While we wait for spring to show its face, now is the perfect time to explore the murky depths of folk horror and all it has to offer. The Academy Museum is taking advantage of the dreary weather with their latest film series, Where the Forest Meets the Sea: Folklore From Around the World, which puts a focus on all kinds of folk horror films that’ll crawl under your skin and stay there.
The series, which runs from now until February 12, celebrates all things folklore when it comes to horror, showcasing stories that serve as “cautionary tales around themes of greed, power, deception, betrayal, and the importance of faith.” Where the Forest Meets the Sea spans nearly the entire history of filmmaking, with films that emphasize the connection between our culture, its lore, and our own personal struggles.
Films in the series include Robert Eggers’ The Witch, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, and the 2019 film La Llorona, which will also feature a post-film conversation with Aurora Pedro of the Center for Indigenous Languages and Power at Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo in Los Angeles. A 4K restoration of the folk horror classic The Wicker Man also features as a part of the series, along films like Under the Shadow, You Won’t Be Alone, His House, Viy, Bramayugam, and a 35mm screening of Onibaba.
This folklore series joins an extensive lineup of other films available to watch in person at the museum, which continues to curate an events calendar celebrating a vast array of movies from across the history of cinema. Also on their calendar for January are The Secret of Nimh, presented by the Academy’s animation branch, 4K screenings of The Wizard of Oz and Attack of the Clones, and a 35mm showing of Gypsy.
But if folk horror isn’t your scene, the Academy’s got something for you too. They’re also hosting a tribute to David Lynch through January 26, which includes 4K screenings of Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, and Blue Velvet (with special guest Kyle Maclachlan), and Inland Empire and Wild at Heart, both accompanied by a Q&A with star Laura Dern.
For more information on the Academy Museum’s folk horror series and to buy tickets, you can check out their website. And if you can’t make it in person, check out our list of the best folk horror films to stream at home.
