Wild Eyed and Wicked blends Arthurian myth with modern horror and trauma

The 2024 horror film Wild Eyed and Wicked is a compelling mix of fantasy, horror, and trauma in a contemporary context, with roots in narratives from the medieval era. Penned and directed by Gordon Shoemaker Foxwood, this story follows the journey of Lily, who mourns the loss of her mother at a young age and has a strained relationship with her father.

However, she experiences terrifying visions and, in her quest for answers, revisits the intergenerational knowledge passed down from her mother. This knowledge ties back to the Arthurian myths and legends.

Its synopsis, as per Rotten Tomatoes, goes as follows:

"Lily Pierce is sick of being haunted. She decides to reconnect with her estranged father, a disgraced history professor, and learn how to draw upon a time of steel and blade when armor-clad knights rode out and dueled their monsters to the death."

The film stars Molly Kunz, Michael X. Sommers, Claire Saunders, Colleen Camp, Stephanie Estes, and many others. Let’s explore how Wild Eyed and Wicked combines elements of both medieval and modern contexts.

Wild Eyed and Wicked is rooted in tradition, but does not eliminate science

Wild Eyed and Wicked highlights the relevance of medieval legends as Lily finds ways to confront the demons that torment her. However, the most interesting aspect is that the film does not discredit or trivialize the significance of science and rationality.

In many horror films, we often encounter themes that highlight the age-old conflict between rationality and tradition. Additionally, we frequently see critical issues such as mental health being trivialized in the name of faith and belief. However, we sometimes observe the boundaries between opposing ends blur, allowing them to coexist.

Wild Eyed and Wicked is respectful and sensitive to scientific approaches. The film acknowledges the importance and significance of mental health while maintaining its roots in legends and myths. A major example is witnessing Lily's mental health struggles and her efforts to heal herself through therapy.

At a very young age, Lily experiences the loss of her mother, who dies by suicide. Her mother passed on the oral tradition of the Arthurian myths to Lily, telling her these tales during her childhood. After her mother’s death, Lily struggles to cope with the loss and trauma, leading to challenges with her mental health. Despite this, she receives support through medication and therapy.

Lily develops a strained relationship with her father Gregory, despite his regular attempts to improve things. She still holds grudges due to unresolved issues between them. Lily has a girlfriend named Willow, who constantly supports her as a pillar of strength. Although Willow shows love and care, she helps Lily see things more clearly and gain a new perspective. This teaches Lily to be more accountable to herself and others.

However, Lily begins to witness strange visions of an entity that disturbs her. Looking through her late mother’s belongings, she finds the answers within them. She traces the entity's history, which is rooted in Arthurian myths and closely connected to her mother. The demon has been trying to sabotage the family, and now Lily is determined to break the cycle of the demon's torment.

In this moment in "Wild Eyed and Wicked," it feels like a symbolic representation of how Lily is prepared to break the cycle of unresolved, intergenerational trauma. She refuses to perpetuate the suffering endured by her mother as she dons the armor and weapons to end it once and for all.

In a medieval context, we are accustomed to witnessing male figures riding horses, armed with weapons, and exuding strong, masculine values and behaviors to combat evil. However, with Wild Eyed and Wicked, it is truly encouraging to see more representations of women who can heal themselves, breaking free from the traditional constraints and representations imposed by society.