Tactfully crafting a horror about (and during) the Coronavirus pandemic must have been no simple task. Despite having genuine dread to draw from, it would be too easy to tastelessly exploit Covid as a tool to terrorise and risk offending or alienating those suffering because of it who are seeking cinema as a means to escape.
Instead of blandly sensationalising Covid or reducing it to a component, writer/director Ben Wheatley’s ninth feature, In The Earth, lets the virus reside in the story’s backdrop, insentiently feeding setting and context like a slumbering beast teat, without drawing from the pandemic as a primary source of despair.
Set between lockdowns, the story centres on Martin Lowery (Joel Fry), a thirty-something scientist who travels to a remote forest lodge to meet park scout Alma (Ellora Torchia), who plans to guide him to a medical facility, fifteen miles into the forest, so...
Instead of blandly sensationalising Covid or reducing it to a component, writer/director Ben Wheatley’s ninth feature, In The Earth, lets the virus reside in the story’s backdrop, insentiently feeding setting and context like a slumbering beast teat, without drawing from the pandemic as a primary source of despair.
Set between lockdowns, the story centres on Martin Lowery (Joel Fry), a thirty-something scientist who travels to a remote forest lodge to meet park scout Alma (Ellora Torchia), who plans to guide him to a medical facility, fifteen miles into the forest, so...
- 6/9/2021
- by Daniel Goodwin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The best cinematic action of 2017 in three parts from the movies of SXSW.
It was heavier than I had anticipated. At the age of 16, if my memory serves me correctly, it was the first time I’d ever held a real gun. In the midwest, surrounded by a family full of avid hunters, this was a right of passage. At some point an uncle or two would want to show you the awesome power of a real firearm, both as appreciation for the weapon’s power and as a lesson in the seriousness of its deadly potential. The weight of the revolver in my hand brought both of these concepts to life with immediacy. It’s hard to hold a real gun and not be in awe and at least a little terrified. It’s a feeling I’ll never shake, perhaps one of those moments in which a teenager’s journey toward adulthood was accelerated a...
It was heavier than I had anticipated. At the age of 16, if my memory serves me correctly, it was the first time I’d ever held a real gun. In the midwest, surrounded by a family full of avid hunters, this was a right of passage. At some point an uncle or two would want to show you the awesome power of a real firearm, both as appreciation for the weapon’s power and as a lesson in the seriousness of its deadly potential. The weight of the revolver in my hand brought both of these concepts to life with immediacy. It’s hard to hold a real gun and not be in awe and at least a little terrified. It’s a feeling I’ll never shake, perhaps one of those moments in which a teenager’s journey toward adulthood was accelerated a...
- 3/21/2017
- by Neil Miller
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Chicago – I can’t recommend this more. “A Field in England” is a flashback and a flash forward all at once. It’s impossible to watch without thinking of great counter culture cinema. In fact when I saw it at Fantastic Fest 2013 it played as part of a double bill with Ken Russell’s “The Devils” (1971). They made perfect cinematic companion pieces. Russell’s film concerned a wayward priest desperate to protect his 17th century city from corruption in the Church only to fall victim to group hysteria when he is, ironically, accused of witchcraft by a jealous nun.
Ben Wheatley’s film is about a 17th century group of war deserters inexplicably taken hostage by a would be alchemist who forces them to aid in the search for treasure. The group is torn asunder by infighting and paranoia as their first meal, of tainted mushrooms, leaves them vulnerable to...
Ben Wheatley’s film is about a 17th century group of war deserters inexplicably taken hostage by a would be alchemist who forces them to aid in the search for treasure. The group is torn asunder by infighting and paranoia as their first meal, of tainted mushrooms, leaves them vulnerable to...
- 4/8/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Exclusive: UK sales outfit Av Pictures has picked up world rights to Wwi horror script No Man’s Land.
Set in the trenches of the Western Front, No Man’s Land follows English troops who encounter an ancient race of blood-thirsty subterranean creatures.
