A Trip Through the Black and White Madness

Hej folks! Gather ’round because you’ve gotta hear about “A Field in England”. Directed by Ben Wheatley—yep, the guy known for chucking genres in a blender and hitting “chaos” mode—he’s really outdone himself this time. This film dropped in 2013, but I only caught it last night, and I’m still kinda grappling with it, honestly. A blend of historical drama, horror, and… well, what else really? Not sure.

First off, let’s talk Reece Shearsmith. You might’ve seen him in “The League of Gentlemen,” doing his thing with deadpan humor. Here, though, his character’s more of a psychological puzzle. Then there’s Michael Smiley, the Flemish rake, who’s creepy in the kind of way that gives you chills on a midsommar night. Smiley’s presence alone is like being stuck on a cold, rocky road somewhere outside Norrland during a blizzard.

The movie is mostly black and white, and boy, does it mess with your senses. They delve into the Civil War era with shovels—and believe me—they dig up surrealism, existentialism, and a bit of ‘what in the world am I watching?’ in every scene. There’s this one trippy scene—imagine a hearty serving of pickled herring, but it’s been left out a bit too long and started growing an unfamiliar aroma.

Funny story though, I once got lost in a field in Skåne as a kid—same feeling, minus the ominous psychedelics. Just me, a herd of cows, and a lot of unanswered questions.

Is “A Field in England” perfect? Nah. It’s like one of those intricate IKEA puzzles—some pieces are missing and the instructions are in Finnish. But it’s worth wandering into this mind field if you’re up for an adventure. Just maybe don’t expect to be spoon-fed. Or do, but then get surprised when the spoon’s a bit… twisty.

So, grab a friend, some sill and knäckebröd, and get ready for a wild ride. You might not know where you’re going, but sometimes, that’s the best part. Skål!

Check the trailer below