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A Dark Song (2016)
A Dark Song (2016) | One of the Greatest Occult Horror Films Ever Made? | Dark Talk
DEALER’S CHOICE - On our last episode of Dealer’s Choice for this season, it is Dan’s turn in the chair and he has chosen a film that has resonated with him since he first saw it. It’s the last ever brand new DVD he ever purchased at full price - it’s magickal psychological two-hander A Dark Song!
A Dark Song marked the feature directorial debut of Irish filmmaker Liam Gavin, who also wrote the screenplay. Released in 2016, the film takes a restrained approach to the occult, building its story around a lengthy ceremonial ritual rather than relying on traditional horror conventions.
The film centres on two strangers who isolate themselves in a remote house to perform an elaborate months-long ritual, with Gavin drawing on real occult traditions to give the story an uncommon sense of authenticity. Instead of focusing on jump scares, the film explores themes of grief, guilt, faith, and redemption through its slow-burning supernatural narrative.
Critics responded positively to the film’s atmosphere, performances, and original approach to occult horror. Catherine Walker and Steve Oram received particular praise for their central performances, while the cinematography by Cathal Watters and Ray Harman’s understated score were widely recognised for creating the film’s unsettling mood.
Since its release, A Dark Song has developed a strong cult following and is now regarded as one of the standout independent folk and occult horror films of the 2010s, with many praising its commitment to realism and its distinctive take on ritual magic.
During this episode we discuss:
● The real-life Abramelin Ritual and its role in the film
● Themes of grief, revenge, forgiveness and redemption
● Is A Dark Song supernatural or psychological horror?
● The film’s depiction of occult practices and ceremonial magic
● Character analysis of Solomon and Sophia’s relationship
● The morality and ethics of the ritual
● Symbolism and hidden meanings throughout the film
● Fan theories and interpretations of the ending, including discussion on whether Sophia was responsible for her son’s death
● The ambiguity surrounding the supernatural events
● Filming locations and the Welsh vs Irish setting
● Comparisons with Kill List, Martyrs and other occult horror films
Let us know your memories and favourite moments from A Dark Song! And if you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving us a rating or review as it helps more horror fans find us! Dark Talk is the podcast where we explore horror, cult cinema, sci-fi and exploitation films through reviews, behind-the-scenes stories, film making discussions and movie history.
The Cast:
● Catherine Walker as Sofia
● Steven Oram as Solomon
If you enjoyed this episode of Dark Talk, why don’t you check out other episodes:
● Serpent’s Path (1997): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/serpents-path-1998
● Kill List (2011): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/kill-list-2011
● The Fog (1980): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/the-fog-1980
Listen to Dark Talk on:
● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ibq02je03iX8fiOZFdDZL?si=F7TeAGR6QhaC_NQvTuzeSQ
● Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dark-talk/id1803645481
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dark.Talk.Podcast
● Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DarkTalkPod
Get in touch with Dark Talk and support us:
● BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/dark-talk.uk
● Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/darktalk
#ADarkSong #ADarkSongMovie #ADarkSong2016 #OccultHorror #FolkHorror #PsychologicalHorror #SupernaturalHorror #SlowBurnHorror #BritishHorror #IndieHorror #HorrorMovies #HorrorCinema #CultHorror #CultCinema #MoviePodcast #FilmPodcast #HorrorPodcast #MovieReview #FilmAnalysis #MovieDiscussion #FilmTok #HorrorTok #MovieGeek #FilmLovers #CinemaLovers #HiddenGems #IndependentFilm #OccultFilms #HorrorCommunity #PodcastRecommendations
Get full access to Dark Talk at darktalk.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By Dark Talk RadioA Dark Song (2016) | One of the Greatest Occult Horror Films Ever Made? | Dark Talk
DEALER’S CHOICE - On our last episode of Dealer’s Choice for this season, it is Dan’s turn in the chair and he has chosen a film that has resonated with him since he first saw it. It’s the last ever brand new DVD he ever purchased at full price - it’s magickal psychological two-hander A Dark Song!
A Dark Song marked the feature directorial debut of Irish filmmaker Liam Gavin, who also wrote the screenplay. Released in 2016, the film takes a restrained approach to the occult, building its story around a lengthy ceremonial ritual rather than relying on traditional horror conventions.
The film centres on two strangers who isolate themselves in a remote house to perform an elaborate months-long ritual, with Gavin drawing on real occult traditions to give the story an uncommon sense of authenticity. Instead of focusing on jump scares, the film explores themes of grief, guilt, faith, and redemption through its slow-burning supernatural narrative.
Critics responded positively to the film’s atmosphere, performances, and original approach to occult horror. Catherine Walker and Steve Oram received particular praise for their central performances, while the cinematography by Cathal Watters and Ray Harman’s understated score were widely recognised for creating the film’s unsettling mood.
Since its release, A Dark Song has developed a strong cult following and is now regarded as one of the standout independent folk and occult horror films of the 2010s, with many praising its commitment to realism and its distinctive take on ritual magic.
During this episode we discuss:
● The real-life Abramelin Ritual and its role in the film
● Themes of grief, revenge, forgiveness and redemption
● Is A Dark Song supernatural or psychological horror?
● The film’s depiction of occult practices and ceremonial magic
● Character analysis of Solomon and Sophia’s relationship
● The morality and ethics of the ritual
● Symbolism and hidden meanings throughout the film
● Fan theories and interpretations of the ending, including discussion on whether Sophia was responsible for her son’s death
● The ambiguity surrounding the supernatural events
● Filming locations and the Welsh vs Irish setting
● Comparisons with Kill List, Martyrs and other occult horror films
Let us know your memories and favourite moments from A Dark Song! And if you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving us a rating or review as it helps more horror fans find us! Dark Talk is the podcast where we explore horror, cult cinema, sci-fi and exploitation films through reviews, behind-the-scenes stories, film making discussions and movie history.
The Cast:
● Catherine Walker as Sofia
● Steven Oram as Solomon
If you enjoyed this episode of Dark Talk, why don’t you check out other episodes:
● Serpent’s Path (1997): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/serpents-path-1998
● Kill List (2011): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/kill-list-2011
● The Fog (1980): https://darktalk.substack.com/p/the-fog-1980
Listen to Dark Talk on:
● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ibq02je03iX8fiOZFdDZL?si=F7TeAGR6QhaC_NQvTuzeSQ
● Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dark-talk/id1803645481
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dark.Talk.Podcast
● Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DarkTalkPod
Get in touch with Dark Talk and support us:
● BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/dark-talk.uk
● Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/darktalk
#ADarkSong #ADarkSongMovie #ADarkSong2016 #OccultHorror #FolkHorror #PsychologicalHorror #SupernaturalHorror #SlowBurnHorror #BritishHorror #IndieHorror #HorrorMovies #HorrorCinema #CultHorror #CultCinema #MoviePodcast #FilmPodcast #HorrorPodcast #MovieReview #FilmAnalysis #MovieDiscussion #FilmTok #HorrorTok #MovieGeek #FilmLovers #CinemaLovers #HiddenGems #IndependentFilm #OccultFilms #HorrorCommunity #PodcastRecommendations
Get full access to Dark Talk at darktalk.substack.com/subscribe