Score another one for reinvigorating my faith in cinema. When I first read the synopsis for Ben Wheatley’s A Field In England – about English Civil War deserters looking for hidden treasure and finding some crazy mushrooms in a field with the help of an alchemist – I was first moved to my usual “WTF?” which then rapidly turned to “Awesome.” I mean, English Civil War, alchemy, mushrooms, a FIELD? What’s not to love?
Now we have the first poster for A Field In England (via First Showing) and it’s pretty special. There’s not just a field, there’s a MOON! Or is it a moon? It could also be the top of a mushroom. Let’s say it’s a moon mushroom and leave it at that. That plus the 17th Century garbed gent in the foreground and I’m sold.
Actually, I really am sold. First, it’s a watercolor poster, which in itself is pretty awesome. But it also has a great ‘classic British movie’ vibe to it; it could be advertising a Hammer film from the 1950s, or a period drama starring Julie Christie in the 1970s. The Roman numerals at the bottom contribute to the period feel of the poster. It’s at once a throwback in British film history, and gives the impression of a very modern, cool style. I like.
The official plot synopsis, taken from First Showing and the Film4 Blog, gives us a bit more info to go on as well. The film
Follows a small group of deserters fleeing from a raging battle through an overgrown field. As they are captured by O’Neil, an alchemist, they are forced to aid him in his search to find a hidden treasure he believes is buried in the field. Crossing a vast mushroom circle, which provides their first meal, the group quickly descends into a chaos of arguments, fighting and paranoia, and, as it becomes clear the treasure might be something other than gold, they slowly become victim to the terrifying energies inside the field.
I’m down. The film is directed by Ben Wheatley with a script co-written by Wheatley and Amy Jump, who also worked with him on Kill List. A Field in England was still filming in November for a release in 2013.
If this poster is anything to go on, I will seek this one out.
Check out the poster below and let us know what you think in the comments’ section.
