The Devil Kills Evil Men in a Small Village in The Severed Sun (FANTASTIC)
Title: The Severed Sun
First Non-Festival Release: TBD
Director: Dean Puckett
Writer: Dean Puckett
Runtime: 80 Minutes
Starring: Emma Appleton, Tony Stephens, Lewis Gribben, Barney Harris
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
This film’s review was written after its screening at the Fantastic Film Festival in 2024.
The insular nature of tight-knit religious communities can breed many problems when strict social expectations go unchecked. While religion can provide comfort, community, and a sense of purpose, it can also be stifling for society’s most vulnerable.
After murdering her abusive husband, Howard (Eoin Slattery), Magpie (Emma Appleton) sees the devil in the forest, forging an unlikely alliance with the beast (James Swanton). Her father, the Pastor (Tony Stephens) of their quaint village initially shows compassion to her loss, which grows to suspicion as the townsfolk spread rumors that she is to blame for her husband’s death, as well as the death of other townsfolk. His desire to protect her conflicts with his duty to the town leading to a confrontation that threatens to shatter their delicate family dynamic.
The Severed Sun is a solid folk horror that retreads familiar concepts of faith in good and evil.
The devil’s influence is palpable from the very beginning of writer/director Dean Puckett’s feature debut. These familiar themes and story beats within The Severed Sun are approached with a dark, nuanced mindset. Religious authority has been suppressing people of all stripes for ages, women, particularly, bearing the brunt of it. Magpie’s husband abuses not only her, but her sons. When she finally has the courage to get rid of him, her short-lived freedom is replaced with ire from the town. Convinced of her guilt due to her lack of open grief and assertions that Howard was not a good man, the villagers escalate their campaign of hatred. Eventually, the misdeeds of other men come to light when they are found murdered too. All eyes point to Magpie, who is deemed responsible for their deaths by inviting the devil into the town.
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Women’s culpability for men’s actions is a throughline in many horrific stories throughout time. Magpie doesn’t directly cause these deaths, but her embrace of her own needs sends a ripple effect through the community where others begin to question their circumstances, especially when they too are victims of men’s bad decisions. It’s not all lopsided though. After roping in her secret lover/stepson David (Lewis Gribben) they conspire to include John (Barney Harris) in their plans, who has repressed feelings for the Pastor. Without his knowledge or consent, they rope him into their deal with the devil, dooming him in an entirely different way. His involvement in Magpie’s subjugation cannot be forgotten, but those choices were made after the deception.
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As a whole, the cast does a solid job of bringing the horrors of their post-apocalyptic community to life, but Toby Stephens’ take on the Pastor is the standout. The crux of the film’s various conflicts, the Pastor has to answer for the various problems that plague his community. Stephens plays him with strong command while still capturing the fact that he is rattled by the accelerated spiraling of his congregation. His subtle approach gives the Pastor an element of mystery and surprise that is always seeming to lack from similar films.
A low budget doesn’t stop The Severed Sun from creating some pretty mesmerizing special effects. The devil draws in his prey with flashing eyes, like a beacon in the night, before hypnotizing them under his control. The devil creeps into frame in the form of a humanoid black mass cascading into a slithering mass of vines strangling the forest floor. It’s clear that its influence runs deep in the woods, as it winnows its way into infecting the villagers. The pulsating strangeness is fascinating, beautiful, and terrifying, which is a huge win for the indie. The bright eyes of the devil make for an excellent distraction from the void-like entity.
Don’t let the familiarity of The Severed Sun stop you from relishing in its devilish delights. Its refreshingly simple approach to folk horror and quick runtime makes for an effective story even if it breezes past areas begging for depth. Solid special effects, cinematography, and performances make it a good choice for anyone who enjoys quality low budget films with something to say. Horror doesn’t just come out at night, it burns bright in the light of The Severed Sun.
Overall Score? 6/10
