Unquiet
Things

Ever since Jack mentioned Dark Waters in his Morbid Scholar’s Treasury of Euro Gothic Cinema, I have been desperately itching to watch this film!

Jack described it thusly: “Straddling the line between Gothic horror and folk horror, Dark Waters is a dream-like film that should appeal to viewers who have room in their hearts for both H. P. Lovecraft’s “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” and Mattew Lewis’s The Monk. Elizabeth (played by Louise Salter) arrives at a convent on an isolated island during a tempest; she is assigned Sarah (Venera Simmons), a young novice, to be her guide. The two women delve into the forbidden mysteries of the convent’s library, the secrets in the convent’s catacombs, and even Elizabeth’s own tainted familial history.”

 

I’m not sure what else there is to add! It’s an ominous, moody story and extraordinarily… damp. Everything is wet, slick, and dripping, even with tens of thousands of candles lit, and there are at least that many over the course of the film in the convent, caves, and catacombs.

This is a dark, disturbing, dreamy film that doesn’t make a lot of sense—who knows if some of the scenes are hallucinations, memories, nightmares, or perhaps portents of things to come. But while the plot may at times be cryptic, the visceral imagery—from candlelit rituals and eldritch rites to murderous cave paintings to blood-stained religious icons—seeps into your subconscious. The oppressive, haunting atmosphere is off the charts, and the set design is incredible, so if you are here for the vibes, this one might be worth seeking out. (I found it on Tubi, and it’s free with ads.)

In lieu of a nuanced take (good grief, I hope you don’t come here for nuanced takes; joke’s on you!), here’s a bunch of screenshots. This is why it takes me four hours to watch a 90-minute movie.

Day Ten of 31 Days Of Horror in years past: 2023 // 2022 // 2021

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