In the Earth (2021) User Reviews

waste of time

[davidmalaimo · 4/10 · 16 April 2021]

I was pretty stoked for this movie after seeing the trailer. Figured it'd be a solid arthouse horror picture a la A24 type deal. This is coming from a guy who mostly prefers the B stuff but i enjoy me a good arthouse indie flick now and again.

But gee the two main characters were so flat and boring. Like, they couldn't add banter? Find interesting things to talk about while traveling through the woods. I miss the days in horror, and maybe this still happens from time to time, where characters have these very interesting attributes. An example, in del toros chronos, ron pearlman's character was obsessed with the size of his nose and getting a nose job. It was such an interesting tid bit. In this film there was none of that. The characters just flatly said things that were part of the plot. No banter. No conversations. Just "this is why i'm here". "this is what i'm doing". "why are you doing this?" "oh that's why".

Then a bunch of weird plot stuff, indecision in what the movie is supposed to be. Wicked cool trippy cinematography type stuff that was completely ruined by the entire plot of the movie. A bad explanation about why everything is the way it is.

Also the movie alludes to some kind of quarantine at the beginning. Not the one we're in rn i don't believe. But i think the writer thought that this would give it an air of mystery and apocalyptic dread. I think a movie like Monster, a sorta apocalyptic monster film that sorta followed a few people roaming through the forests did this concept well. In The Earth, however, did not. Just felt meaningless and pointless and was just an excuse for non-dialogue that thes indie filmmakers like so much.

The last 20 minutes was kinda coool. But not worth what you put into it. I really wanted to walk out of this one.

Have you ever wanted to punch a movie in the face?

[FeastMode · 1/10 · 24 January 2022]

I watch a lot of bad movies. But every once in a while a movie comes along that makes me so angry. A movie that makes me wonder who made it and what were they thinking?

I like weird movies. I like smart, deep and ambitious movies. But this movie is straight nonsense. Utter madness. It's an attempt to be weird and different and out-there without any effort in grounding it in any logic. All abstract with nothing concrete to hold onto. Pretentious to the max.

During this movie, I asked myself the following questions. What is this even about? Can we move forward or have any kind of story progression? What is the point of all this madness? Why is this movie still going? Why am I still watching this? Is there even the slightest chance there will be something redeeming at the end if I wait it out? (No!)

The only things I liked were the cinematography, the atmosphere and a few practical effects. But my anger wouldn't allow me to give this 2 stars. (1 viewing, 1/23/2022)

Strangely entertaining, but very weird.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 11 December 2022]

The world is in the midst of a deadly virus, scientist Martin Lowery is joined by park ranger Alma, the pair head into a forest looking for equipment, where they encounter Zach.

I was really looking forward to this, a good cast, an interesting script, and a relevant theme, as it was made during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Very atmospheric and visually quite appealing, it had some plus points, including the acting, Squires and Fry were good, Reece Shearsmith was particularly zany as Zach.

Very much out of that arthouse style, it's very avantgarde, a style that will appeal to some, and equally irritate others.

It's slow in parts, and does seem to take an age to get going, but when it does, it's actually quite entertaining, Zach makes for a good villain, and there's enough intrigue and suspense to keep you entertained.

Weird, but entertaining, 6/10.

Arthouse picture turned to the weirdest and boring flick.

[cruise01 · 2/10 · 7 September 2021]

1 out of 5 stars.

The film is one of the worst. Plot about a pandemic virus. And researchers in the middle of the forests. And strange things in the forest. Nothing else more. Plot is boring. The acting is stale. The script and direction is dull. The movie is weird and lacks the horror and entertaining value to even sit through this.

Not the most typical "horror" movie

[Sjepii · 7/10 · 26 May 2021]

Not great but good enough. It's like a pseudoscientific art movie with some horror and absurdity mixed in. Reminds me a lot of Annihilation (2018). By no means boring or waste of time as the other comments seem to suggest. Beautiful at times.

Slow, weird and pointless

[lafebre-80307 · 3/10 · 9 May 2021]

Like too many horror films of late, weirdness is a stand-in for coherence and story. Mumbo jumbo about a big rock that supposedly talks to humans. Very, very slow film that's ultimately pointless.

Interconnectivity.

[necromancer-mcgill · 7/10 · 9 May 2021]

Interconnectivity presented through a psilocybin induced fever dream of a movie. Definitely not for everyone, (apparent through the one sided reviews), but those who know Ben Wheatley will know this going in.

While not his greatest effort I think it's a flawed but solid little folk horror. All the performances were fine (just fine) and the setting and hallucinatory scenes work well. Good atmosphere with a little cringey gore thrown in.

Getting anything made like this during the pandemic must've been hell so I'm impressed. Just wish I could have seen it in a cinema because I've got a feeling the sound design would've been an experience.

6.3 from me.

There was just nothing worthwhile here...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 28 May 2021]

When I read the synopsis for this 2021 movie, I have to admit that I was intrigued and the plot sounded interesting. And with it being a horror movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I found the time to sit down to watch writer and director's Ben Wheatley movie.

Well, I managed to suffer through just under one hour of the ordeal that is otherwise known as "In the Earth", then I just threw the towel into the ring and gave up. This movie was so unfathomably boring and pointless. And I have to say that you have to forget everything you read in the synopsis, because it plays absolutely no real part in the actual movie.

The events that took place through the hour that I suffered through just had nothing to offer in terms of entertainment, and needless to say that the storyline was just so abysmal and boring that no matter what transpired on the screen it just wasn't sufficient to alleviate for the shortcomings of the movie.

The plot was boring and pointless, and so were the characters. Sure, they had gotten some good actors and actresses for the movie, but the error here was that the performers had nothing solid to work with in terms of script and characters. Reece Shearsmith - playing Zach - really carried the movie with his performance, though he could only do so much to salvage the train wreck that is "In the Earth".

Visually then "In the Earth" is a strange movie, and I assume that if you are high on mushrooms or some kind of psychedelics' then you will probably enjoy the odd visuals that permeate the movie. But if you sit down to watch a proper horror movie, then "In the Earth" was just a massive swing and a miss.

Even with having watched an hour of this movie, I sat there with a feeling of 'is this really it?' and 'what a waste of my time this was' as I got up to end the torment.

This is definitely not a movie that I will recommend you waste your time, money or effort on. Some of us suffered through this ordeal in full or parts so you don't have to.

My rating of the 2021 movie "In the Earth" lands on a massively disappointing three out of ten stars.

What a glorious trip

[dugmcf-05252 · 9/10 · 7 June 2021]

This movie is a trip! It's for people who saw Annihilation (2018) and thought "pretty good... could be weirder though". I wondered if writer/ director could be the British Ari Aster after I saw his film Kill List but after seeing this I'd double down on that comparison. It's kind of survival/ folk horror with a surreal psilocybin coating and I was captivated the entire time. I also completely understand why many of the more meat and potatoes horror fans hate this thing. It's not at all for everyone.

A trippy eco-folk horror

[Sir_AmirSyarif · 7/10 · 8 August 2021]

Ben Wheatley's 'In the Earth' can be a little perplexing in its explanations, but it doesn't take away from the uncomfortable and tense atmosphere that the film successfully creates through its exposition. It strikes an excellent mix of brilliant visual concepts and impressive harmony between photography and Clint Mansell's beautiful, spine-tingling soundtrack. As with Wheatley's other films, this one has a cold, documentary-like quality to it. Even with all of this, Reece Shearsmith's performance still shines.

Epilepsy WARNING

[phoenix19866 · 5/10 · 22 July 2021]

CAUTION. CONTAINS FLASHING LIGHTS. NO WARNING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FILM!

