PopHorror Let's Get Scared
“Love is a knife with a blade for a handle.” ~Rita Concannon
Although we don’t always think about it, we experience love in as many forms as stars in the sky – and not all of it is a healthy type. This subject is explored in an extraordinary new Irish film written and directed by Paul Duane (While You Live): All You Need Is Death.
Synopsis
A young couple who collect rare folk ballads discover the dark side of love when they surreptitiously record and translate an ancient, taboo folk song from the deep, forgotten past.
The film has a terrific cast, including Simone Collins (The Last Duel), Charlie Maher (Black Narcissus – TV Series), and Olwen Fouere (The Northman). Collins and Maher star as Anna and Aleks, a couple who play in a band (Collins is a beautiful singer) who also collect rare old songs to sell. They find this is a faster way to make money, and fall into a mysterious group led by Agnes (Catherine Siggin – Palace of the Damned).
Soon they hear rumors about a obscure Irish song that is only sung by a woman named Rita Concannon (Fouere). Anna, Aleks, and Agnes all track Rita down, and the old woman warns them that the song is not in Irish, but an ancient language. And because it’s dangerous, Rita declares that she will only sing it for Anna.
Needless to say, the fallout from listening to the song is what drives the rest of the film, and not in the way you might expect. As I said before, there are many kinds of love, and the love in this song is one that devours the soul, cloud the mind and seeks to destroy everything in its wake.
The power of this film lies in the gorgeous atmosphere of witchcraft, passion, dread, and respect for the old ways. The scene where Olwen Fouere sings the ancient song sent a combination of thrill and fear through me that was nothing short of exhilarating. It’s a joy to see a director that uses minimal makeup and few effects so well.
The ending is both fitting, and shocking at the same time. Absolutely anyone interested in folk horror needs to see this. Now.
All You Need Is Death hits U.S. Theaters and VOD from XYZ Films on April 11, 2024.
