PopHorror Let's Get Scared
One of my favorite and enchanting horror films this year is Gwen. The perfect folk horror story. I was stoked to check out the Blu-ray and see the magic unfold.
This film was directed and written by William McGregor (The Missing TV). It stars Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything), Richard Harrington (Hinterland), Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Maleficent), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Justice League), and Mark Lewis Jones (Chernobyl).
Synopsis for GWEN
Gwen is a young girl desperately trying to hold her home together-struggling with her mother’s mysterious illness, her father’s absence and a ruthless mining company encroaching on their land. As a growing darkness begins to take.
If you love the folk horror genre, you will fall in love with the story, cinematography, and performances in Gwen. It’s an unnerving, beautiful nightmare that will shake you to your core.
As I’ve mentioned before, Gwen definitely went over and beyond my expectations and the hauntingly eerie atmosphere reminded me of Robert Eggers’ The Witch. Fair warning, though: this is one disturbingly dark, twisted, and heartbreaking story. It pulled at my heartstrings and definitely messed with my head.
Eleanor Worthington-Cox gives an emotionally driven performance that will haunt you for days to come. She’s a brilliant young actress, who is bound to have a long and successful career. As always, Maxine Peake is a gem and delivers a chilling and unsettling performance Their mother-daughter relationship is riveting.
After rewatching Gwen on Blu-ray, I must say that its cinematography and visuals are breathtakingly beautiful, hauntingly so. It creates an eerie, enchanting atmosphere that I can’t get enough of. Folk horror is magical and unlike anything else in the genre and Gwen delivers on all points.
The special features include wonderful interviews with Maxine Peake and Eleanor Worthington-Cox. I highly recommend you checking it out, as they will make you fall in love with the story and characters even more so.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a film that will send chills down your spine and haunt your dreams, Gwen is for you. Just in time for Halloween, Gwen is now available, October 8, 2019, on both DVD and Blu-ray from Shudder and RLJE Films.