Another Earth Has Consciousness

[westsideschl · 1/10 · 16 November 2021]

Recently in vogue are tales of the Earth having some mysterious consciousness - I think. Especially popular are rooting systems like fungi (See the similar & better film "Gaia".) We have a couple of scientists living in the woods with a lot of not believable power consuming strobe lights & sound analyzing equipment. Why & how it all got there - who knows. Film time is mostly flashing strobe lights, weird sound effects & kaleidoscope patterns - why? Who knows. Warning: If you're epileptic; don't watch. Four actors; some tents & tech equipment was the extent of the script.

English Folk Horror

[parkerbcn · 7/10 · 27 May 2021]

A very recent take on one of Britain's more successful subgenres, the folk horror (that has given us important films, from masterpieces like "The Wicker Man" to modern takes like "Eden Lake"). The movie combines paganistic rituals with a very contemporary fear of viruses and the deaths caused by them, and for about 2/3 of the running time it really creates a very attractive, mysterious and engaging story, but the last third ends up being a little more of a disappointment. It's still recommended.

Designed to give you a seizure

[gedikreverdi · 1/10 · 14 July 2021]

I hated it! I liked Sator, Gaia, Caveat, Honeydew and many other arthouse horror movies but this one is such a ridiculous film. Whose idea was making people watch those floodlights going on and off half of the movie, I could not even look at the screen. I wish I never heard about this.

Good and unique horror

[masonsaul · 6/10 · 21 June 2021]

In the Earth can feel dull at times and it's lack of answers is extremely unsatisfying but it has enough individual parts that work to make it a good and unique horror movie. Joel Fry, Reece Shearsmith and Ellora Torchia all give great performances. There are some extremely disturbing moments and oddly funny parts. Ben Wheatley's direction is really good even if some of his stylistic choices really don't work. The music by Clint Mansell is amazing.

Strobing Arthouse Nonsense!

[icocleric · 1/10 · 25 May 2023]

Major strobe/flashing warning. I'm not hyperboling when I say that I almost had a seizure, and some of the effects going on made it so unwatchable. I literally had to close my eyes. The most frustrating part is that, there was little to no point having these flashes.

The concept sounded interesting, and there were ideas in there that could have gone places, but they fell short. There is a lot of things going on that do not really link up. There's a virus or something so they wear masks? Some magic research? Add some loose science in there.

When it's not flashing lights and imagines at you, it's a slow burn. It was honestly terrible arthouse stuff that was nonsensical.

Terror Firma...

[Xstal · 7/10 · 27 June 2021]

A frightening, gruesome and irregular interpretation of the 'place we call home' conjuring a reaction to the parasites that seek to inadvertently destroy it. Great performances, sound editing and direction.

Close to the worst movie I have ever seen

[Dan_Perazzo · 2/10 · 16 April 2021]

Some decent cinematography and nice early build of suspense. Then it gets bizarre, not necessarily bad in a horror film. Then it goes off the rails, dumb as hell, and tries its best to give you a damn seizure. Ending sucks, nothing rewarding or redeeming here! Avoid this at all costs, pretty sure this movie gave me a headache! The acting is decent but overall complete trash! Not worthy of a movie theater and I wouldn't even put my TV through that!!!

Great Horror Experience

[jon_pratt12345 · 8/10 · 20 June 2021]

First post lockdown trip to the cinema and this was a great experience. Its amazing how this film got made under the restrictions but much of it taking place in the woods would have helped. I felt like there were lots of themes and ideas happening which I may have missed but there was a more straightforward lost in the wilderness horror story which was very well done. A highly effective, frightening score and some brilliant visuals as well as some excellent performances made this a great return to the big screen for me.

