Happy May Day, the traditional halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It celebrates new life, specifically harvests and the oncoming warm summer months. May Day festivities include Maypole dancing, bonfires, and gathering wildflowers. All things that become so much more sinister in horror – just ask Ari Aster about that one.
We’re celebrating May Day with five folk horror movies you can stream now, from foundational classics to modern frights. Here’s where to watch them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Apostle – Netflix
Writer/Director Gareth Evans brings every bit of the bone-crunching brutality of The Raid and The Raid 2 to his period folk horror film. The Guest’s Dan Stevens stars as Thomas, a man who travels to a remote island in 1905 to infiltrate the cult that’s kidnapped his sister for ransom. The cult leaders claim that the barren island was made fertile through blood sacrifice, and in his quest, Thomas learns the grim truth behind those sacrifices. The twists and visceral violence make for a gripping, gory final act with torrential bloodletting. Apostle is a slow-burn intent on building mystery, but it’s worth the wait.
The Blood on Satan’s Claw – AMC+, Pluto TV, Shudder, Tubi
After strange bones are unearthed near a rural village in the 17th century, the teens start developing odd patches of fur and falling under the sway of a mysterious force. Led by the seductive Angel Blake (Linda Hayden), the teens turn on the town elders, and things turn deadly. The Blood on Satan’s Claw is a foundational folk horror film with strong Hammer vibes. It’s as gorgeous as spooky, and the Satanic shocker never shies away from pushing the envelope further. The viral nature of devil-worshipping also makes for a unique entry into folk horror.
Family Dinner – Screambox
Writer/Director Peter Hengl’s feature debut combines the discomfort and cringe of awkward family dynamics at the dinner table with Easter holiday folk horror. Fifteen-year-old Simi (Nina Katlein) arrives at her Aunt Claudia’s (Pia Hierzegger) house just before Easter, hoping to get her aunt’s help to lose weight. Aunt Claudia’s strict caloric restrictions become the least of Simi’s problems when Claudia’s family starts to behave strangely. Easter brings the slow-simmering folk horror to a roaring boil. Fraught psychological dread explodes in violence.
The Wailing – AMC+, Crackle, Kanopy, Peacock, Pluto, TV, Shudder, Tubi, Vudu
While folk horror is a subgenre often considered set in the past, The Wailing proves how ageless and terrifying it can be. A mysterious stranger’s arrival creates suspicion among the residents of a rural village, which becomes full-blown paranoia when a sickness starts to spread. The illness seems to render the afflicted homicidal without reason. The stakes get personal for the investigating officer when his daughter falls ill, too, and he looks to a shaman for answers. The tension builds gradually as it infuses several different horror tropes in this unique tale. Look for murder, exorcisms, and great evil to highlight its messaging.
The Wicker Man – AMC+, Shudder
Based on David Pinner’s novel Ritual and starring Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, The Wicker Man is an unsettling summer hellscape for poor Howie. Sergeant Howie travels to the remote island of Summerisle in search of a missing girl after receiving an anonymous letter. Howie, a devout Christian, is disturbed to find that no one on the island seems to know the girl, but he’s even more disturbed by the islanders’ Pagan celebrations and lessons of May Day. Of course, the true terror comes with the iconic closing moments of the film, where Howie discovers the horrifying truth about his summoning to the island. It’s the definitive May Day horror movie, but if you need a double feature, Midsommar is available on Showtime and Kanopy.
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