In the Earth
In the Earth

Movie spotlight

In the Earth

2021
Movie
107 min
English

As a deadly virus ravages the world, Dr. Martin Lowery embarks on a mission to reach test site ATU327A, a research hub deep in the Arboreal Forest. The arduous journey, guided by park scout Alma, is set back by a nighttime attack that leaves the two bruised and shoeless. When they run into Zach, a man living off the grid, they gratefully accept his help. Zach’s intentions aren’t exactly what they seem, however, and a path out of the forest and into safety quickly fades as the line between myth and science blurs.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes64%
Metacritic64/100
Google Users58%
Director: Ben WheatleyGenres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Plot Summary

In the midst of a global pandemic that has caused a drastic decline in plant life, scientist Martin Low navigates a perilous journey into a dense forest. Accompanied by a local guide named Alma, Martin seeks a vital research sample that could hold the key to humanity's survival. As they venture deeper, they encounter increasingly surreal and disturbing phenomena, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination.

Critical Reception

Ben Wheatley's 'In the Earth' received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who often praised its atmospheric tension and unsettling visuals. While some found its ambiguous narrative and experimental approach to be thought-provoking, others felt it was overly dense and occasionally failed to deliver a cohesive story. The film was generally seen as a distinctive, albeit polarizing, entry into the pandemic-themed horror genre.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unsettling atmosphere and timely themes.

  • Criticized for its sometimes opaque narrative and abstract concepts.

  • Noted for its distinctive visual style and experimental horror elements.

Google audience: Audiences generally found 'In the Earth' to be an intriguing and atmospheric horror film, appreciating its unique take on pandemic anxieties and its unsettling psychological elements. However, some viewers found the film's plot to be convoluted and its ending ambiguous, leading to a divided reception.

Fun Fact

The film was shot in secret during the COVID-19 pandemic in Epping Forest, England, with the cast and crew adhering to strict safety protocols.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Chris Sawin

Chris Sawin

In the Earth is the type of horror film that could be totally spoiled for you from the get-go on paper and it still wouldn’t prepare you for what actually takes place when you finally experience it for yourself. Ben Wheatley channels the ps...

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Louisa Moore - S...

“In the Earth” is a psychedelic mash-up of M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” and “The Blair Witch Project,” and it is unpleasant to suffer through. This disorienting, bloody story about killer plants and a psycho in the woods is more lik...

Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com A festival with so much content must have ambiguous, dark, disturbing films. In The Earth is one of these movies, and it will surely be inc...