The Feast The Feast (2021)

Lee Haven Jones's 'The Feast' (Y Gwledd) transcends mere horror, crafting a chilling symphony of decadence and reckoning. It stands as a masterful modern exemplar of folk horror, meticulously eschewing cheap jump scares in favor of an insidious, creeping dread imbued with profound thematic layers. Gareth Bryn's cinematography is exquisitely unsettling, employing wide shots and natural light to expose the stark, menacing beauty of the Welsh countryside, transforming the landscape itself into a silent, judging character.

Annes Elwy's portrayal of Cadi, with her vacant yet profoundly enigmatic gaze, serves as the unsettling focal point, offering a stark contrast to the self-absorbed upper-class characters. The film delves beyond primal fears, offering biting commentary on consumerist ethics, capitalist greed, and humanity's destructive relationship with nature. 'The Feast' is a slow-burn, psychologically torturous cinematic experience, plunging the viewer into a visceral nightmare where beauty and terror coalesce, brilliantly depicting the tragedy of corruption and comeuppance. It firmly establishes itself as a significant entry in contemporary Welsh horror cinema.