We all knew they were coming and they’re finally here, movies about or inspired by our current pandemic living situation. And indeed, this moment and its wide reaching effects whether they be mental health, the economy, health, isolation, or the myriad other elements of a year-plus quarantine are all ripe for exploration through the medium of film. Director Ben Wheatley takes his stab at a metaphorical look at how pandemic life has affected humanity and its place in the world with In The Earth.
As the world searches for a cure to a devastating virus, scientist Martin Lowery (Joel Fry) and park ranger Alma (Ellora Torchia) venture deep into the woods in search of missing scientist Olivia Wendle (Hayley Squires) who went searching for answers regarding the forest’s fertile soil. The duo soon encounters Zach (Reece Shearsmith), a mysterious drifter who they’re forced to turn to since he possesses knowledge about the forest they lack. As night falls, their journey becomes a terrifying voyage through the heart of darkness as the forest comes to life around them.
Wheatley wrote the film over a two-week period in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which honestly shows in the film’s light plot but heavy subtext. Apropos to its status as one of the first of sure to be many more films responding to our pandemic experience, In The Earth explores the nature of two of the more prominent aspects of the human psyche, isolation and obsession. As Zach’s mental instability becomes more pronounced and apparent, we learn about his devotion to Parnag Fegg, a mysterious force that controls the forest itself and all who find themselves within it. Zach’s journey into the forest and quest for answers left him eventually isolated and alone where he succumbed to his obsession with the mysterious force at the expense of his humanity. It’s easy to see why this character arc was borne out of a 100-year pandemic that has kept all of us, including Wheatley, trapped inside with out own thoughts, a dangerous circumstance for social animals like human beings. The mental health costs of pandemic life are beginning to come into focus and Zach’s descent into madness serve as a cinematic parallel for the costs of losing one’s human connections.
In that same vein, Wheatley has included in the film’s thematic explorations an additional theme regarding our connectivity with nature and the symbiotic relationship between human behavior and the environment. In the film’s technicolor dreamcoat third act featuring quality cinematography, we learn of the connection between Zach and Olivia and the sort of yin and yang that the two represent in terms of their relations toward Parnag Fegg and the obvious Mother Nature allegory the forest spirit serves as. In Zach, we have a person who has surrendered completely to what he believes is a deity while Olivia seeks to master and unlock all the power of nature itself. Both seek different ways to distill a power that is larger than what humans may be able to comprehend and wield, playing God with forces beyond our control. As we see as the story plays out, humans are not as in control as they believe themselves to be and nature does what it must in order to maintain established hierarchy. This aspect of the film is also topical in terms of its exploration of our own connection with the Earth and our place in issues such as climate change and pollution.
While feeling largely reminiscent of recent sci-fi/horror fare such as 10 Cloverfield Lane’s tale of an apocalyptic kidnapper and Annihilation’s mysteriously haunted forestland setting, In The Earth has its own moments of tense horror that make for a compelling entry into the genre, most notably a scene involving Martin’s injured and infected foot. The scene drips with a sense of dread that easily transfers over to the audience and sets the tone for the characters from then on as they find themselves at the mercy of a madman. Another standout aspect of the film is its excellent score from Clint Mansell that is foreboding and perfectly accentuates the terror seen onscreen. The film’s first half can be a bit of a slog as Martin and Alma and their motivations don’t feel as enticing or interesting, but it picks up as its themes start to sink in and we become aware of the battle of wills between Zach, Olivia, and Parnag Fegg itself. If you’re a fan of the aforementioned Annihilation, In The Earth feels like a spiritual successor though one tier below the 2018 entry.
Image: NEON
