Lord of Misrule

The story unfolds in a contemporary rural setting where a new vicar discovers a hidden cult behind the town’s festive rituals. Masked performances, bonfires and forest rites anchor the community’s sense of belonging while past legends bleed into the present. A remembered 1621 tale links ancient promises to current power.

A rural village centered on an annual harvest festival and old beliefs. Its streets orbit a church and a secluded forest where rituals unfold. The community’s identity hinges on tradition and a looming fear of the legend Gallowgog.

🩸 Sacrifice

Becoming a mother and pastor, Rebecca is forced to make a brutal choice to save Grace. The ritual demands a price, and hair becomes a symbolic gift that tests humanity against the supernatural. The film frames sacrifice as a personal act and a communal justification that binds the town.

🪄 Folklore vs Religion

The town clings to Gallowgog as a force beyond church doctrine, and the line between devotion and manipulation blurs. The lord of misrule uses ritual to command obedience, while Rebecca challenges this power with a different faith. The clash reveals how belief can be both protective and dangerous.

👥 Community Pressure

The village enforces conformity through ritual and fear. Jocelyn leverages the crowd to justify violence, and the mob's actions escalate toward tragedy. Individual voices are silenced as tradition becomes coercion.