Wildling is a welcome addition to the werewolf genre. A genre that seems to get little love, both by way of following and decent films. But every now and then, a gem comes along that shines out of the din of so many mediocre werewolf movies. Wildling may not be the brightest gem, but it definitely shines and gives us a new take on the werewolf myth. That in itself is something special, as its not uncommon for a writer to dream up a new spin on an old monster, but rarely does it hit the mark.

In some ways, this is a movie that might be better going into it, without knowing about the werewolf element. The start of the film sets itself up to be quite the thriller, before it takes that turn toward lycanthropy. Though, the turn is still early enough that knowing about it doesn't spoil anything and so it's thankfully possible to write a review of it, without giving away spoilers.


Wildling is the story of a young girl, Anna (Bel Powley) who is raised locked in a secluded cabin, by her sinister father. However, when she is finally found, she is forced to learn to live in our world, while also learning to live with the progressive changes of a young woman's body. All these changes are the forerunner to uncovering a secret about where she comes from and, ultimately, the future that lies ahead of her.
She is accompanied on this journey, by the local sheriff (played by Liv Tyler) and her brother (Collin Kelly-Sordelet).


Liv Tyler is the unexpected producer of this film and to my mind she has done a good job, making the movie really feel like a labour of love. Though, of course, we also have to give great credit to writers Fritz Böhm (who also directed the film) and Florian Eder. If these two can keep writing to this calibre, then I expect they'll bring us great things in the future.


Powley is charming in the lead role, effortlessly portraying a character who possesses both wide-eyed innocence and a notable intellect. Brad Dourif plays the part of “daddy”, striking an uncomfortable balance between sinister and caring.


Certain elements of Wildling (werewolf, if you prefer) biology, as they are depicted, are a little questionable. Though, we can easily overlook that, thanks to everything else having a generally realistic tone – or at least as realistic as one can be when dealing with things like werewolves.
The creature effects and make-up are on point, which is the final factor that sells it.


Worth checking out, especially for fans of the genre. Though, perhaps best left for DVD or rental, rather than the cost of a cinema ticket. But even if you do choose the big screen, you'll still enjoy it.

This is a great film that will, unfortunately, probably get overlooked or missed by a lot people. This is a shame because good witchcraft and occult movies are few and far between. So if you get the chance, check it out.

This movie isn't revolutionary, but it is measured, well paced and the tone of the film is great. In fact, it is the tone of the film that makes it so desirable.

Pyewacket is a tale of modern witchcraft gone awry, when an angst ridden teen delves into the dark arts as a way to vent her anger. With growing regret, she begins to realise that she has summoned up something dark, which intends to destroy the lives of those closest to her.

Firstly, the approach to witchcraft in this film is excellent. Of course, it's a horror movie, so we see it through a darker lens. However, the way that the witchcraft is styled and portrayed, has a sense of authenticity to it, blending together a kind of twisted old spellcraft, with a few elements of a more recognisable modern witchcraft. The end result is something that is all at once new and original, yet also familiar.

Another nice touch is the name given to both the movie and the dark entity that is summoned: Pyewacket. A name given by Matthew Hopkins, the 'witchfinder general', as being the name of a familiar belonging to one of the witches that he tried. This really shows that the writer and director, Adam MacDonald, is either familiar with historical witchcraft or that he took the time to apply some research for the sake of authenticity. Either way, a job well done and I'd definitely like to see more from him in this genre.

The lead role is played by Nicole Muñoz, who does a great job playing a teenage who turns to an alternative lifestyle in the wake of her father's death, seeking a way to deal with her life and the spiralling mother that hovers unpredictably on the edges of it.

I also want to give a special nod to actress Chloe Rose, who plays the part of friend and confidant to the lead character. Her performance is great throughout, but she is exceptional in her portrayal of someone suffering a terrible and unspeakable paranormal trauma.

