Dir. Dean Puckett (2024)
An isolated religious community is thrown into upheaval after a man is murdered, with the parishioners believing that a mysterious "Beast" is responsible.
What is it about isolated religious communities that is so fucking creepy? I mean, in theory, groups like the Amish or the Mennonites are just about the least threatening things in the world. Don't get me wrong, I love electronics as much as anyone else, so that part of it sounds absolutely horrendous. The groups themselves though? I have a hard time imagining that they'd be particularly scary unless you have an unnatural fear of churning butter or something. Nevertheless, placing a horror film inside this same type of community, with a few edits to religious beliefs, of course, makes for some truly upsetting films. Movies like The Wicker Man, Midsommar, and others like them have made for some scary little cults on film, joined by today's film that just premiered at Fantastic Fest, The Severed Sun.
Magpie (Jodhi May) lives in a community run with an iron fist by her father The Preacher (Toby Stephens). The parishioners work the land and listen to sermons together, while all the while something darker lurks beneath the surface. After a member of the group turns up dead, the others begin to believe that a strange "Beast" that lives in the forest is responsible. Magpie knows, however, the the "Beast" may be the least of the congregation's worries, as The Preacher himself can be just as dangerous as anything that lives in the woods. As he uses his henchman John (Barney Harris) to attempt to bring Magpie back into the fold, the different powers of evil clash to determine who will wrest control of the remaining cult members.
What makes groups like this scary is because we know what happens when we give religious leaders ultimate power. The problem rarely comes from the belief, but rather the dedication to a person or a group of persons at the head of the organization itself. Power corrupts, as they say, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The best way to claim absolute power is to claim that it is divinely inspired, given by God that no man may take away. The appetites of men, allowed thus to be sated by whatever means they deem fit, is dangerous, as we've seen from "religious" "leaders" like Warren Jeffs, Jim Jones, or David Koresh. These are real life stories of evil under the guise of good, made possible because the people under their control are doing everything in their power to be as holy as possible.
The Severed Sun does a great job of recreating this, giving its audience a head of the church that is every bit as diabolical as those mentioned above. Stephens does a phenomenal job as the head of this purported church, an evil man who values control over his own religious obligations. May is excellent as the rebellious Magpie, playing a role like that somehow feels more appropriate than those seeking to control her. The interlocking parts of the film are handled well by director Dean Puckett, who has adapted this feature out of a previous short on the same subject. It's often hard to stretch the short film concept into a feature without making it feel extra padded, but he avoids that pitfall by crafting a slow burn film that somehow never feels like it's overstaying its welcome.
Beautiful scenery, itself a character in the film because of the isolationist aspect of the cult, lends to some beautiful cinematography for a more inexpensive indie flick. Despite the presence of a shadowy demon who may or may not be ripping people apart, the film feels realistic, at once an indictment of people who practice their religions like this as well as just how dark it can get to flee from these practices. It does get a little jumbled near the end, and despite the film running a tight hour-twenty, it actually probably could've used a little bit more development. We're missing a lot of the way as we're dropping into this world we know nothing about, with vague references to greater problems outside the confines of the congregation.
The Severed Sun is a good addition to the folk horror pantheon, and though it doesn't measure up to some of the better films in the genre, it's a watchable and enjoyable entry. I'm not the biggest fan of folk horror in general, so to see one that I enjoy is always a pleasure. Though it suffers a little from lack of direction and explanation, it's a good watch for fans of the genre and those who want to immerse themselves into some real-world evil as well. Give this one a look.
Who this movie is for: Religious horror lovers, Folk horror fans, Quakers
Bottom line: The Severed Sun is good entry-level folk horror. The performances are great, the cinematography is perfect for this type of film, and while it struggles a bit at times with its exposition (or lack thereof), it's an enjoyable film regardless. For once in my life, I've wished a folk horror film was longer. Fans of the genre will delight in this one, and if you enjoy this type of film, you should definitely give it a look.
