In the Earth

Name: In the Earth
Genre: Horror
Released: April 16, 2021
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires, Joel Fry, John Hollingworth, Mark Monero

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Ratings

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4.6

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4.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Ratings

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In The Earth

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Movie Details & Credits

Neon | Release Date: April 16, 2021 | Not Rated

Starring: Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires, Joel Fry, John Hollingworth, Mark Monero, Reece Shearsmith

Summary: As the world searches for a cure to a disastrous virus, a scientist and park scout venture deep in the forest for a routine equipment run. Through the night, their journey becomes a terrifying voyage through the heart of darkness, the forest coming to life around them.

Director: Ben Wheatley

Genre(s): Horror

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Feb 1, 2021

Wheatley and his collaborators have produced something that some of us thought would be impossible: an outrageously entertaining film that feels utterly rooted in the bleak era in which it was made. Lockdown project or not, it’s a milestone. Read full review

Polygon Tasha Robinson

Apr 15, 2021

In the Earth is an immersive portrait of tribalism and madness, angst and survivalism. And in spite of the somewhat predictable narrative, the film builds to an unshakably tense, unsettlingly eerie conclusion. Read full review

Mark Kermode

Jun 20, 2021

Suffice to say that, as with all of Wheatley’s best works, In the Earth combines humour and horror in terrifically bamboozling fashion, not least during a gruellingly extended amputation sequence that will have you squirming, laughing and wincing all at once. Read full review

Chris Evangelista

Jan 31, 2021

The final 20 or so minutes of In the Earth are downright impenetrable, and while that’s no doubt the point, it doesn’t make the experience any less frustrating. In a sense, Wheatley has successfully recreated the experience of stumbling around, lost in the woods, unable to see the forest for the trees. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Apr 15, 2021

If the bigger picture of In the Earth doesn’t appear fully realized — this is a movie not just of the moment, but perhaps rushed to meet it — it would be difficult, this year, for at least some of its atmosphere of isolation-induced madness not to inspire a chill. Read full review

The Guardian Benjamin Lee

Jan 31, 2021

In a flawed yet fierce return to form, Ben Wheatley has crafted a phantasmagoric treat with In the Earth, an ambitious, atmospheric little woodland horror. Read full review

The Film Stage Christopher Schobert

Jan 31, 2021

Perhaps months or even years from now, it will be easier to disassociate the film from the real-world details that influenced its creation and give it a second look. In the present, though, In the Earth feels like a project designed to stave up boredom. Perhaps it did, for Wheatley and his crew. For everyone else, the memories of watching will be quickly buried. Read full review

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User Reviews

Metaglenn

Oct 16, 2021

Like a cross between BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW and MIDSOMMAR. If that is your cup of mushroom tea, you’ll know it, and you’re in for a treat. It’s understandable that’s NOT a lot of people’s cup, but so why are you watching a Ben Wheatley film? Sigh. Anyway, this film is tense, terrifying,Like a cross between BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW and MIDSOMMAR. If that is your cup of mushroom tea, you’ll know it, and you’re in for a treat. It’s understandable that’s NOT a lot of people’s cup, but so why are you watching a Ben Wheatley film? Sigh. Anyway, this film is tense, terrifying, well-acted and psychedelic. I loved it.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

DawdlingPoet

Apr 17, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is pretty typical Ben Wheatley fare, quite trippy, a bit like 'that scene' in A Field in England, only this is contemporary. It does, however, centre on folk horror, with old folklore stories retold. It is pretty immersive at times and I should probably point out that strobe lighting is used at times, so if you have photo sensitive epilepsy then you may be best avoiding this film for that reason. I found the story a bit hard to fully follow in detail but it was still suitably unsettling I suppose. I was aware of there being a somewhat gruesome scene involving amputation, although when it happened it wasn't as extreme as I'd expected. I wouldn't say this is an entirely blood filled film, though its certainly not for the squeamish. Its a suitably atmospheric watch, if a bit disorientating, which I guess is kind of a good thing for a horror film. Its an experience - I'm not sure I can really say its not been done before but it's certainly ok.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

