When it comes to found footage films there is always a knack to standing out, as there are a great many out there, and in this Welsh-shot chiller, we have past and present meet in very interesting ways. In this superbly made folk horror from director Matthew Butler-Hart (The Isle). Which was backed by one Ian McKellen, and shot entirely on iPhones.
On the winding country roads of Wales…evil awaits two young women constantly seeking internet fame, via their controversial YouTube channel. In which they steal luxury items from the wealthiest people and businesses in a middle finger to the elite. However, in this current stunt, posing as caterers at a fashion shoot at a house in rural Wales, they find something far more frightening than dislikes awaits them!
The Kill List touches and The Blair Witch homages are felt in this age old cautionary tale of heeding local warnings, traditions and superstitions, which is brought very appropriately up to date in our current moral tightrope culture of subscriber-hunting and internet clout chasing. Like Bobcat Goldthwait’s Willow Creek, Dagr takes its time to carefully get to where it needs to and when it does the results are atmospheric and well orchestrated, with a welcome darkly comic streak.
Starting with Thea (Ellie Duckles) and Louise (Riz Moritz) past YouTube triumphs, we soon head on the road with these two, as we also see the advert shoot playing out at the reclusive location in which they are heading. These two narrative chapters eventually meet in gruesome fashion, with some much-appreciated ghostly subtlety along the way.
The film is at its best when delivering these shadowy glimpses and “did you see that?” moments but even in its more full-on moments of supernatural attack, it retains an edge of authenticity, no doubt via its believable dialogue (some of which was improvised) and characters, with an impressive cast who help bring the story to life (so to speak). The commendable handheld filming techniques and great uses of budget also help bring that real feel to the proceedings.
Taking the defiantly durable found footage sub-genre to the extremities of contemporary influencer culture, while conjuring the most old school of evils in the process. Dagr is a tense, slow-burning, slice of British folk horror.
Dagr is out now in select cinemas, and releases on Digital 8th April.
