Mandrake (2022) Review – A Gloomy and Glacial Folk Horror Mystery

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at the folk horror, Mandrake.

Gloomy UK and Irish horror

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Representing the feature-length directional debut for Lynne Davison, Mandrake is slow paced, dark, and fairly bleeding miserable. Somewhat in keeping with many of its fellow UK and Irish horror compatriots, this is a brooding and glacial movie that may not be for everyone.

“Mandrake is slow paced, dark, and fairly bleeding miserable. Somewhat in keeping with many of its fellow UK and Irish horror compatriots, this is a brooding and glacial movie.”

It follows the story of probation officer Cathy Madden (Deirdre Mullins). She is assigned to help with the social reintegration of Mary Laidlaw (Derbhle Crotty). Mary, derogatorily known as Bloody Mary by the locals, is a convicted serial killer. It’s Cathy’s job to tag her and make sure she is keeping up with her appointments. When a pair of local children goes missing, however, it seems as though the legend of Bloody Mary may have claimed another victim.

The UK and Ireland seem to have a bit of a knack for putting out gloomy horror. It feels as though filmmakers on these collection of islands have really been leaning into that lately. If you have grown a little tired of this almost brutally realistic, slow paced style of horror, you will probably struggle to find anything to enjoy here.

Mandrake is a grey and sullen film with little in the way of cheer. It also moves at a laboured pace. There is no desire to shock the viewer with jump scares. This is the wrong place to look for action or thrills. Director Lynne Davison aims to get inside your head and really unsettle you.

A divisive style of horror

It would almost be apt to describe Mandrake as something of a horror adjacent. The crime and drama element play a central role. While horror themes are present, they really don’t feel like the main focus. This is somewhat common with folk horror, as a whole.

Much like The Wicker Man, a crime has been committed. Children are missing and our protagonist needs to solve the mystery. The underlying horror themes act as a backdrop to a story that has potential but is tremendously lacking. The problem here, for me at least, is how predictable said story is.

Mandrake really doesn’t try to do anything different. Its story is predictable and completely by the numbers. There are no twists and turns and very little to sink your teeth into. You will be begging for some nuance to the story. It will offer a hint before going right back to being entirely obvious. I feel as though there is the seed of a decent horror tale here. The character of Bloody Mary likely has a fascinating back story but it is never expanded on. There is a lot that the viewer is supposed to pick up from between the lines but nothing of enough substance to really chew on.

A lacklustre script

Matt Harvey’s inconsistent script really doesn’t do Mandrake any favours. Protracted silences between characters lead to some truly awkward scenes. One, in particular, sees Mary watch Cathy as she drinks a cup of water. Nothing is said as she slowly finishes the drink. A similar scene follows later on as a character smokes a cigarette.

“Harvey’s inability to expand on character’s motives leaves the story feeling lacking. There is a lot that the viewer is supposed to pick up from between the lines but nothing of enough substance to really chew on.”

I understand the reason for the silence but it feels horribly out of place. Harvey’s inability to expand on character’s motives leaves the story feeling lacking.

There are a number of wasted interactions throughout. These could have better served as opportunities for exposition. I am sure most people want to know more about the characters. This never seems to happen and, consequently, they feel woefully two-dimensional. At the very least we need to know more about Mary. We needed to know more about her crimes and why she is back in the town said crimes were committed. A little more explanation about her beliefs and rituals would have helped the story. As it stands, many people are going to be left confused and disappointed.

Gorgeous looking and unsettling

Focusing on some of the positives, the visuals here are, for the most part, fantastic. This is a gorgeous-looking picture that captures rural Northern Ireland beautifully. Some of the shots don’t work; they can feel a little redundant. For the most part, however, this is a great-looking film.

The dreariness may not be for everyone but it works well given the theme. It has to be said, however, that the movie is way too dark. I had to turn up my backlight, it is just so dull. Indoor scenes are particularly susceptible to this.

There is a decent amount of unsettling imagery. Some of it doesn’t work and some of it looks pretty ridiculous. For the most part, however, it is effective and impactful. Taking cues from movies such as The Witch, Mandrake doesn’t slap you around the face with its scares. They are subtle and unnerving, very fitting for a gloomy folk horror. There is a decent amount of tension and atmosphere here. The use of children as victims is always an effective way to get people invested.

“It is dark and brooding with some moments of fantastic tension. Crotty’s performance is bound to please fans of subtle horror, as well. She is tremendously creepy.”

The mystery unravels slowly but is fairly engaging. There is the blueprint for a fascinating story here, it just never really manages to play out. Acting is, for the most part, really good, as well. While the supporting cast is very consistent, the two leads are of particular note.

Deirdre Mullins presents a complex character unlike your typical horror movie mother and does a brilliant job. Derbhle Crotty, as Mary, is also generally great. The character can feel a little over the top at times. Her sinister smiles and bizarre manner of speaking are noteworthy, but Crotty crafts a character who is genuinely creepy and carries the horror element of the film.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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