moviemitch96

Apr 17, 2021

In this indie horror pic, a scientist and park scout venture into the forest for their routine equipment run in the midst of a pandemic, but get much more than they bargained for. To give away too much would be doing the film a disservice, but unfortunately that hardly matters in my opinion,In this indie horror pic, a scientist and park scout venture into the forest for their routine equipment run in the midst of a pandemic, but get much more than they bargained for. To give away too much would be doing the film a disservice, but unfortunately that hardly matters in my opinion, since the film ultimately proved to be much of a letdown for me. Granted, there are some genuinely tense and creepy moments, especially in the given context of the pandemic that we ourselves have been witnessing this past year, but they're mostly overshadowed by an unfocused story, especially in the second half when the film begins to really lose its bearings. There's decent acting involved from the select few actors in this film, but even they can't pick up the slack of the film's story, and the further it went on, the more aimless, pointless and random it all began to feel. I found it increasingly difficult to make sense of anything in much of the second half. Overall, a creepy atmosphere simply isn't enough to overcome the shortcomings of this film's random and unfocused story, along with a lack of more genuine scares.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

bertobellamy

May 21, 2021

These COVID films are struggling a lot to get things right.

Initially, 'In the Earth' walks a path very near to 'Midsommar' and 'Annihilation." In the vein of 'The Blair Witch Project,' the folk horror in this film points to something very unsettling, but director Ben Wheatley neverThese COVID films are struggling a lot to get things right.

Initially, 'In the Earth' walks a path very near to 'Midsommar' and 'Annihilation." In the vein of 'The Blair Witch Project,' the folk horror in this film points to something very unsettling, but director Ben Wheatley never delivers.

The acting is bad. The plot goes bonkers during the second part. The exploration of the relationship between science and magic lacks coherence. The ending is quite unsatisfying. Wheatley tries to incorporate plenty of horror subgenres with no effect. There are even some slasher segments, but they lead nowhere.

'In the Earth' is very cryptic and not in a good way. The cool psychedelic sequences — of which Wheatley is known for — are cool, but, in the end, the film is quite a disappointment.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Vritt

Apr 24, 2021

Literally the worst movie I’ve ever seen. It’s extremely loud and boring. There’s also lots of FLASHING LIGHTS !!! I don’t remember seeing a warning for that so keep that in mind. Those flashing lights gave me a bad headache and Ik it could trigger seizures so plz be careful. This movie isLiterally the worst movie I’ve ever seen. It’s extremely loud and boring. There’s also lots of FLASHING LIGHTS !!! I don’t remember seeing a warning for that so keep that in mind. Those flashing lights gave me a bad headache and Ik it could trigger seizures so plz be careful. This movie is just a waste of time and money.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Majohnso22

Apr 16, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spoiler! This movie is loud, flashes lights in your face for what I assume is something supposedly drug induced? This movie makes no sense, and is also extremely slow and gets boring. The last 30 min could have been used better.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

loganace

Apr 16, 2021

Do you like strobe lights and loud annoying sounds for half of a movie? Are you into mushroom farts? Are you currently high on said mushroom farts or on acid? If you answered yes to all of these, you will love this film. If you are not into these thing, stay far away from this horribleDo you like strobe lights and loud annoying sounds for half of a movie? Are you into mushroom farts? Are you currently high on said mushroom farts or on acid? If you answered yes to all of these, you will love this film. If you are not into these thing, stay far away from this horrible film. No amount of tension or "horror" can excuse this horribly scripted film with these side-show special effects meant to drive you insane. Instead they are annoying and could be harmful to those audience members with photosensitivity, epilepsy, sensitive ears, and/or just don't want to be subjected to this "neo-horror" mushroom fantasy. Added bonus, the ending is horrendous.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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