'A Spell to Ward off the Darkness' is an inquiry into the possibilities of a spiritual existence within an increasingly secular Western culture.
It’s a film of contrasts – community and solitude, silence and primal noise, darkness and light – beautifully shot, wilfully slow and enjoyably baffling.
As a rumination on existence, this never gets as deep or as insightful as it wants to.
This strange work by experimentalists Ben Rivers and Ben Russell is utterly uncommercial and borders on video art.
Heady atmospherics and innovative visuals, but a weak thesis.
The effect is like going through the home movies of your talented but weird next-door neighbour.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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