Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
British horror has ritualized violence, language, trauma.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lord of Misrule
What's the Story?
LORD OF MISRULE follows the chain of events that unfolds when the daughter of local vicar Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton) goes missing.
Is It Any Good?
This British horror combines two well-worn themes -- a search for a missing child with a darkness that lurks beneath the surface of a rural community -- in a bid to show something original. As with many horror movies, the setup of Lord of Misrule is more compelling than the payoff, as the latter relies on familiar pagan imagery and a lot of exposition about the malignant forces at work. A strong cast somewhat mitigates the at-times rambling dialogue and jumbled waking dream sequences, with Middleton's new-arrival vicar gradually drawn into a battle of wills and wits with Ralph Ineson's enigmatic local skeptic. William Brent Bell's direction ranges from solid to distracting, with too many fussy camera angles and close-ups, at times not trusting the audience to find its own way into the story.
The original The Wicker Man will always be the obvious comparison for stories in remote settings full of locals with something to hide, while Midsommar updated that concept to rave reviews in recent years. But for all the rich visuals in Lord of Misrule that help bring to life its strangeness, the real villain is its strangely flat script.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Lord of Misrule. What effect did it have? Shocking? Thrilling? Do you think that was the intent?
Discuss some of the rituals depicted in the movie. Did you find them scary? Did the imagery remind you of that used in any other horror movies?
How was Rebecca's Christian faith tested by the events in the film? How can religion help people in tough times?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 8, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : December 8, 2023
- Cast : Tuppence Middleton , Ralph Ineson , Matt Stokoe
- Director : William Brent Bell
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Magnet Releasing
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 5, 2025
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