Episode 245: Old Gods & Ancient Stones - What Folk Horror has to say to a Modern Audience

Continuing their Samhain trail in the run up to 31st October, the dragons are pleased to welcome Phil Breach as a guest on this week's episode. Phil is the author of various pieces of weird fiction, dark fantasy and folk horror, both in prose and verse, which makes him the perfect addition for this week's topic. 

 

Folk Horror has existed as a genre far longer than the phrase used to describe it. It's a nebulous sub-genre without firm boundaries but done correctly, it holds a dark mirror up to society and to our connection, or lack thereof, with the natural world. What are the key components of folk horror? How does it reflect and distort our expectations of community? Why is landscape such a huge influencer? Join the dragons for a lively discussion and stay to hear two of Phil Breach's beautifully atmospheric poems. On the slab this week: The Wicker Man (1973), Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series, In the Company of Wolves, Alan Garner's The Owl Service and many more.

 

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic