Waves crash against the rocks. Seagulls ride the gusts of wind overhead. A clump of flowers flutter in the breeze at the edge of a cliff. Are those voices? Or is it just the ocean?
You’re on the island of Enys Men, and it’s only going to get worse.
As a lover of indie horror, I was more than excited when I saw a trailer for the film “Enys Men” in the theater earlier this year. My friends and I thought it was a rerelease of a 1970s film due to the visual style, but soon realized it was a brand new picture. I instantly added it to my Letterboxd watchlist.
Now, “Enys Men” has been released for streaming and I decided to take a look at the film that intrigued me so much. While it may not offer a linear or even comprehensible storyline, enjoyers of experimental and folk horror will find an interesting experience.
“Enys Men” follows an unnamed volunteer working on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast. Tasked with observing a single clump of flowers, her routine begins to slowly break down as she seemingly encounters the other, stranger residents of the island.
Or at least I think that’s what it was about. The film doesn’t really have an identifiable plot and constantly skips around in time and place. What’s a flashback? What’s imagination? What’s real? “Enys Men” doesn’t concern itself with these trivialities, and neither should you.
If you look at other reviews online, you’ll probably see “plot” — or lack thereof — floating around a lot. Admittedly, nothing really happens in the film. If you want an actual story — and there’s nothing wrong with that if you do — “Enys Men” is not for you. If you want an atmospheric mind-boggler laden with symbolism to unpack, I’d recommend it.
To actually capture what the film is about, it’s probably easier to compare it to other similar films. It has similar vibes to 2019’s “The Lighthouse” due to its isolated island location and historical background. Just as “The Lighthouse” seeks to emulate the filmmaking styles of the 1890s, “Enys Men” replicates a 1970s look and feel with 16mm film.
There’s also an easy comparison to 2022’s divisive “Skinamarink.” Coincidentally, I saw the trailer for “Enys Men” before my showing of “Skinamarink” earlier this year. Both emphasize creepy visuals, foreboding atmosphere and nontraditional plot structure. You could argue whether these elements actually make a good film, but they definitely make an interesting one.
The real highlights of “Enys Men” are the visuals. The film stock adds a dreamy quality to the beautiful island landscapes. There’s also many surreal and abstract horror images that stuck in my mind after the credits rolled. I can’t help but respect it.
These sequences build the ominous vibes very effectively, but ultimately don’t amount to much. I felt apprehensive while watching, afraid what conclusion the film would reach, but there wasn’t much of a horrifying climax to all of that buildup.
Despite the fact that the film fails in a few spots, what it represents for the horror genre at large is hopeful. The recent increase in more experimental, low-budget horror flicks like “Enys Men” and “Skinamarink,” among others, illustrates a new wave of horror cinema.
Films like these show that experimental horror can work. People are responding to it. Independent cinema has always driven the horror genre — just look at “The Evil Dead” or “The Blair Witch Project.” Though it may take a few more iterations to fully sort out this new trend, anything that helps independent filmmakers create their dreams is good in my book.
If you’re intrigued by the film, I would recommend renting it on Amazon Prime, Apple TV or Vudu. It’ll be an interesting trip. After watching it, my mom and I spent a while debating the meaning and characters. Though you may not know exactly what is happening on the isle of Enys Men, it’s sure to spark conversation.
