Moloch (2022)

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April 9, 2025

Moloch (2022): A Haunting Journey into Dutch Folk Horror

If you’re a fan of folk horror—a genre where ancient legends, pagan beliefs, and primal fears intertwine to create an unsettling atmosphere—then Moloch (2022) is a film you absolutely cannot miss. Directed by Nico van den Brink in his feature-length debut, Moloch has quickly made its mark among horror enthusiasts, particularly on the streaming platform Shudder. This film doesn’t just deliver moments of tension; it also delves deeply into themes of family, memory, and the haunting grip of the past. Let’s dive into a detailed exploration of this work in the article below.

Overview of the Film

Moloch is a Dutch folk horror film released in 2022, directed by Nico van den Brink, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Daan Bakker. The film features a talented cast, including Sallie Harmsen (in the lead role as Betriek), Alexandre Willaume (Jonas), Anneke Blok, and Fred Goessens. It premiered in the Netherlands on May 19, 2022, and was later released on Shudder on July 21 of the same year, available in regions such as the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

The story follows Betriek, a 38-year-old widow and mother living with her family on the edge of a peat bog in northern Netherlands. Her seemingly peaceful life with her family is disrupted when a stranger attacks them one night. From there, Betriek embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind the strange events unfolding around her, only to discover that she is being hunted by an ancient entity—a force tied to the legend of Moloch, a pagan deity often associated with child sacrifice rituals.

With a runtime of 99 minutes, Moloch isn’t a horror film filled with jump-scares or excessive gore. Instead, it’s a slow-paced work that focuses on building a tense atmosphere and exploring psychological fear. The film has received positive reviews, earning an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 16 reviews, and has been praised as a “horror gem” by Kurt Halfyard of ScreenAnarchy.

Plot: A Haunting Journey

Moloch opens with a chilling flashback to 1991, when Betriek was a child. She is playing with a mouse in a closet when she hears horrifying sounds from upstairs—screams, thuds, and then blood begins to drip through the cracks in the ceiling, falling onto her. It turns out that this was the night her grandmother was brutally murdered, an event that left deep psychological scars on the entire family.

Thirty years later, Betriek (Sallie Harmsen) is now an adult, a widowed mother living with her young daughter Hanna (Noor van der Velden) and her parents—Roelof (Fred Goessens) and Elske (Anneke Blok)—in the same house where the tragedy occurred. The family is considered “cursed” by the townsfolk due to a series of misfortunes: the death of Betriek’s grandmother, the death of her husband from a heart attack, and her mother’s mysterious health condition, which causes frequent seizures. Betriek herself carries a sense of guilt and a vague fear that the town’s curse might be real.

Things take a darker turn when a team of archaeologists, led by Jonas (Alexandre Willaume), arrives to excavate the nearby peat bog. They uncover perfectly preserved bodies—a real phenomenon in the Netherlands known as “bog bodies.” All the bodies are female, all have had their throats slit in a ritualistic manner, and they date back across several centuries. The arrival of the archaeologists seems to awaken an ancient force, and strange events begin to plague Betriek’s family.

One night, a member of the archaeological team suddenly appears at Betriek’s house with a knife in hand, muttering, “They made me do this,” before attacking her family. Though they survive, Betriek becomes determined to uncover the truth behind what’s happening. She teams up with Jonas to investigate the connection between the bog bodies, the legend of Moloch—a pagan deity tied to child sacrifice—and the curse the townsfolk believe is haunting her family. The deeper she digs, the more Betriek realizes that her family’s past is intricately linked to a dark ritual, and she may be the next target of this ancient entity.

Characters and Performances

One of the strengths of Moloch lies in its character development and the authentic performances of its cast. The film doesn’t just focus on horror elements but also delves into family dynamics, psychological trauma, and the internal struggles of its characters.

Betriek (Sallie Harmsen): Betriek is the heart of the story, a strong yet deeply wounded woman. She must confront the traumatic memories of her childhood while protecting her daughter from the looming danger. Sallie Harmsen delivers an outstanding performance as Betriek, portraying a character who is both resilient and vulnerable, making it easy for the audience to empathize with her journey. The relationship between her and her daughter Hanna is one of the film’s highlights, though some critics have noted that this aspect could have been explored more deeply.
Jonas (Alexandre Willaume): Jonas is the leader of the archaeological team, an outsider from Denmark who doesn’t speak Dutch and relies on Betriek as a translator. He is a rational character, representing science, but gradually becomes entangled in the supernatural mysteries of the bog. Alexandre Willaume brings a reliable and grounded Jonas to life, with natural and emotional interactions with Betriek. The chemistry between the two actors has been widely praised by audiences and critics alike.
Betriek’s Family: Betriek’s father, Roelof, is a man haunted by his mother’s death, often turning to alcohol and living in fear that the killer will return. Her mother, Elske, suffers from a mysterious illness, and her seizures seem to be connected to the supernatural forces in the film. Both Anneke Blok and Fred Goessens deliver impressive performances, portraying a family scarred by the past but still bound together.

