The horror genre is no stranger to religion with the roots of horror entwined with the battle of good and evil. None more matched than the righteous against the civil whether that be the likes of RED STATE or THE WICKER MAN or more supernatural battles shown in THE EXORCIST and THE SENTINEL and yet one thing is clear, the source material and its followers have inspired some of the greatest horror seen on screen.

 

SHE WHO MUST BURN falls in the former catergory and follows a group of religious fanatics set on their course to be the righteous ones and when they come across the pro-abortion viewpoint of local Angela (Sarah Smyth), they set to instil their views with any force neccessary.

 

From the outset, the presence of the clan is intimidating and restrained. The violence is upsetting and extremely physical for what little there is and when the evangalists show their true intentions the results are nothing short of harrowing. A word which sums up the summary of the film as events divulge from obsession to rape and ultimately death on a biblical proportion.

 

As the fanatics force their oppinions on the townsfolk, they leave no stone unturned and whether through intimidation or physical emotional abuse, their control over the town is frightening.

 

Smyth and the remainder of the cast do well to keep this grounded and each heartbeat is felt as a relatively normal situation evolves into something much more horrific with little respect for the aftermath. The ruthlessness of the terrorizers is sheer madness to watch unfold and what could have been a comical play to the sinister villains is actually terrifying to watch.

 

Despite a relatively low budget, the cast and crew do well to stay within their means and the closing scenes shocking unveiling is on show for all with gruesome effect and yet it is the emotional burden left on the characters that hits home the hardest.