Former Student Academy Award winner Jen Handorf [pictured] produces for Dark Matter Films with Sean Hogan directing.
VFX expert Dan Martin will create the monsters while Ben Wheatley collaborator Martin Pavey is on board as sound designer.
Principal photography is due to get underway in the UK in March 2014 with Lee Brazier overseeing for Av Pictures. The film is out to cast now.
Set in the trenches of the Western Front, No Man’s Land follows English troops who encounter an ancient race of blood-thirsty subterranean creatures.
Former Student Academy Award winner Jen Handorf [pictured] produces for Dark Matter Films with Sean Hogan directing.
VFX expert Dan Martin will create the monsters while Ben Wheatley collaborator Martin Pavey is on board as sound designer.
Principal photography is due to get underway in the UK in March 2014 with Lee Brazier overseeing for Av Pictures. The film is out to cast now.
- 11/6/2013
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Stars: Michael Smiley, Julian Barratt, Reece Shearsmith, Peter Ferdinando, Ryan Pope, Sara Dee, Richard Glover | Written by Ben Wheatley, Amy Jump | Directed by Ben Wheatley
A Field In England, prolific low-budget and lo-fi filmmaker Ben Wheatley’s latest effort, continues the original and highly distinctive work he’s made thus far but pushes past boundaries and expectations to create a brilliantly psychotic burst of filmmaking which feels like it’s ventured forth from a parallel universe version of the 1960s.
With a budget of £300,000 and a shoot lasting 12 days, it’s rather incredible the finished film feels so perfectly polished but helped some fantastic cinematography from Laurie Rose and great sound design and music by Martin Pavey and Jim Williams respectively, the film takes top hold of the throat from the off with the sounds of war invading the soundscape and percussive score belying the budget and evoking filly the...
A Field In England, prolific low-budget and lo-fi filmmaker Ben Wheatley’s latest effort, continues the original and highly distinctive work he’s made thus far but pushes past boundaries and expectations to create a brilliantly psychotic burst of filmmaking which feels like it’s ventured forth from a parallel universe version of the 1960s.
With a budget of £300,000 and a shoot lasting 12 days, it’s rather incredible the finished film feels so perfectly polished but helped some fantastic cinematography from Laurie Rose and great sound design and music by Martin Pavey and Jim Williams respectively, the film takes top hold of the throat from the off with the sounds of war invading the soundscape and percussive score belying the budget and evoking filly the...
- 7/2/2013
- by Ian Loring
- Nerdly
Ben Wheatley’s A Field In England will be the first ever film to be released in UK nationwide cinemas, on free TV, on Blu-ray & DVD and on Video-on-Demand on the same day – with Film4, Picturehouse Entertainment, 4Dvd and Film4 Channel partnering for nationwide multi-platform distribution on Friday 5th July 2013.
We have two copies of the Blu-ray to give away to our readers.
Starring Michael Smiley (Kill List), Peter Ferdinando (Tony), Reece Shearsmith (The League of Gentlemen), Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh), Richard Glover (Sightseers) and Ryan Pope (Ideal), A Field In England tells the story of a group of 17th century soldiers in the English Civil War.
The plot centres on the aftermath of a large battle in which a group of deserters are captured by an alchemist (Michael Smiley) and his henchman. The two force their captives to help them search for hidden treasure they believe is buried in the field,...
We have two copies of the Blu-ray to give away to our readers.
Starring Michael Smiley (Kill List), Peter Ferdinando (Tony), Reece Shearsmith (The League of Gentlemen), Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh), Richard Glover (Sightseers) and Ryan Pope (Ideal), A Field In England tells the story of a group of 17th century soldiers in the English Civil War.
The plot centres on the aftermath of a large battle in which a group of deserters are captured by an alchemist (Michael Smiley) and his henchman. The two force their captives to help them search for hidden treasure they believe is buried in the field,...
- 6/24/2013
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.