‘Enys Men’ Poster: Mark Jenkin’s New Genre-Bending Folk Horror Film Could Be This Year’s ‘Wickerman’ [Cannes Exclusive]

As the land we now know as Britain was being invaded, the Celts were pushed to the fringe, to places such as Cornwall or Wales. This is evident when you hear the idiosyncratic and distinct Welsh or Cornish languages being spoken. Why are we giving you this mini-history lesson? Because looking at the title of Mark Jenkin‘s new film, you wouldn’t assume that “Enys Men” was “mane”– Cornish for “stone island.”

“Enys Men,” just freshly announced as acquired by NEON for North America, and premiering in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival, is set in 1973 on an abandoned island off the Cornish coast, where a wildlife volunteer’s daily observations (of a rare flower) turn into a metaphysical journey that forces her to question what is real and what is a nightmare. The film is said to take inspiration from Robin Hardy’s “The Wickerman,” Nicholas Roeg’s “Don’t Look Now,” and Sam Peckinpah’s “Straw Dogs.” Today, we’re pleased to reveal the new poster for the film exclusively, which you can see below.

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Jenkin was born in Cornwall, so it isn’t surprising that not only his production company is based there but that his home would influence his work. Jenkin explains that the film started at an Ancient Cornish site called The Merry Maidens Stone Circle in his director’s statement. 

The Merry Maidens Stone Circle was not far from his grandmother’s house in West Penwith. Legend states that the 19 stones were the petrified remains of a group of girls punished for dancing on a Sunday to the music of the Pipers, who were also turned to stone. These stones and Jenkin’s experiences visiting the site sparked questions and then inspiration. “Enys Men” explores religion, horticulture, birth, death, and falls within the always-uber-creepy folk horror genre. 

The film stars John Woodvine, Mary Woodvine, and Edward Rowe. As he did on his acclaimed film “Bait,” Jenkin writes, directs, and also acts as the cinematographer, sound designer, and composer. Shot on 16mm color negative using a 1970s clockwork Bolex camera and post sync sound, all of this surely adds to a film that likely feels like a 1970s horror movie. Check out the new poster for “Enys Men” exclusively below.

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