ⒸRachel Rose/ Stills from Enclosure, 2019/ Courtesy Gladstone Gallery

Written by Aaron Norton

Copy Edited By Hillary Mitchell

A period piece shrouded in mystery and the natural beauty set in 17th-century England – Rachel Rose’s 2019 short film, Enclosure, is a film that’s almost as perplexing as it is unsettling.

Having never before been introduced to the work of Rachel Rose, it was exciting to see how her film would live up to my (unknowing) expectations. For me, Enclosure resembles some of the amazing new-wave horror films that have become synonymous with the film genre because of their dazzling cinematography and gripping storytelling – films like Robert Eggers’, The Lighthouse or The Witch. Enclosure falls in that same category of style and substance. With a runtime of 30-minutes, Enclosure is a slow paced film, but it’s story of greed, displacement and the supernatural makes it fascinating, eerie and full of the cinematic gusto a variety of film buffs will enjoy.

For those who are unaware of the 36-year-old visual artist's work, Rachel Rose’s work has been praised for its artistic innovation and top-notch storytelling! She’s got the style, the vision and most certainly the talent to deserve the attention she’s garnered throughout her career.

In 17th-century England, the film follows “the Famlee,” a group of swindlers who are trying to buy up as much land as possible for their own purposes. The group is interesting – mimicking a religious cult that practices alchemy – the Famlee is run by the menacing yet charming Jackko (T. Ryder Smith). Beneath Jackko is the protagonist of the story, Recent (Susannah Perkins) who, as the film goes on, goes against the Famlee’s cruel and unusual ways of making money to satisfy their own unique ways of life.

ⒸRachel Rose/ Stills from Enclosure, 2019/ Courtesy Gladstone Gallery

Although one may stay for the characters and their development, there’s also another piece of the film that makes the audience wonder – a black floating orb that hovers in the sky throughout the entire film. Used as both a way to highlight the impending sense of doom around the English countryside and as a metaphor for greed, the black orb is ultimately viewed as an object that’s left up to the interpretation of the viewer, while also adding to the film's ominous undertones.

I was intrigued by the film's well-crafted cacophony of sounds throughout the film’s entirety. Along with her compelling camera work, Rose is able to shine a light on the beauty of nature by using natural lighting, shadows and long shots associated with Kinderhook Farm, a lush area outside of Albany, NY which was used as the predominant shooting location for the film.

For those who enjoy darker films of any kind, but especially ones with darker – more supernatural undertones – I highly recommend 2019s Enclosure! The film commands your attention and leaves the audience wanting to see more. It’s not just another notch in Rachel Rose’s cinematic belt, but rather, an excellent example of her visual presentation and direction.

Enclosure was on view last month at the Gladstone Gallery.

Photo Editor: Chris Zarcadoolas