Jikirag

The film takes place in 1263 with the plague killing people. A band of folks leave the village and head into the forest. They come across an ancient forest, but there is something there like a moss man. The people make an agreement that they will be allowed to stay as long they only take what they need and no more. However, in spite of their meager existence, they had taken more than they need, more than the forest can sustain, and now the humans must be returned to the earth or something like that. I guess that was the environmental message. I didn't fully grasp what was going on with the characters who we never got to know, even after two hours. I thought the film was going to be over (hoping anyway) then a pregnant woman shows up. They spoke some sort of English that was meant to sound old, but wasn't anything real. Apparently the Jikirag eats children, but I don't know why or how that entered into the agreement. I had no idea what he was eating under the torches, but it seemed magical and important. I felt like the film was missing something, or an idiot shot and edited it. I believe the film would be better if they gutted the dialogue and let Monty Python add their own. Guide: C-world, No sex. Distant nudity (Jessica Moutray).

A no-spoilers review by Loathsome Things: A Horror Movie Podcast The premise for this movie is awesome. Olden times peasants are magically trapped in a cursed forest, but the whatever-it-is in there with them provides for them and protects them from the outside world, as long as they don't get greedy. It's like a dirty-under-the-nails Eden. I'm hooked! Oof, but then the bad, bad, bad, bad old-timey talk begins. The acting isn't terrible, except when people are talking. All the talking is terrible, and there is a lot of talking. You get the feeling they thought they were achieving some kind of Shakespearian grandeur. But, lo, it is merely verily annoying! The whiny store-brand Jack Black-looking guy gets better as the movie progresses, but it's a really rough start before he dives into the body-acting, then he overdoes it and it gets bad again. The costumes look like they were cut out of dumpster sofas and curtains. The set designs are awesome and look like some cool people put a lot of solid work into them. Surprisingly effective sound design really helps distract from the clumsy and unlovable dialogue, though even that can overdo it at times. There's some quality camerawork at play, too, giving this movie a tactile and present feel. Some quality practical and digital effects are sprinkled throughout. The big Jikirag reveal is cool, but not VERY cool. Think 75% Black Mountain Side, 25% The Ritual. This movie borrows elements from The Village Jug Face, Apostle, and just a touch of Evil Dead. It is soundly within the Folk Horror sub-genre. All told, it's a sometimes-fun, sometimes-frustrating movie to watch. Skilled craftsmanship and obnoxious writing go hand-in-hand, making this a quintessential 5 out of 10 IMDBs. It's a solid watch for Folk Horror fans that want to hearken back to a more hammy-mouthed time. -Josh from Loathsome Things: A Horror Movie Podcast.