A particular element of the storytelling, which gives the film an extra edge, is the way it forms a seamless contrast between what we the audience know and what the characters perceive. We're given a fantastic and tragic view of people who are affected by the occult, but can never hope to prove it to others. Leaving them in a position where they're easily discredited and, despite what we know to be the truth, having to question their own sanity.

I have to give Pyewacket a four star rating, because while it may not be treading any new ground, the style and feel of the film are just spot on.

Well worth a watch.

If you like occult movies – and I mean full-on proper occult movies – then you should be watching A Dark Song.  In fact, you should be watching it and recommending it to your occultist friends.

A Dark Song tells the story of Sophia, a woman grieving a terrible loss, who enlists the aid of a somewhat broken and world-weary occultist, to lead her through a grand ritual to attain what she desires the most. The ritual, taken from the works of Abremelin, will take them weeks of constant work that will push the limits of their bodies, their sanity, their faith and their courage. But should they be successful, they will achieve the great magical feat of summoning Sophia’s Holy Guardian Angel, so that they both may be gifted with the thing that they desire the most.

This is a great film, though certainly niche, even within Pagan and occult circles (that’s occult circles, not Occult Circles – get it?). Writer and Director, Liam Gavin, clearly knows his stuff and is either well versed in the ways of magic and the occult, or has done one hell of a job researching. The result is a film that portrays not just a realistic interpretation of this kind of high magic ritual, but also a realistic depiction of how such a rite can affect a person and the world(s) around them.

Catherine Walker and Steve Oram give fantastic and convincing performances, as disciple and master performing the rite. While Sophia (played by Walker) and her motivations lead the plot, Joseph Solomon (played by Oram) is a wonderfully filled-out supporting character – wonderfully down to earth and matter-of-fact, even when lecturing on the metaphysical. A pleasing departure from past depictions of occultists, that have graced the screen in by-gone days of Hammer Horror and Dennis Wheatley stories. Balancing that, Walker gives us a performance that is both strong and tender, at the same time. She is resolute, but carrying a trauma and her strength of will doesn’t just pull her through, but the audience, as well.

Owing to the subject matter of the movie, it is unsurprising that the film is essentially a horror. But I would also say that for those with an understanding and appreciation for the occult material that it depicts, it is very easy to see that the movie is also more than just a horror. It is also a psychological thriller and a drama, though much of that is played out through subtext and the struggles of the main character.
While general audiences may receive the film as more of a 3 out of 5, due to its esoteric subject matter, for those more inclined to the occult this movie has to be a 5 out of 5, if only for how faithfully it approaches and depicts the material.

After a year of playing at a number of cinema festivals, A Dark Song is now available to purchase on DVD.

Hex Media bring us this startling horror offering, set in the remote Scottish countryside. As a horror film, it will most likely not be to everyone’s taste, but it is also not your conventional horror.

Sarah Daly (writer) and Lawrie Brewster (director) conjure an occult mystery that is genuinely creepy and often unnerving.

Lord of Tears tells the story of James Findley, a school teacher who is drawn back to his childhood home, following the death of his estranged mother. An enigmatic final message from his mother, causes him to question his own past and the mystery of what may be buried in his subconscious.
Plagued by visions of a terrifying entity, he seeks to uncover the mystery of what he has somehow forgotten.

What is perhaps most exceptional, is the depiction of Pagan elements in this tale. While ancient Pagans and their practices are depicted in a bloody and horrific way, as is so often the case in the horror genre, the idea of Pagan deities and spirits is given a far more profound treatment. Though often terrifying, it is not because they are monsters or evil, per se, but more because they are unfathomable beings that defy our comprehension. It is, in fact, quite refreshing to have Pagan cosmology treated in this way – acknowledging that there are dark, incomprehensible things out there, accepting that they may be scary, but not automatically equating those elements with evil. If anything, this movie presents the idea that humans are the monstrous ones, for how they interact with these otherworldly beings.

