- Director: Dean Puckett
- Writer: Dean Puckett
- Stars: Emma Appleton, Lewis Gribben, Toby Stephens, Barney Harris
REVIEW
Cults, religion, ignorance, indoctrination and control are the themes that are broached in folk horror The Severed Sun. Early on Magpie (Appleton) tells us through voice over that she is going to murder her husband, and she follows through on that threat. As she begins to rebel against the rules and roles chosen for her, the secluded community sees her as a Heretic and accuses her of using a beast to commit her sins.
The setup is familiar. However, in the hands of writer/director Dean Puckett, it doesn’t get bogged down in the folk horror trap of lingering shots just for the sake of it. The film moves briskly with some very good shots and eerie sequences that are punctuated by bloody violence and even though the films climax ends up in a place you’d expect, it doesn’t make it any less interesting.
Appleton leads this film and is absorbing as Magpie. You can feel her frustration as someone without a voice, and when she makes one for herself, she gets punished. The leader of this community The Pastor (Stephens) is solid in his role, portraying the head of this village as an outwardly infallible but inwardly corrupted. In all honesty, the entire cast is very good, with everyone giving their best to the film.
As an allegory, The SeveredSun is straightforward. Women in general, still cop prejudice and punishment when they go against expectations. Like Magpie in the film, they suffer punishments for nothing more than following their own path. This is nothing new and whether it be through the prism of religion or the group think of fucking morons with a social media following, it continues because those with power also want control.
Dean Puckett has put together a very good folk horror film, one that is probably a bit more accessible in this subgenre. The Severed Sun is an interesting addition to the folk horror family.
The Severed Sun is available now.
Ryan Morrissey-Smith
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