Exhausted after a long day of hiking, Daniel, Donna, Mark, and Sally gather around a fire at their campsite. It’s the first night of their spooky hiking tour through a haunted forest. As darkness creeps in, the four friends huddle together, joined by their mysterious guide, who promises an unforgettable experience.
Their chaperone reveals the legend of the ancient evil that lives in the woods and the hungry spirits it spawned. To appease these supernatural beings, he says, they must share their scariest stories. Thinking it’s only a fun game, the group laughs and tells their frightening tales. But as the darkness grows colder and deeper, their yarns might be more real than they thought and the ghosts are craving more than fireside scares.
This is the chilling premise of Lore (2023), the feature film debut by the team of writers and directors James Bushe, Patrick Michael Ryder, Greig Johnson, and Christine Barber-Ryder.
As the night deepens, each hiker offers their spine-tingling tale, each one drawn from four different horror subgenres; Mark (Dean Bone) kicks off the storytelling with “Shadows,” a cryptid tale set in a desolate, cavernous factory. Daniel (Miles Mitchell) follows with “The Hidden Woman” a haunted house story steeped in urban legend. Donna (Sally Collett) weaves a humorous folk-horror fable about young lovers seeking a thrill in “Cross Your Heart.”
At the evening’s end, Sally spins “The Keychain Man,” an ultra-violent slasher. This last narrative takes place at a midnight movie screening in a theater. In a sly move by the filmmakers, the lobby is adorned with posters for feature-length versions of the hiker’s narrations.
Anthology movies like Lore are popular with genre fans. Sometimes they are referred to as portmanteau or omnibus films. The genre dates back to 1919 with Germany’s Eerie Tales. Structurally, the movies present a series of distinct, standalone stories within an interwoven wrap-around section that frames the chapters. This serves as an added episode, setting the tone and atmosphere for the subsequent tales.
England’s Amicus Productions built its reputation by releasing seven iconic compilation films between 1965 and 1974. Many were scripted by Robert Bloch (author of the book Psycho) and starred horror-royalty such as Christoper Lee, Peter Cushing, and Ingrid Pitt. (Side note, Scottish filmmaker Laurie Brewster is resurrecting Amicus to reestablish it as a leading, independent horror studio.)
Other well-known anthologies include Stephen King and George Romero’s Creepshow (1982) and the 2004 extreme Asian compilation Three… Extremes. In 2012, the genre experienced a resurgence of popularity when both V/H/S and The ABCs of Death were released.
Lore is a testament to the power of independent filmmaking. Backed by a successful Kickstarter campaign, the movie boasts a level of craftsmanship often missing from similar projects.
One major hallmark of good omnibus films is economical storytelling and writing. Each of Lore’s stories are delivered with precision and clarity, the writing is lean and focused.
All the actors deliver convincing performances. The cast is composed of seasoned performers who deliver compelling performances. Richard Brake, unforgettable as Frank in Barbarian, is particularly chilling as the enigmatic Darwin, the guide on this horror-filled journey. His intense, direct gaze into the camera is unnerving, and his deadpan delivery radiates sinister menace. Woe awaits those who misinterpret his warnings! Rufus Hound also shines, offering a spot-on portrayal of a self-absorbed hipster who gets a much-needed lesson on commitment.
Despite its modest budget, Lore boasts impressive production values. The film makes skillful use of locations, creating authentic and atmospheric settings. While most of the special effects are practical and effective, a few CGI elements are less convincing. However, these are fleeting and don’t detract from the overall impact. The scares are plentiful and well-timed, with several jump scares guaranteed to startle even the most seasoned horror fans
Lore is everything most discerning horror fans want to see. On a visceral level, it delivers a potent punch, There are plenty of genuine dread-filled, heart-pounding moments that deliver delicious nightmare fuel. The production is polished and the cast is on top of their game. The stories are fresh and the script hits the sweet spot of self-awareness without resorting to unfunny, self-parody.
Lore (2023) will be available to stream exclusively on the IFC Channel from 26th August, in Select UK Cinemas from 27th September, and then available on Home Entertainment from 21st October
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I am a lifelong lover of horror who delights in the uncanny and occasionally writes about it. My writing has appeared at DIS/MEMBER and in Grim magazine. I am also in charge of programming at WIWLN’s Insomniac Theater, the Internet’s oldest horror movie blog written by me. The best time to reach me is before dawn.