Expect a few chills from this movie, as well as the joy of finding a film that offers something original. Indeed, this is a true ‘scary movie’ in that it manages to invoke fear, without resorting to gore. Instead, the film makers have relied on a heavy sense of atmosphere, coupled with unsettling imagery.

If you don’t like scary movies, then this one may not be for you. But if you like something with a bit of mystery and creepiness, then this is a must see!

Lord of Tears can be purchased directly from Hex Media: http://www.hexmedia.tv

Devil’s Knot tells the true story of The Memphis Three – three boys accused of the heinous murders of three eight year old boys, as part of a Satanic Cult activity.

The real story is now quite famous and one of the most significant cases in the history of the “Satanic Ritual Abuse” hysteria. Devil’s Knot is based on the book of the same name, by Mara Leveritt and stars Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth. The movie is loyal to the true story that it is drawn from and engages the viewer with a mix of emotions that run from shock to anger.

Witherspoon’s performance is starkly legitimate, portraying the mother of one of the murdered boys. Though her character is not explored in depth, her screen time is well used as she embodies both the grieving mother out for justice and then later dealing with the turmoil of inner conflict as she begins to question the truth of the claims being made.
Firth gives a sedate, yet honest performance, of a man driven to uncover the truth, yet frustrated by a failing justice system. Though his character is a distinctly quiet and restrained man, he nonetheless shows us clearly that the evidence surrounding the crimes is in serious contrast to the accusations being levied against the three alleged killers.

The most noteworthy performance, though, comes from James Hamrick who, despite limited screen time and lines, very convincingly plays the loner outsider with an interest in the occult, that becomes the primary target of the Satanic cult allegations.

One cannot say that the story is “good”, as the reality of the crimes and injustices involved are just too terrible. But the depiction of these things is remarkably well done and very engaging, taking the audience through a number of emotions beginning in sadness at the initial crime and then anger at what follows.

The authorities attempt to use everything from Wicca to Aleister Crowley in their attempts to convict the accused teenagers and in many ways one cannot help but feel very lucky that Pagans these days are far less likely to experience these kinds of injustices, at least in the UK.

This movie is good, not merely as entertainment, but as a way to understand the depth of the Satanic Ritual Abuse hysteria and how insidiously it infiltrated both society and the legal system of the United States.

I have to give Devil’s Knot a high rating, not because the story, acting or directing are especially brilliant, but because they are all so true to the real events of the Memphis Three incident. It could almost be called a bio-pic, rather than a crime thriller.
Either way, it is valuable viewing for Pagans, both in terms of history and appreciating the improved religious freedoms that we have today.

The Witch – A New England Folktale.

Set against a backdrop of foreboding wilderness, a family of English settlers fall into darkness, as even the lofty bastions of faith are as much a source of terror, as they are of hope.Drawing from authentic folklore and historic records, The Witch tells a tale that is genuinely terrifying, in that it feels so real, even to the point where much of the dialogue is taken directly from real records of witch trials and accounts of historic witchcraft.

This is the witch of the black mass and death. The corrupting hag that flies in the night and pledges her allegiance to the Devil. The figure of fear that has terrified people for thousands of years.
The Witch is a modern vision of traditional folktales, so this manifestation of the witch is no misunderstood Pagan, midwife or village healer. She is a creature of darkness, in service to evil.
But the true terror of this tale is how even when in the presence of real monstrous evil, our own fear and superstition can be just as harrowing and deadly.

This movie is as much one of psychological horror, as it is literal horror and should appeal to those with a taste for the subtleties of fear. It will not make you jump, nor attempt to revolt you with excessive gore and blood. Instead, this is a classic horror movie, where the scares come from atmosphere and menace.

This is a masterful movie and if horror is your thing, then you should definitely see it. Alternatively, if you have a passion for historical witchcraft, then this movie, though fiction, certainly captures the feel of what it must have been like to live under the dreadful cloud of those superstitious beliefs.