The Severed Sun – Review | Fantastic Fest (2/5)

THE SEVERED SUN is a new British Folk Horror movie screening at Fantastic Fest 2024. It didn’t quite meet my expectations. I had high hopes for it yet found too many missed opportunities. Read our full The Severed Sun movie review here!

THE SEVERED SUN is a British horror movie screening at Fantastic Fest 2024. Based on both the plot and cast, I was expecting something that it didn’t deliver. I’m a bit conflicted about whether my expectations were wrong or the film didn’t deliver.

There were certainly some missed opportunities that I cannot wrap my head around. It’s a folk horror movie that hints at elements that are never fully explored. And I really wanted to explore them.

Continue reading our The Severed Sun movie review below.

A religious community – or just a cult?

In the Severed Sun, we find ourselves deep in the rural British countryside. We’re seeing a story unfold in a religious community where people live “the simple life”.

Basically, there’s a preacher running the place and making (as well as enforcing) all the rules. Everyone else spends their “simple lives” doing hard manual labor and following a very strict moral code.

Of course, the world I just described could just as well be labeled a cult.

When this story plays out it isn’t defined. In fact, this was my main issue with the story as the film ended. I wanted to know much more about this as the surroundings point in different directions.

Obey or be punished

One could argue – well, I certainly could – that this hard life is a punishment in itself, but not for the people in this religious community. No, you also have to marry whomever you’re told to marry.

And generally do whatever is asked of you.

The pastor who rules this community (or cult) is a very serious man with a penchant for punishment. You will not question or disobey him. Even if you’re his daughter, no mercy is shown nor any attempt to acknowledge struggles.

The Severed Sun screening at Fantastic Fest 2024

Dean Pucket is the writer and director of The Severed Sun which had the potential to be a strong British Folk Horror movie. And yet, it did leave me wanting more. Particularly in terms of the elements I felt were hinted at but never explored.

I did, however, enjoy the casting choices. Toby Stephens (Black Sails) is amazing in the role of the pastor. It’s both scary and fascinating to see him constantly react in whatever way he believes will lead to him having as much power as possible.

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As his daughter, Magpie, we see a young and quite rebellious woman portrayed by Emma Appleton (The Killing Kind). Jodhi May (The Witcher) plays a very different kind of woman, but she also wants to rebel. Well, in her own way.

In another key role, we see Lewis Gribben (Get Duked!) as the stepson of Magpie. Despite them being virtually the same age because she was forced to marry someone much older than herself. And very abusive.

If you’re a fan of folk horror, then you should check it out when you get the chance. This is by no means a bad movie. Not even close! It just didn’t quite work for me like I was expecting. Or even hoping for!

The Severed Sun is reviewed for our Fantastic Fest 2024 coverage.

Details

Director: Dean Puckett
Writer: Dean Puckett
Stars: Toby Stephens, Jodhi May, Emma Appleton, Barney Harris, Lewis Gribben, Oliver Maltman