Pagan Yule hymns are songs specifically written and performed during the Pagan celebration of Yule, which coincides with the winter solstice. Yule is a festival that celebrates the rebirth of the sun and the return of longer days. Paganism is a modern religious movement that draws inspiration from ancient Pagan practices and beliefs. These hymns are typically sung in a group setting, often accompanied by musical instruments such as drums, flutes, and bells. They are meant to invoke a sense of reverence and connection with nature, as well as to celebrate the turning of the seasons and the cycles of life. The lyrics of Pagan Yule hymns often feature themes of light, warmth, and rebirth, as well as references to ancient Pagan deities and folklore.

The Witch

Released in theaters earlier this year and now available for home viewing, The Witch is the most critically acclaimed horror movie of 2016 so far. Despite managing only modest business at the box office, where it had the misfortune of opening against the unforeseen juggernaut that was Deadpool, The Witch nevertheless sits among Rotten Tomatoes’ top 20 reviewed movies of the year thanks to glowing reviews from over 90% of the nation’s film critics. This begs the question, does such accolades make The Witch the best horror movie of 2016 you probably haven’t seen yet?

The story opens in a small 17 th century New England settlement where a man named William stands before a court of his Puritanical peers accused of the sin of pride. Refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing, William is banished from the colony along with his wife, Katherine, and their four children. Their faith seemingly unshaken, William and Katherine establish a farm close to the nearby forest and soon have a fifth child.

Things don’t go well, however. With their crops failing and their children showing small signs of rebellion, William and Katherine become too distracted to notice something spying on the family from the edge of the woods. One day, while their eldest daughter Thomasin is watching over the newborn, the infant disappears literally in the blink of an eye. The family believe a wof to be responsible, but something far more nefarious is at work. Taken deep into the forest, the child is butchered by a witch, who uses the baby’s fat to create an ointment that grants the power of flight when smeared upon her body. Fortunately, the butchering is not shown onscreen; unfortunately, the smearing is.

While Katherine loses herself in grief and prayer, William takes their eldest son, Caleb, into the forest to hunt. There, he confesses to the boy that he has been stealing items from Katherine to sell for food and allowing the distraught mother to place the blame on Thomasin. For his part, Caleb has begun to have unclean thoughts about his older sister, but he keeps this to himself. Meanwhile, the two young twins have taken to spending all of their free time with the family’s sinister looking goat, Black Thomas, whom the twins insist speaks to them.

Things come to a head after Caleb is briefly captured by the witch and returns home in a state of possession. On the brink of starvation and under spiritual onslaught, the family begins to unravel. As secrets are revealed and accusations of dabbling in the dark arts fly, the situation quickly spirals towards a bloody resolution.

Not too bloody, though. Unlike most modern fright films, The Witch mostly eschews jump scares and gore, instead relying on unnerving subject matter and a slowly building tension to generate its chills. This will undoubtedly come across as plodding to some viewers, but for those appreciative of a more atmospheric approach to horror, The Witch is sure to hit all the right notes.

It certainly did with The Temple of Satan which publicly endorsed the movie upon its release. A representative of the Temple explained to Variety that the film represented “a criticism of a theocratic patriarchal society and a fair representation of the stresses that puts on a community.” However, the film’s writer/director, Robert Eggers, doesn’t appear to be in any rush to sign off on such a reading of his script. In multiple interviews, he has stated his only intention was to create a simple scary folk tale with no implicit moral or agenda. Such a blank slate leaves The Witch open to any number of interpretations, as well as possible misinterpretations.

That’s not to say the Temple’s take on the movie is necessarily wrong, just that it’s hardly the only way to frame the narrative. Anyone with a working knowledge of early Protestantism will certainly recognize that the story takes place in a world which assumes not only that the tenets of Puritanical Calvinism govern the universe, but also that every supernatural threat feared by the people of that era is real. In such a milieu, the events of the film become not a paean to casting aside religion, but rather a blatant warning against doing so. Everything that happens in the film flows naturally from William’s sin of pride. His failure to acknowledge his shortcomings as a father, a provider, and a Christian makes his family vulnerable to the supernatural attack that ultimately seals their fate. When God is made absent, Satan rushes in to fill the void.

This openness to a variety of interpretations is no doubt part of The Witch’s appeal to critics who long for anything different than the last 100 films they watched, but it could prove frustrating to the more casual viewer who is simply looking for an evening’s entertainment. Still, for those with a taste for cerebral, slow-moving esoterica, The Witch earns its place among the best horror of the year.

The Netflix Horror Thriller With 100% On Rotten Tomatoes

Anyone looking for a break from holiday-themed entertainment should check out His House. The horror thriller isn’t just a nice change of pace from all of the “Ho, Ho, Ho”, it’s also a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. If a critically acclaimed horror film sounds like the perfect Christmas counter-programming, read on.

His House stars Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, and the 11th Doctor himself, Matt Smith. The movie, streaming currently on Netflix, tells the story of a couple of refugees from South Sudan attempting to adjust to a new life in a small English town. Unfortunately, there’s an evil presence lurking beneath the town that threatens the couple’s well-being.

Matt Smith in His House

Bol Majur (Dirisu) and Rial Majur (Mosaku) flee with their daughter Nyagak from war-torn Sudan on an overcrowded boat, braving an angry sea for a chance at a better life in Britain. Upon being granted asylum, the family is given a house in desperate need of repair as well as a strict set of rules to adhere to or else face deportation. Despite facing racism and bad fortune at every turn, the family is thankful.

