Registration now closed

Long Live Folk Horror!

an Under the Mountain celebration

A lecture exploring the themes and lasting influence of the Folk Horror genre, followed by an hour-long movie.

In the Spring of 2023, Gareth Jones will be offering the first iteration of Folk Horror Film at UAB, but before then he will be offering all of us Under the Mountain a sneak peek!

Gareth Jones has taught Film Studies for 15 years in three states, currently at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  In addition, he has worked for over twenty years for the Sundance Film Festival as a consultant for festival logistics in parking and transportation.  He also co-hosts a radio show on Substrate Radio about movies called Sleep In Cinema.

This presentation will serve as a primer to the resurgent Folk Horror genre in film and media.  We will talk about origins, tropes, stereotypes, why it emerges at certain times and how it evolves along with film and society. 

This lecture will be followed by a screening of Murrain, a 1975 telefilm written by the legendary Nigel Kneale, whose fusion of science fiction, pulp adventure, and cosmic horror inspired none other than the likes of Doctor Who!

Murrain tells the story of a young country vet who begins to suspect that the local farmland is under the spell of a witch. At under an hour, Murrain is an excellent exercise in rich atmosphere, sympathetic character building, and restrained dread.

Doors at 6:30pm

Lecture starts at 7:00pm, with the movie to follow.

Murrain (1975), 55 min.

Enjoy free snacks and all-ages beverages.

This event recommended for ages 16 and up.

This screening is brought to you by Under the Mountain, your local series of horror-related events hosted by the O’Neal Library. Join us for exclusive horror author visits, chilling movie screenings, and many more macabre things to come.

Like us on Facebook and follow us @undrmtn on Instagram and Twitter for the latest on upcoming events.

Under the Mountain can be reached at undrmtn@gmail.com

Upcoming events