10 Movies and Shows Similar to Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched (2022)

Description: The Company of Wolves parallels Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched in its rich tapestry of folk tales and gothic horror. The film's anthology-like structure and focus on werewolf mythology reflect the documentary's exploration of how folk horror narratives are passed down and transformed over time.

Fact: The film is based on Angela Carter's short stories, which reimagine fairy tales. Director Neil Jordan used elaborate, dream-like sets to create a surreal atmosphere. The transformation scenes were achieved with groundbreaking (for the time) practical effects.

Description: Kill List resonates with Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched through its exploration of folk horror elements, particularly the descent into madness and violence spurred by ancient, malevolent forces. The film's abrupt shift from crime thriller to folk horror mirrors the documentary's examination of how horror can emerge from the land and its forgotten rituals.

Fact: Director Ben Wheatley has cited British folk horror classics like The Wicker Man as major influences. The film's shocking ending was kept secret from the actors until filming. Kill List was made on a very modest budget but gained a cult following for its intense atmosphere.

Description: A Field in England aligns with Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched in its use of historical setting and folk horror tropes, such as hallucinogenic plants and the supernatural lurking in the countryside. The film's black-and-white cinematography and surreal narrative echo the documentary's focus on the uncanny and the archaic.

Fact: The film was released simultaneously in cinemas, on DVD, and on TV in the UK, a first for a British film. Director Ben Wheatley used alchemical texts as inspiration for the film's themes. The entire movie was shot in just 12 days.

Description: The Hallow connects to Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched through its use of Irish folklore and the terror of the natural world. The film's creatures are drawn from actual Irish myths, similar to how the documentary examines real folk traditions that inspire horror.

Fact: Director Corin Hardy is a special effects artist, which influenced the practical creature designs. The film was shot in a real forest in Ireland, adding to its authenticity. Hardy used his childhood fear of the dark and forests to shape the film's atmosphere.

Description: A Dark Song resonates with Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched in its meticulous portrayal of occult rituals and the psychological toll of engaging with the supernatural. The film's grounded approach to magic and its folk horror elements align with the documentary's scholarly yet chilling exploration of the genre.

Fact: Director Liam Gavin researched real occult practices to ensure authenticity. The film was shot in chronological order to help the actors' performances. The house used in the film was reportedly haunted, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Description: The Wailing shares with Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched a deep dive into folk horror, blending Korean shamanistic traditions with a gripping mystery. The film's slow burn and ambiguous evil reflect the documentary's interest in how folklore can be both culturally specific and universally terrifying.

Fact: Director Na Hong-jin spent years researching Korean shamanism for the film. The film's title in Korean, 'Goksung', refers to a state of extreme confusion or chaos. The Wailing was a box office hit in South Korea, despite its lengthy runtime.

Description: The Devil's Doorway shares with Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched a focus on folk horror within a religious context, exploring the intersection of faith and superstition. The found-footage style adds a layer of realism to the supernatural events, much like the documentary's scholarly yet chilling approach to folk horror.

Fact: The film is set in a Magdalene Laundry, institutions with a dark history in Ireland. It was shot in just 10 days. Director Aislinn Clarke is the first woman to direct a horror film in Northern Ireland.

Description: Tumbbad aligns with Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched through its use of Indian folklore and the horror of greed and curses. The film's mythological roots and atmospheric dread mirror the documentary's examination of how folk horror emerges from cultural anxieties and legends.

Fact: Tumbbad took six years to make due to funding and production challenges. The film blends horror with social commentary on post-colonial India. Director Rahi Anil Barve was inspired by a Marathi folk tale his grandfather told him.

Description: The Wind connects to Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched through its use of isolation and the supernatural in a frontier setting, echoing folk horror's themes of the land's inherent terror. The film's slow unraveling of sanity and the unseen horrors reflect the documentary's focus on the psychological aspects of folk horror.

Fact: The Wind is one of the few horror films set in the American frontier. Director Emma Tammi drew from diaries of pioneer women for authenticity. The film's sparse dialogue and reliance on atmosphere were inspired by classic silent films.

Description: Midsommar shares similarities with Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched as both delve into the eerie and unsettling aspects of folk horror. Midsommar, like the documentary, explores ancient pagan rituals and the psychological terror they induce, set against a backdrop of natural beauty that contrasts with the horror. Both works examine how folklore and tradition can be sources of terror as much as cultural heritage.

Fact: Midsommar was inspired by director Ari Aster's own breakup, channeling personal pain into the film's narrative. The film's flower dress worn by Dani during the May Queen ceremony weighed over 50 pounds. The script was written in just two weeks, but the film took years to develop.