In the Earth
In the Earth is a 2021 British science fiction psychological horror film written and directed by Ben Wheatley.[1] The story is set during a deadly viral pandemic and follows Dr. Martin Lowery (Joel Fry), a scientist who teams up with park scout Alma (Ellora Torchia) to trek through a remote forest known as the Gethelburge Woods, aiming to retrieve equipment from a research outpost called ATU327A, only to face disorienting and terrifying supernatural occurrences tied to ancient folklore.[1] The film also features Reece Shearsmith as Zach, Hayley Squires as Dr. Olivia Wendle, and John Hollingworth as James.[1] Conceived amid the real-world COVID-19 pandemic, In the Earth was written by Wheatley during the early weeks of the UK's COVID-19 lockdown and shot over 15 days in the summer of 2020, adhering to strict safety protocols that limited the crew size and emphasized outdoor filming in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.[2] Produced on a low budget by Rook Films and Neon, with cinematography by Nick Gillespie and a score by Clint Mansell, the film blends elements of folk horror, eco-terror, and psychedelic thriller, drawing on themes of science versus myth, isolation, and humanity's fraught relationship with nature.[3][4] Its visual style incorporates experimental techniques like strobing lights, distorted sound design, and macro photography to evoke a sense of psychological unraveling.[5] The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival's Midnight section on 29 January 2021.[6] It was released theatrically in the United States on 16 April 2021 by Neon, followed by a limited UK release on 18 June 2021.[7] Despite a modest box office gross of approximately $1.1 million domestically, In the Earth garnered critical acclaim for its timely relevance and Wheatley's bold direction, earning a 79% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes based on 174 reviews, with praise for its atmospheric tension and innovative horror elements.[7][8]Story and characters
Plot
Set in a near-future world gripped by a devastating viral pandemic, society operates under strict quarantine protocols as scientists race to find a cure. Dr. Martin Lowery, a botanist, arrives at a remote research outpost in England's Forest of Dean to reconnect with his estranged colleague, Dr. Olivia Wendle, who has gone silent while investigating mycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, potentially offering insights into enhancing crop yields amid global food shortages exacerbated by the crisis. The film opens with Lowery undergoing decontamination procedures before meeting park ranger Alma, his guide for the trek to Wendle's isolated camp. Together, they venture into the ancient woodland, setting up a temporary scientific camp equipped with audio recording devices, GPS markers, and sampling tools to monitor the forest's ecosystem and search for signs of Wendle. As they hike, Alma shares local folklore about Parnag Fegg, a malevolent woodland sprite said to haunt the trees, and they observe ritualistic carvings etched into bark, hinting at ancient pagan practices intertwined with the natural environment.[9] The journey quickly turns harrowing as disorienting repetitive audio signals—resembling distorted chants or natural echoes—begin to echo through the forest, coinciding with Lowery's growing hallucinations, possibly triggered by exposure to the fungi's spores. Injured in a fall near a standing stone, the pair encounters a mysterious woodsman who provides aid but introduces tension through cryptic warnings about the forest's "old powers." Betrayals and survival ordeals intensify, blending scientific inquiry with supernatural elements, as blood rituals and the fungi's hallucinogenic effects reveal deeper connections between human intervention, environmental forces, and mythological beliefs in a climactic struggle for survival.[10] [11]Cast
The cast of In the Earth consists of a compact ensemble, emphasizing the film's low-budget, isolationist tone amid its pandemic production constraints. Joel Fry stars as Dr. Martin Lowery, the film's central scientist protagonist, who contends with profound grief and psychological disorientation in a world ravaged by an unspecified virus.[12] Hayley Squires plays Dr. Olivia Wendle, Lowery's estranged colleague and a pioneering mycologist whose experimental research on fungal symbiosis forms the emotional and scientific core of the story. Reece Shearsmith portrays Zach Whitehead, a reclusive woodsman whose cryptic demeanor and connections to woodland folklore infuse the narrative with unease and ritualistic undertones.[13]| Actor | Role | Notes on Character Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Fry | Dr. Martin Lowery | Lead scientist driven by personal loss |
| Hayley Squires | Dr. Olivia Wendle | Absent mycologist whose work anchors the plot |
| Reece Shearsmith | Zach Whitehead | Enigmatic hermit tied to forest mysticism |
| Ellora Torchia | Alma | Practical park scout guiding the expedition |
| John Hollingworth | James | Minor outpost figure in early sequences |
| Mark Monero | Dr. Frank Jarrek | Ranger overseeing the research site |