Folklore Movies

folklore covers many genres of film because folklore has many genres of story.

Nosferatu (Germany – 1922)

This movie, ripped off of Bram Stokers book “Dracula”, is a wonderful silent movie. the reason I’ve added here is because of the book its based off of. Stoker, in prep for this very story, researched for 7 years, the folklore in England. The story used for this movie and book was the vampire myth. Nosferatu helped bring this myth to the front, it began the idea that vampires can’t go in the sun but it also had the idea that vampires must carry their cursed dirt with them. The dirt was the ground they were buried with. The newer vampires seem to have forgotten about this trope but it is honestly one of my favorites.

Tall Tale (also known as Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill) (1995)

Now this is a strange movie I didn’t know it existed tell writing this blog. This is a western example of folklore, that didn’t do too hot in the book office. It is a story of a farming family, featuring characters such as Pecos Bill, (a man who lassoed a twister) Paul Bunyan (a giant lumberjack with babe the blue ox) and John Henry ( a steel-driving man who raced against steam powered steel drivers). These three characters are from the stories our young protagonist is told from their father. the young boy after his dad is shot by a man wishing to buy the land their farm rests on, takes a nap, and is visited by these men and hey help him. he wakes up and gains the courage to face the evil man who shot his dad and these characters come and help him again

 

Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster (2004)

In this direct to DVD film we see the mystery gang is headed to Scotland. They quickly find themselves in the middle of a caper, like always. This time they come face to face with the Loch Ness Monster, a myth circulating in the Scottish highlands sense 1933 or farther back. the myth says that there is a monster in the loch, and in the film the gang is faced with three or more Nessie imposters, showing how this myth is used to gain tourism for the Scottish.

 

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

This horror film from 1977 was based on a myth of Sawney Bean from the 16th century. Sawney had run off with a accused witch and lived in a cave where he fathered 14 children and then has given 32 inbred grandchildren. he was a cannibal said to have eaten more then a thousand people with his family. This movie focuses on a family that gets lost in the hills and turn in for the night, They are terrorized by a family of cannibals. there is much death in this movie, two dogs are taken and threatened to be ate in the film.