Artistic Style and Atmosphere

Moloch isn’t a typical horror film with constant jump-scares or excessive gore. Instead, director Nico van den Brink opts for a slow-burn approach, focusing on building tension and a sense of unease. This is a “slow-burn” horror film, where fear accumulates gradually through each frame and subtle detail.

Setting: The peat bog in northern Netherlands is a crucial character in the film. By day, the bog appears with a quiet, eerie beauty, with its sprawling forests and still waters. At night, it becomes terrifying, with thick fog and darkness creating a suffocating, isolated atmosphere. The director makes excellent use of this setting to craft a gothic ambiance, reminiscent of classic British horror films like Hammer Films’ The Reptile.
Cinematography and Lighting: Shot by cinematographer Emo Weemhoff, Moloch boasts stunning visuals with a cold color palette, dominated by deep greens and muddy browns of the bog. The lighting is often dim and hazy, with fog and shadows used to create a sense of unease. Some nighttime scenes, particularly those in Betriek’s house, are lit by natural sources like lamps or moonlight, adding to the realism and eeriness.
Soundtrack: The film’s score, composed by Ella van der Woude, is a standout element. Haunting melodies, combined with natural sounds like the whistling wind through the bog or the trickle of water, create an unsettling atmosphere, making the audience feel as though something is lurking in the shadows.
Special Effects: Moloch doesn’t rely heavily on special effects, but when the entity Moloch appears, it is designed to be terrifying, though some viewers have noted that the CGI feels a bit obvious. However, the bog bodies are recreated with striking realism, with makeup and effects that make the audience almost smell the decay and rot.

Themes and Deeper Meaning

Moloch is more than just a horror film; it carries multiple layers of meaning, especially when viewed through the lens of Dutch culture and history.

Legends and Pagan Beliefs: The film draws inspiration from the legend of Moloch, a pagan deity in ancient Semitic culture often associated with child sacrifice rituals. However, in the film, the victims are adult women, raising questions about the connection between the legend and reality. Some critics suggest that the film may be alluding to the oppression and violence against women across generations, with the female bog bodies serving as a symbol of forgotten victims of history.
Family and Memory: A prominent theme in the film is how the past affects the present. Betriek’s family is haunted by her grandmother’s death, and each member carries psychological scars. As a mother, Betriek grapples with the fear that the curse will continue to affect her daughter. The film deeply explores feelings of guilt, loss, and the effort to protect loved ones from uncontrollable forces.
Science vs. Belief: The interaction between Betriek and Jonas represents the conflict between science and belief. Jonas, as an archaeologist, seeks logical answers for what’s happening, while Betriek is drawn into ancient legends and rituals. The film doesn’t fully take a side, instead showing that both approaches have value in confronting the unexplainable.

Overall Review

Moloch is a folk horror film worth watching, especially for audiences who enjoy slow-burn narratives and stories that delve into character psychology. Here are some of its strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths:
The haunting atmosphere and bog setting are masterfully crafted, creating tension throughout the film.
Authentic performances, particularly by Sallie Harmsen and Alexandre Willaume, bring depth to the characters.
The film’s ending has been widely praised by audiences and critics, with a surprising and haunting twist that leaves viewers reflecting long after the credits roll.
The film effectively incorporates Dutch culture and history, delivering a horror story with a strong local identity.
Weaknesses:
The slow pacing may feel tedious for some viewers, especially in the middle section, where the story doesn’t fully escalate.
Some plot details, particularly the connection between the Moloch entity and Betriek’s family, aren’t fully explained, leaving audiences to speculate.
The CGI for the Moloch entity isn’t particularly impressive, slightly diminishing its terror.

Why You Should Watch Moloch

If you’re a fan of horror films that don’t just focus on scares but also explore character psychology and cultural elements, Moloch is a perfect choice. The film offers a unique horror experience, with its eerie atmosphere and haunting story about family, memory, and ancient legends. While not a perfect film, Moloch is an impressive step forward for director Nico van den Brink and a testament to the potential of Dutch horror cinema on the global stage.

Prepare yourself to step into a world where darkness comes not only from the outside but also from deep within the human soul. Moloch is currently available on Shudder—are you ready to face your fears?

Additional Information:

Genre: Horror, Mystery
Runtime: 99 minutes
Director: Nico van den Brink
Lead Actors: Sallie Harmsen, Alexandre Willaume, Anneke Blok, Fred Goessens
Release Date: May 19, 2022 (Netherlands), July 21, 2022 (Shudder)
Rating: 88% on Rotten Tomatoes

This article has provided a comprehensive look at Moloch (2022), from its plot, characters, and artistic style to its themes and overall review. I hope you find this film intriguing and have a memorable viewing experience!