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Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror

Name: Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror
Director: Kier-La Janisse
Released: 2021
Duration: 193 min

2021

Director

Kier-La Janisse

Runtime

193 minutes

Average Rating

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Synopsis

An exploration of the cinematic history of the folk horror, from its beginnings in the UK in the late sixties; through its proliferation on British television in the seventies and its many manifestations, culturally specific, in other countries; to its resurgence in the last decade.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

7.1/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Good

The film offers intellectual space for queer readings of genre tropes. It examines how non-conforming identities have been historically coded within the folk horror aesthetic. However, it lacks direct depictions of intimacy.

Gender Representation

Excellent

The documentary centers the witch archetype to subvert traditional gender hierarchies. It analyzes how the genre uses the feminine to challenge patriarchal structures and undermine masculine authority.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The analysis moves beyond Anglo-Saxon roots to examine global manifestations of the genre. It acknowledges how diverse cultures use landscape and folklore to express unique identity-based narratives.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film prioritizes the study of paganism and non-Christian spiritualities. It frames the tension between organized religion and folk belief as a conflict between oppressive institutions and organic identities.

Disability Representation

Fair

The exploration of psychological alienation provides a foundation for understanding neurodivergence. However, the film lacks explicit, dedicated segments regarding physical or sensory disability.

Strengths

Strong subversion of gender hierarchies through the reclamation of the witch archetype.
Expansive global view that moves beyond traditional Anglo-Saxon folk horror roots.
Deep intellectual engagement with paganism and non-Christian spiritual identities.
Effective use of genre tropes to critique oppressive social and religious institutions.

Areas for Improvement

Lack of explicit, dedicated segments focusing on physical or sensory disability.
Absence of direct depictions of intimacy or queer-coded character narratives.
Heavy reliance on theoretical analysis rather than direct representation of marginalized identities.

AI Analysis

Kier-La Janisse delivers a sophisticated scholarly examination that actively deconstructs traditional Western hierarchies. The documentary moves away from a monolithic view of horror by highlighting how identity and spirituality serve as sites of resistance. The film excels in its treatment of gender and cultural spirituality, using the genre to critique patriarchal and organized religious structures. It successfully expands the folk horror conversation beyond its British origins to include global perspectives. While the theoretical framework touches on themes of alienation and the 'other,' the film lacks specific, direct representation of physical disability and intimate queer narratives. It remains primarily an intellectual, rather than a character-driven, exploration.

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