Much like the coronavirus pandemic, the “disastrous virus” that plagues the planet in Ben Wheatley’s horror film In the land fills the first trailer of the film as a loud, but constant, static noise. Unfortunately, as far as we can tell, the stars of Joel Fry, Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires and Reece Shearsmith have even bigger fish in the shape of a supposed “forest spirit” and, worst of all, real flesh-and-blood people set up camp in the primeval forest.
Shot by Skyscrapers director over fifteen days last August, the film, which premiered at last month’s Sundance virtual festival, follows scientist Martin (Fry) and park ranger Alma (Torchia) as they, according to the film’s description of Neon on YouTube, “venture deep into the forest for a routine equipment race. During the night, your journey becomes a terrifying journey through the heart of darkness, the forest coming to life around you. “
And if that weren’t enough, someone clearly runs out of the forest with an ax, dozens of mushrooms release cloud after cloud of spores, and are those white paper cutouts being put in your eyes? You hate to see that. In the land kicks in with a theatrical run scheduled to start on April 23.