Lord of Misrule (film)
A folk horror film about a missing child in a rural village.
Lord of Misrule, a British folk horror film from 2023, was directed and co-produced by William Brent Bell from a script by Tom de Ville. The cast includes Tuppence Middleton, Ralph Ineson, Evie Templeton, and Matt Stokoe. The story centres on a young mother who has just become the village vicar and is frantically searching for her missing young daughter. Magnolia Pictures and Magnet Releasing handled the film's distribution, putting it out in select theatres, on digital platforms, and on demand on 8 December 2023, with a wider release in January 2024. Critical reception was mixed.
The plot follows Rebecca Holland, who has recently taken up the role of vicar at the parish church in the rural English village of Berrow. After a harvest festival where her daughter Grace is named the 'Harvest Angel', the girl vanishes. As the police and villagers search, local traditions tied to a deity called Gallowgog raise suspicions.
The cast features Tuppence Middleton as Rebecca Holland, Matt Stokoe as Henry Holland, Evie Templeton as Grace Holland, Ralph Ineson as Jocelyn Abney, Alexa Goodall as Bryony Furleigh, Anton Valensi as George Furleigh, Rosalind March as Miri Tremlow, Jane Wood as Ida Tremlow, Sally Plumb as Marjorie Garfoot, David Langham as DI Hythe, and Robert Goodman as Graham Nash.
Production began in October 2021, with filming taking place in Aldbury, Hertfordshire. Bankside Films developed the project, and in 2023, Signature Entertainment acquired the UK rights.
The film was released by Magnolia Pictures and Magnet Releasing in select theatres, on digital, and on demand on 8 December 2023, with a wider release in January 2024.
On the critical front, the Hollywood Reporter listed *Lord of Misrule* among the "Best Horror Films of 2023." On Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of 19 critics gave positive reviews, with an average rating of 5.5/10. Metacritic assigned a weighted score of 46 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Leslie Felperin of *The Guardian* gave it two stars, calling it "a poor man's reworking" of *The Wicker Man*. Alan Jacques of the *Limerick Post* awarded three stars, noting "heaps of unfulfilled potential" but adding that "the absorbing twist at the end more than makes up for many of its inadequacies." Meagan Navarro of *Bloody Disgusting* wrote that while the film "can't fully escape the trappings" of folk horror cl
- release_year
- 2023
- country
- United Kingdom
- director
- William Brent Bell
- writer
- Tom de Ville
- genre
- Folk horror
- distributors
- Magnolia Pictures, Magnet Releasing
Lore & Background
The film is set in the rural English village of Berrow, where Rebecca Holland has recently taken a job as vicar of the parish church. After attending a village harvest festival at which her daughter Grace is chosen as the 'Harvest Angel', Grace goes missing. The ensuing search by villagers and police is complicated by the village's traditions surrounding a god named Gallowgog, which begin to cause suspicion. Filming took place in Aldbury, Hertfordshire, starting in October 2021. The film was developed by Bankside Films, with UK rights sold to Signature Entertainment in 2023.
Reader's Guide
Lord of Misrule was included on the Hollywood Reporter list of 'Best Horror Films of 2023.' On Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of 19 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.5/10. Metacritic assigned a score of 46 out of 100, indicating 'mixed or average' reviews. Critics compared it unfavorably to The Wicker Man, with Leslie Felperin of The Guardian calling it 'a poor man's reworking.' Alan Jacques of the Limerick Post awarded three stars, noting 'heaps of unfulfilled potential' but praising the twist ending. Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting wrote that the film 'can't fully escape the trappings' of folk horror classics but is 'carried by the strength of its intriguing mythology and stunning production value.' Daniel Akinbola of Filmhounds gave it three stars, stating it 'doesn't do anything innovative' but is 'a solid folk horror with a few stand out moments and solid performances.'
Did You Know?
- The film was directed and co-produced by William Brent Bell and written by Tom de Ville.
- Filming took place in Aldbury, Hertfordshire, starting in October 2021.
- The film was released in select theaters and on demand on 8 December 2023, with a wider release in January 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Lord of Misrule (film)?
William Brent Bell helmed the 2023 folk horror picture, also serving as a co-producer, while Tom de Ville penned the screenplay.
What is Lord of Misrule (film) about?
The plot follows a young mother who has just stepped into the role of village vicar and is frantically trying to track down her missing young daughter within a rural community.
Who stars in Lord of Misrule (film)?
The main cast features Tuppence Middleton alongside Ralph Ineson, Evie Templeton, and Matt Stokoe.
When was Lord of Misrule (film) released and who distributed it?
Magnolia Pictures and Magnet Releasing brought the film to select theatres, digital platforms, and on-demand services on 8 December 2023, with a wider rollout arriving in January 2024.
How did critics receive Lord of Misrule (film)?
Reviews for the British folk horror entry were mixed, with audiences and critics offering divided opinions on its handling of the genre.
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