A FIELD IN ENGLAND: Britain's Forgotten Folk Horror Explained

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ABOUT THE SHOW:
This show celebrates Ryan's love for genre, film, games, art and entertainment through personal retrospective analysis that aims to explore what made them so good or even misunderstood.

MUSIC
Goddess of the Sea by Jimena Contreras
Aztec Empire by Jimena Contreras
Hopeless by Jimena Contreras
A Fool's Theme by Brian Bolger
Desert Planet by Quincas Moreira

[RyanHollinger]

*What should I cover next?* Tell me in the comments!

[edatthegovernance]

Before starting: Field in England?

After: Oh, hey.

[Twy]

I remember this being screened for my local arthouse cinema's monthly film club a few years ago. The lecturer in Film and Television Studies who came along to introduce it began by observing that it's one of those rare films where it's virtually impossible to 'ruin the plot'.

[hhhieronymusbotch]

Julian Barrett: "Your privvy parts are doomed, homunculous!"

Greatest line in all of cinema.

[vb]

The tent scene is one of the greatest scenes I have ever seen..

Blanck Mass’s eerie soundtrack is the icing on the cake

[Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat]

This movie can be understood as total symbolism. The junior alchemist seeks knowledge, he is MIND. Jacob is the BODY. Friend is the SOUL. This is why he doesn't die. At the end, they appear together as the 3 parts of a complete "human". The field is the world itself. ❤

[lloydb]

This movie was like an english 1600’s blood meridian, mixing historical with surreal. Oneal reminds me alot of Judge Holden

[Julia-sjyr]

Dude I remember you saying at the end of your Kill List vid that you weren't sure you'd cover A Field in England. I am overjoyed that you did! Great film, and a fantastic analysis by you as always

[wstine]

A Ryan Hollinger HOYEVER horror video is a great way to wrap up the work week.

[lordofgeese]

If Ryan ever covers Inside No.9 then I can die happy, it's probably the best tv show this country has put out this century. If you haven't seen it already you're doing yourself a disservice.

[GallowglassVT]

This was my first genuine mindfuck film. I knew it was gonna be weird the moment I saw Rhys Shearsmith and Julian Barrett were in it, but it still took me off guard.

[meinacco]

I have not seen Shrooms (2007). But given your quick summary I'm gonna try guessing the twist.




The teens were all high and only imagined the killer and killed each other in their manic state of mind.

[joecassidy]

"A British Ravenous meets the Lighthouse" is a near perfect description

[ciaran.vallely]

Saw this at TIFF many years ago. The scene of Whitehead being tortured in the tent and then emerging tied to the rope remains one of the scariest scenes I've ever seen

[traumgeist]

Another possible interpretation is that the protagonist is dead at the beginning of the movie, and the movie consists of him navigating a Bardo like realm between worlds and having to overcome gatekeepers along the way.

[patrickhyde]

The tent scene is one of my favorite in all of cinema.

[virgilmacmanus]

An awesome British folk horror follow up would be Penda's Fen! 🎉

[eliotmccann]

First "hoyevver" drops at 0:48.

[AkelaTalamasca]

You've done a fantastic job with this essay! A Field In England was one of my favorite movies in the year it came out, and I'm glad to see it receive its dues on this channel. Well done!

[aria]

From the perspective of the two armies they must see a group of men go mad, run in a circle, dig a hole, shoot each other, and then one returns.