The Hallow

Deep in the shadowy woods of rural Ireland lies an ancient malevolence that locals treat as a sacred curse. The nearby villagers whisper of creatures that stalk the lost and guard secrets civilization has forgotten. A London conservationist arrives with his wife and infant to survey the land for future development, hoping to keep his family safe while he studies its ecology. From the moment they move in, strange signs and nocturnal noises begin to intrude on their routine. Isolated by the forest and cut off from help, the couple must stand against unseen forces that threaten their home and their child. Fierce winds howl at night and the family senses something older still watching from the treeline.

Released in 2015, The Hallow was directed by Corin Hardy from a screenplay by Felipe Marino and Tom de Ville. It marks Hardy's foray into atmospheric folk horror, leaning on Irish folklore and practical effects to underscore a forest narrative.

The film leans on rural Ireland folklore and atmospheric isolation, with its uncanny creatures and murky woods contributing to the folk horror niche. Its creature design favors tangible effects and restrained CGI, lending grounded realism that heightens tension. It helped showcase a wave of horror that favors mood over gore.

Critics praised the tense atmosphere, the isolation, and the practical effects that ground the horror in folklore. They noted the film's focus on parental protection, the price of progress, and the tension between ancient superstition and modern intrusion that underpins the story. The atmosphere lingers after the screen goes dark.

The Hallow did not win major awards, though critics and genre fans singled out its disciplined craft, atmospheric visuals, and practical effects as standout elements. Some programmers at festival circuits recognized its ambition and aesthetic rigor, while audiences appreciated the film's tight pacing and eerie forest setting that lingered afterward.