The Last Sacrifice
Director: Rupert Russell Run Time: 92 min. Format: DCP
East Coast Premiere
On Valentine’s Day of 1945, English farmer Charles Walton was found brutally murdered on the outskirts of his property, triggering a decades-long investigation with ties to witchcraft, vampirism and the occult. Fascinating the entire country of England, the enigmatic homicide inspired classic films like The Wicker Man and, more generally, the rise of British folk horror. Through talking-heads insight and a surplus of film clips, Rupert Russell examines Walton’s death as both a true crime puzzle box and the catalyst for some of the England’s best and most influential horror films. -Matt Barone