Until that is, they discover an Apeth or “Night Witch” is haunting their house. Then, the family’s troubles truly begin.

His House was written and directed by Remi Weekes and marked the director’s first feature-length project. While doing research for the screenplay, Weekes was surprised at how many refugees chose to come to the UK based on its association with Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and the British Royal Family. In reality, immigrants like the family at the heart of His House are put in grey concrete housing estates located in poor, deprived areas of Englund.

Starchild Pictures, a British production company, developed the film and was later sued by The Weinstein Company based on an unsigned distribution agreement. The Weinstein Company eventually dropped the suit leaving New Regency Pictures, BBC Films, and Vertigo Entertainment to both finance and produce His House.

The movie was given a world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2020. After the festival, Netflix acquired the distribution rights to the film, releasing it in theaters on October 30, 2020, for a limited run before adding it to the Netflix streaming library.

Critics were extremely complimentary of the movie, making it a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus for the film reads: “Featuring genuine scares through every corridor, His House is a terrifying look at the specters of the refugee experience and a stunning feature debut for Remi Weekes.” While not as high as the critic score, the Rotten Tomatoes audience score for His House is still a respectable 73%.

Scene from His House on Netflix

Most critics praised the film as a worthy debut for Remi Weekes as a film director. Many also expressed satisfaction with how Weekes blends social commentary with horror in such an organic way. One reviewer described His House as an “uncanny merging of political experience” with “perilous haunted-house thrills.”

For anyone in search of a compelling thriller with a supernatural bent and something real to say about asylum-seeking and immigration, His House is the movie for you. The genuine scares mixed with an authentic refugee experience are just the cure for a sickness born of overdone holiday bombast. His House is streaming right now on Netflix.

3 Halloween movies you must see – one even has a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score

While the festive fanatics among you may already be prepping the Michael Bublé CD and toying with tinsel, Christmas is far from the only thing to be getting excited about right now. And no – in a break from the norm right now – I'm not even talking about Black Friday, either.

No, before either of those get to us, it's Halloween. Love it or hate it, the pumpkin spiced holiday is synonymous with brown leaves, chill breeze – and giving yourself a good fright.

That usually comes in the form of movies, and while a range of top titles are sure to be spread around all of the best streaming services, it's NOW which has caught my eye. That's because – in among a strong roster of frightful films – the brand have three titles which have earned respectable scores on the popular film review site, Rotten Tomatoes.

That's a pretty good barometer for gauging a good film. The site fuses critical reviews with audience scores, for a fairer end result. So, without further ado, let's dive in and take a look at the three titles worth your time this Halloween.

The lyrics of Pagan Yule hymns often feature themes of light, warmth, and rebirth, as well as references to ancient Pagan deities and folklore. They may also include references to natural elements such as snow, evergreen trees, and the changing of the seasons. One popular Pagan Yule hymn is "The Wheel of the Year," which celebrates the cycle of the seasons and the changes that come with each one.

1. The Blair Witch Project

Is there any graphics card more powerful than human imagination? I'd wager not, and the team behind The Blair Witch Project certainly try to put that to the test.

The mockumentary horror flick follows a group of plucky young film students, who are aiming to make a documentary about the Blair Witch, a legendary local murderer. The whole film is shot from the perspective of the students cameras, which is a really interesting touch, and makes for a unique film.

It's genuinely terrifying, too. Make sure you have a good supply of pillows nearby, as – if you're anything like me – you'll spend most of the film with one covering your eyes.

Another well-known hymn is "Goddess of the Sun," which honors the feminine energy and the sun's warmth and light. The use of music and singing during Yule ceremonies is believed to create a sense of unity and harmony among those participating. It allows individuals to connect with the natural rhythms of the earth and to tap into their own spiritual energy. Overall, Pagan Yule hymns are an important part of the Yule celebration for many Pagans. They help to set the mood for the festivities and provide a way to honor the natural world and the changing seasons. Through these songs, Pagans are able to express their spirituality and connect with the energy of the earth..

Reviews for "Enchanting Melodies for Yule: Pagan Hymns to Invoke the Spirit of the Season"

1. Jane - 2/5

I was really excited to listen to "Pagan yule hymns" as I love exploring different cultural traditions and their music. However, I was quite disappointed with this album. The melodies were repetitive and lacked creativity. It felt like the same tune was repeated throughout, making it monotonous and boring after a while. Additionally, the vocals were lackluster, lacking emotion and depth. Overall, the album did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.

2. Mark - 3/5

I decided to give "Pagan yule hymns" a chance as I was curious about the concept and wanted to broaden my musical horizons. While the album had some interesting tracks and a unique blend of instruments, it failed to capture my attention fully. The songs lacked a clear structure and often felt disorganized. Some of the tracks seemed unnecessarily long and repetitive, making it difficult to fully enjoy the album as a whole. Although it had some redeeming qualities, overall, I was left wanting more and wouldn't choose to listen to it again.

3. Sarah - 2/5

I had high hopes for "Pagan yule hymns" but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The melodies were uninspiring and failed to evoke any emotions. The instrumentation was lacking, with a limited range of sounds and textures. The album lacked depth and variation, making it forgettable and unmemorable. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to immersing myself in the pagan yule atmosphere, but this album just didn't deliver.

Sacred Songs for the Winter Solstice: Pagan Yule Hymns to Inspire and Uplift