texture and imagery, it lacks a strong point of view.” IGN
“The pain of losing a child has to be unbearable, let alone the mystery of not knowing exactly what may have happened to them. Had Lord of Misrule mixed this notion better with its imagery and haunting elements, Bell would have elevated this “elevated horror” attempt. Instead, it underwhelms and meanders. By the time a visceral gut punch occurs, the momentary excitement does not make up for a misguided mishmash of genre ideas…” Josh at the Movies
“With its literate and well-crafted screenplay and unrelenting atmosphere of terror, William Brent Bell’s Lord of Misrule takes its place beside […] excellent folk horror pictures. A clever and well-designed film born of myths and folklore rituals, this is one of the creepiest horror films in some time.” The Movie Revue
YouTube reviews:
Trailer:
Release:
In the US, Lord of Misrule was released theatrically and digitally by Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing on December 8, 2023.
In Mexico, Lords of Misrule will be released on December 21, 2023.
Cast and characters:
Ralph Ineson … Jocelyn Abney
Tuppence Middleton … Rebecca Holland
Matt Stokoe … Henry Holland
Alexa Goodall … Bryony Furleigh
Rosalind March … Miri Tremlow
Anton Valensi … George Furleigh
David Langham … DI Hythe
Robert Goodman … Graham Nash
Jane Wood … Ida Tremlow
Catriona Yuill … Callie Furleigh
Evie Templeton … Grace Holland
Luc Ineson … Derry Nash
Simon Bundock … Village Boy
Marc Hockley … Villager
George Keeler … Dave Garfoot
Joe Citro … Village Boy
Sally Plumb … Marjorie Garfoot
Rachael Joanne Brown … Goats Head Fire Dancer
Sophie Romer … Villager
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