Film Review Summary: The Face of Horror
Anna Biller returns to the screen with The Face of Horror, a dramatic shift from her prior work, The Love Witch. Set in a patriarchal 14th-century England, the film explores themes of misogyny and land ownership through a tragic narrative about Eleanor (Kristine Froseth), the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Eleanor is pursued by the charming yet duplicitous knight Edward Carnifex (Jonah Hauer-King). His obsession with her beauty masks a violent ambition to secure power through marriage, leading to a destructive plot against her father.
As their relationship deteriorates due to motherhood and societal pressures, Eleanor becomes increasingly fragile while Edward’s affections wane. Despite her attempts to regain his love, she battles against the patriarchal norms that render her aging and domesticity undesirable. The film takes a turn when Eleanor, supported by her sister Beatrice (Ellie Bamber), transforms from a passive victim into a vengeful force, defying oppressive beauty standards.
Influenced by the kabuki play Yotsuya Kaidan, Biller’s gothic horror-tragedy highlights both physical and emotional transformations, emphasizing despair and the cyclical nature of male ignorance. Shot on 35mm, the film’s aesthetics serve to enhance the characters’ isolation amidst their opulent surroundings. The Face of Horror is set to screen at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival on October 15 and 17.
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