by Stewart HoweA Comic Twist on Folk Horror
In the world of folk horror, a genre steeped in ancient fears and rural landscapes, Edgar Wright’s ‘Hot Fuzz’ stands out as an unconventional yet fitting entry. Dissected Cinema’s folk horror film season, dedicated to unearthing the eerie underbelly of pastoral settings, includes ‘Hot Fuzz’ for its unique blend of humour and horror, set in the seemingly idyllic English village of Sandford.At first glance, ‘Hot Fuzz’, with its sharp wit and action-packed sequences, may seem a far cry from traditional folk horror. However, a deeper look reveals that it cleverly subverts and pays homage to the genre’s core themes.
The Setting: A Nod to Pastoral Nightmares
Folk horror, at its core, revolves around the unsettling nature of rural landscapes and communities. ‘Hot Fuzz’ captures this essence in Sandford, a village that initially appears quaint and peaceful, but gradually reveals a sinister undercurrent. This duality echoes the folk horror tradition of presenting the countryside not as a serene haven, but as a place harbouring dark secrets.
The Cult Element: Echoes of Folklore and Tradition
A pivotal element in folk horror is the presence of ancient customs and cultish activities, often veiled under the guise of tradition. In ‘Hot Fuzz’, the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance, with their extreme measures for maintaining the village’s ‘perfect’ status, mirrors this theme. Their actions, though exaggerated for comedic effect, resonate with the genre’s exploration of how communal traditions can become oppressive and malevolent.
The Outsider Perspective: Confronting Rural Horrors
Like many folk horror tales, ‘Hot Fuzz’ introduces an outsider – Nicholas Angel, a high-achieving metropolitan police officer, transferred to Sandford. His arrival and subsequent clash with local customs and secrecy fit the genre’s narrative of an outsider encountering and unravelling the horrors of a close-knit community.
Subversion and Satire: A Modern Take on Folk Horror
Edgar Wright’s genius in ‘Hot Fuzz’ lies in his ability to subvert typical folk horror tropes while maintaining respect for the genre. The film satirises the often grim and solemn atmosphere of folk horror, injecting it with a fast-paced, comedic twist, yet never strays far from the genre’s roots in exploring the sinister side of rural life.
The inclusion of ‘Hot Fuzz’ in the Dissected Cinema folk horror season is a testament to the film’s clever melding of horror and comedy, and its subtle yet significant alignment with the themes of folk horror. It shows that even within a genre known for its traditionalism, there’s room for innovation and reinterpretation, making ‘Hot Fuzz’ a modern classic in folk horror cinema.