Juliette (Morfydd Clark) and her academic archaeologist husband Richard (Matt Smith) live in an inherited family farm in the English countryside. Richard, who teaches the history of ancient British tribes, believes there was once a sacred oak tree on the property where the ancient gathered and may have even hung people.
At a county fair their son Owen stabs a pony in the eye setting off the movie with horrific squeals. Juliette tells the child psychologist that Owen in his sleep told her Jack Gray is whistling and talking to him. Juliette believes Jack Gray is telling Owen to do things he doesn’t want to do such as stabbing the horse.
While Juliette is having her cuppa at the front farmhouse door the sky darkens, the winds howl, birds flap away, strange voices are heard and she has a vision of a bloody skeleton of some sort. Owen collapses on the front door and dies. Yes ladies and gentlemen we have the beginning of a horror film!
Richard discovers in a drawer a skeleton like the one in Juliette’s vision. When Richard leaves the room the skeleton has disappeared and a hare is hopping about. Yes a cute rabbit who they capture and set free but strangely the hare returns into the house. Weird chanting, ominous noises and music creep into the film like the mists outside.
Harry, Juliette’s sister arrives for a visit.
Juliette discovers a book pasted together by Richard’s father containing notes and diagrams about sacrifices and summoning’s and there is a picture of the sacred oak tree with a noose on it. In the roots one discerns a rabbit with glaring eyes. Ancient lore says that the price to be paid to let joy pour from the oak tree will be paid by a price one, two and three. Well Richard has earlier unearthed on the property the stump of the sacred oak tree. My goodness that rabbit has rather glaring eyes! Then number two becomes number two.
One and two have already occurred and number three lies in a pool of blood while the glaring eyed rabbit is enjoying some life affirming milk.
The film is based on a 2019 novel by Michael Hurley.
Canadian theatrical release on 26July2024.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 86/100.
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