The Feast

The Feast, a 2021 release helmed by director Lee Haven Jones, is a deeply striking, unnerving yet exhilarating journey into the heart of folklore, isolation, and surrealism. It is a thrilling addition to the genre of international horror, which effectively combines elements of modern societal concerns with ancient Welsh mythology. Featuring an ensemble cast of Annes Elwy, Nia Roberts, and Julian Lewis Jones, the film is a testament to the power of atmospheric storytelling and vivid imagery.

The story of The Feast unfurls in the heart of rural Wales, deeply embedded in the country's lush and picturesque landscape— as haunting as it is beautiful. The key protagonist, Cadi (Annes Elwy), a young woman from a distant town, is hired to serve dinner at a luxurious yet isolated country house owned by a wealthy family. The family, who prides themselves on their affluence and status, consists of mother Glenda (Nia Roberts), father Euros (Julian Lewis Jones), and their two sons. Set during a single evening, the film explores the chillingly extraordinary events that ensue as underlying secrets and eerie occurrences start to surface.

Director Lee Haven Jones, known for his work on acclaimed television dramas, uses The Feast as a platform to showcase his craftsmanship in evoking suspense and horror through nuanced storytelling. The film is presented mainly in the Welsh language, bolstering its authenticity and commitment to grounding its narrative in raw, cultural roots.

Annes Elwy delivers a captivating performance as Cadi—her portrayal, while seemingly somber and understated, provides an underlying tension that grows as the plot unwraps, fueling the pervasive sense of dread within the movie. Interspersed throughout this, Nia Roberts as Glenda contributes to the uncanny atmosphere and the growing sense of unease with a nuanced performance that balances the veneer of a polished matriarch with an element of implicit melancholy. In harmony with Elwy and Roberts, Julian Lewis Jones' depiction of Euros presents a man torn between the web of arrogance and the despair of haunting secrets.

The Feast is layered with thematic richness— environmental and societal issues meet folklore and family secrets, creating a unique blend that heightens the horror of the unfolding plot. The evening's dinner, from its preparation to its progression, serves as a metaphorical stage for unveiling the characters' deep-rooted secrets, where the lines between opulence and decadence, pride and shame, reality and hallucination are subtly blurred.

The film's cinematography deserves a special mention. Marc Evans' brooding and atmospheric shots of the Welsh countryside serve to encapsulate the isolation, vulnerability, and latent horror of the film's setting. The cinematography, along with the meticulously designed soundscapes, contribute significantly towards setting up the psychological mindset of the characters and viewers alike.

One of the pivotal aspects of The Feast is its resonating usage of local folklore. By amalgamating those age-old mythologies into the narrative, it brings a unique flavour of cultural authenticity to the storyline. This delicate combination of the conventional horror realm with the native cultural elements is what sets The Feast apart from other genre contemporaries.

It is, however, necessary to mention that this movie is unlikely to cater to the liking of everyone—its unconventional narrative structure, coupled with the eerie slow-burn atmosphere, is indeed an acquired taste. It will appeal primarily to viewers with an appreciation for psychological horror and deep, metaphorical storytelling.

In summary, The Feast is a haunting yet riveting voyage into a night filled with dread, secrets, and revelations. Director Lee Haven Jones' masterful blending of horror, suspense, and local folklore, backed by fantastic performances from the cast and haunting cinematography, treads a path that straddles the known and the unknown, the seen and the unseen, the spoken and the silent. This cinematic feat working alongside a deep-rooted narrative that touches upon environmental concerns as well as societal norms makes The Feast a chillingly memorable watch that lingers long after the credits roll.