Otherworldly: Folk Horror Revival at The British Museum

Folk Horror Revival

by Andy Paciorek (Editor)

On October 16th 2016, the wyrd phenomenon of Folk Horror Revival came to The British Museum, London. This book is a painstakingly transcript of the events that passed. Featuring the genius talents of Shirley Collins, Iain Sinclair, Reece Shearsmith, Gary Lachman, Adam Scovell, The Consumptives, Leasungspell,Jim Peters, Eamon Byers, Gary Parsons, Andy Paciorek, Darren Charles and others, this is a great keepsake for those fortunate to be there at the superb event and a riveting read for those who weren't but love the whole folk horror phenomenon.

Genres: Horror, Reference, Poetry, Nonfiction

194 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2017

About the author

Creator of Strange Lands, Human Chimaera, Black Earth, the Beautiful-Grotesque, Folk Horror Revival, Urban Wyrd Review & other peculiar things.

Drawn mainly to the worlds of myth, folklore, symbolism, decadence, curiosa, anomaly, dark romanticism and otherworldly experience, and fascinated both by the beautiful and the grotesque and the twilight threshold consciousness where these boundaries blur. The mist-gates, edges and liminal zones where nature borders supernature and daydreams and nightmares cross paths are of great inspiration.

Reviews

[Carole Tyrrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a souvenir book that records a significant event within the Folk Horror calendar. In October 2016 nearly 400 FH enthusiasts gathered in a downstairs room at the British Museum to be part of a momentous occasion – the very first Folk Horror Revival event.
And I was one of them!
The programme was a mixed bag featuring gallery tours around the Museum, poetry recitals, film screenings, talks, music, interviews and a special guest at the end. You might not have liked all of it but there would have been something for everyone. I would have liked to have gone on a gallery tour but they were at the same time as other items I wanted to see so this book is a very welcome record of what I missed.
It’s also an opportunity to be able to read through the transcripts of the speakers and to be able to reflect on what they said and their content. I had never heard of most of them prior to this event and it was a good introduction to them and their work. For example, Adam Scovell’s item on a possible link between analogue film equipment and ghostly apparitions. The Stone Tape anyone?
I have to admit that ‘70’s film stock has a very definite difference in quality from today’s and you can easily see it. He also showed two of his short films which were good fun.
I enjoyed Gary Lachman’s piece on Colin Wilson – the angry young outsider – however the talk on canals lost me at the event but having read the transcript I think I can understand what he was trying to say. The poetry came from the FHR publication Corpse Roads to which I contributed 2 photographs. FHR books are always so well designed and have such high production standards as is this one. Shirley Collins’ video ‘Death and the Maiden’ fitted in very well and featured an appearance by the Mari Llywd. Iain Sinclair is always a lively and interesting speaker and here he was interviewed by John Pilgrim. They discussed Sinclair’s work including his last book on London, his friendship with Michael Reeves, director of ‘Witchfinder General’, and the surprising things have happened on his walks such as the recreation of John Clare’s walk which featured in The Edge of the Orison.
A panel discussion ended the day with special guest Reece Sheersmith of ‘The League of Gentlemen’ and ‘Inside No 9’ fame. They covered a wide range of FHR topics including the disturbing thought that ‘Carry On Camping’ might have a strong Folk Horror element (probably due to the fashions of the time)
It was an fascinating and often entertaining day and also a chance to finally meet the people behind Folk Horror Revival an also fellow FHR devotees. For some it may be a passing trend. But for others like myself it’s a celebration of English ritual, traditions, landscape and its many influences.
There have been other events since in other UK towns – so when’s the next one in London?