Interesting but unsatisfactory

[Groverdox · 7/10 · 3 July 2021]

This release from Ben Wheatley seems to have gone under the radar, and having just watched it, it's not hard to see why. Not too many people will be satisfied with it. It has an intriguing premise, some further cool ideas, but it doesn't come together very well in the end. It reminded me of the director's own "A Field in England", which also had an overdose of hallucinatory shots to baffle even the most patient viewer. There's more to "In the Earth" than that, though, which might make it all the more disappointing that it doesn't come together in the end.

In The Trash

[blurnieghey · 1/10 · 13 August 2023]

Why do I even try watching movies like this? To keep in touch with passes for cinema these days? To get an idea of what younger generations find entertaining? Those would be pretty good reasons, but the reality is there's this crappy indoor flea market one town over that has thousands of DVD's stacked up that they sell for $1 a piece and, when it isn't the once in a blue moon that I find something decent, I'll pick two of what I deem to be the most stupid-looking, garbage movies just to show some support for the store. And such was the case with this piece of junk.

What we have here is a fair representation of what I have learned to despise about these newer horror movies, and I am beginning to question if this beloved genre is finally in its death throws, as it seems all these film makers can do is lame garbage like this or just regurgitate plot lines that got beaten into the ground decades ago. So, aside form the glacial pacing and creepy atmosphere (that apparently is supposed to take the place of actual scares these days), you get the typical maniac messing with the innocent campers shtick that has been done a million times before with a slice of Covid 19 and, for some nonsense reason, they try to mix in this sort of Gaia "the earth has a consciousness" BS that makes no sense at all to me, at least, because I think that entire movement is ridiculous. Nothing works and the thing is pretty much a long, illogical snore fest.

Anyways, if for some reason you don't think the basic premise of this flick is garbage, you can ask the following questions as you watch: how did one man manage to knock out two people in their tents without waking one of them up first? Why didn't they wrap their feet with some of the materials they had left or even part of their clothing? How did these clowns get all that electricity? And why were they even on foot in the first place--they stopped making 4-wheelers and gasoline because of the pandemic? And so on. I suppose there's a demographic for this sort of trash but, if you're a person that grew up watching decent movies, you're probably not in it. Avoid.

The reviews here are brutal!

[ricky_dry_county · 7/10 · 17 May 2021]

1) And the negative reviewers are spot on. I just happened to not mind the artsy vignettes, LSD flashes and the overall vibe. The misty important thing was that unlike current films, the characters weren't annoying or spewing amateur political vitriol. The lead guy was abysmally low on testosterone throughout and the lead lady has to literally carry him around, quite hilarious actually.

2) It's low budget but is trying to reach higher than it is capable of. Certain story structures are lost amidst the obsession with ambience and audio (Did the weird forest couple plan this together? Not much is said about it)

worst movie I've seen, must have a niche audience

[tombb-45754 · 1/10 · 2 February 2023]

The only thing that made me watch it was the hope of something exciting or eventful to happen that would help me understand the movie.

Probably one of the worst I have ever seen but I'm assuming it caters to a very niche audience range,nothing in the world could make me watch this again.

The acting was good and also the scenery and effects they used to make the movie but it just never had had a strong logical storyline behind it.

This review is also backed by the other family members in our house that watched it at the same time all giving either 0 or 1 out of 10, maybe the story is beyond our understanding.

Ancient meets modern in pursuit of nature-al communication.

[Dottsylove · 6/10 · 9 October 2021]

A study into the ancient communication with Earth through sights and sounds using modern methods and guided through collective writings. Follows 2 researchers searching for 2 other researchers to get some answers. Too long but an interesting concept and got me thinking so 5.4-6.0 out of 10.

rubbish!

[plurlife1989 · 1/10 · 16 April 2021]

Complete garbage from beginning to end. The plot was unclear, the chain of events made no sense, the endless cutaways to random images with annoyingly loud music makes me feel like I should've taken acid before going to the film so I could understand what was going on. The fact that critics thought this was a good film just further speaks to their lack of credibility. Stay away from this film if you value your time, it's TRASH.