1922, a 2017 horror drama written and directed by Zak Hilditch, features a farmer with a tough decision to make. Although this film isn’t your typical paranormal or slasher horror film, it had plenty of unnerving and anxiety-inducing moments. Since we all love to feel a little frightened, let’s look at the most haunting scenes of 1922, one of the best Stephen King-inspired movies. Spoilers ahead!
The Decision Is Made
This is a pivotal moment in the film, Arlette has already told Wilfred that she’ll be selling her land. After an argument ensues between the two of them, Arlette decides to get a lawyer. Wilfred doesn’t like this one bit, but what can he do? The land doesn’t belong to him by law and aside from Arlette changing her mind, Wilfred has to watch as he loses the land he so desires.
While Wilfred sits on the porch smoking his pipe, Arlette pulls up, grinning at Wilfred. Knowing she has likely come back from a meeting with her lawyers, Wilfred makes up his mind. Hatred, envy, and disgust flush Wilfred’s face. He knows what he’ll do…and he’ll enjoy doing it.
Wilfred’s Watching
For a moment, you understand Wilfred, farming is his way of life and Arlette seems intent on taking it away from him. Although change doesn’t warrant murder, you can understand why Wilfred is so scared of it. The thing is, he isn’t the one you should feel any sympathy for.
Arlette is stuck in a world she truly never wanted to be apart of, she had Henry at a young age and this life has been thrust upon her. Unfortunately, she has no idea that her husband is an envious sociopath that would rather murder her than lose a hundred acres. Land that doesn’t belong to him in the first place. No scene is more telling of how much trouble Arlette is really in than when the couple is lying in bed. Wilfred believes Arlette is asleep and stares daggers into the back of her head.
The Other Man Inside Every Man
Wilfred has come to terms with what he plans to do, but there is one problem…Henry. If he plans to murder Arlette and cover it up, he has to convince his son not just to comply, but to assist in the murder. He’s careful and methodical about how he approaches his son here, even as we hear Wilfred narrate his plan we can tell he’s put real thought into this.
He knows his son is “sweet” on Shannon Cotterie, what better way to convince his son to murder than use Arlette’s opposition to their relationship. What’s daunting about this scene is Wilfred’s self-awareness that another more conniving man inhabits his body. A man that is willing to manipulate his son into murder to get what he wants.
The Night Of The Murder
After convincing his son to help him murder Arlette, Wilfred pulls his most manipulative move of the film. While talking to Arlette, he tells her that he’s come to terms with moving to Omaha. Arlette is elated by this news and calls Henry out to celebrate. All the while, Wilfred keeps this facade up, lulling Arlette into a false sense of security.
The celebration continues on the porch as Arlette drinks herself into a stupor. She believes her life on the farm is coming to an end, which is true, just not the way she thinks it will. Wilfred makes sure to refill Arlette’s glass constantly, making sure she’s good and drunk so it’ll be easier for him to complete his task.
Choosing The Knife
This isn’t usually a scene that would warrant the phrase “haunting”, this scene in 1922 however, is. Arlette is passed out in the bedroom while Wilfred and Henry are sorting out how they plan to commit the murder. Wilfred already has his plan though and as Henry starts to have second-thoughts, Wilfred strengthens his resolve and stands over his son.
Henry suggests using a pillow to suffocate Arlette, but that’s not what Wilfred wants. In an effort to hide his ill-intent from Henry, he tells Henry that, “it would be too slow, too painful. She’d struggle.” When in truth his hatred for her wants it to be slow and painful, which is why he chooses the knife.
Arlette’s Body
After the murder is complete, Wilfred tosses Arlette’s body down an unused well. Not even bothering with covering her with dirt, he returns later to find her decomposing body, covered with rats. Besides the fact that you can imagine the smell of a decomposed, rat-infested body, the imagery used here is nightmare-worthy.
Arellete’s body has been chewed by the rats surrounding her, with rats crawling in and out of her body Wilfred struggles with the horror he’s observing. More importantly, he knows he has to do something about the smell, knowing that the sheriff will show up soon.
Something Is In The Barn
Wilfred wakes in the middle of the night to loud mooing from cows in the barn. At this point in the film, he’s already sacrificed a cow to fill the well, covering Arlette’s decomposing body. Wilfred heads to the barn to see what the ruckus is and what he discovers is horrifying.
More rats, this time he discovers a rat chewing off the udder of one of his cows. Viewers would do well to look away at this moment because nothing can prepare you for that. Wilfred soon realizes that a pipe from the well leads right into the barn, the smell alone makes him vomit, when he heads inside, Arlette’s silhouette is there to greet him.
Arlette Makes Her Entrance
Whether he’d like to admit it or not, remorse has found its way to Wilfred in the form of madness. As he reads his book he’s tormented by thoughts and a drip coming from the roof. Unable to escape the sounds he retreats to his room, followed by the ghost of his murdered wife. Arlette’s slow and methodical approach down the hall and up the stairs to Wilfred’s room builds the suspense. While her rats follow her you expect this to be their final confrontation, but it’s not.
It’s now winter, Wilfred’s home is in shambles, as is his life, the door creaks open then closes. Each time it opens, you see more of Arlette’s decomposed body, making her way inside. Wilfred cowers in the basement to no avail, as Arlette makes her way down, rats cascade down the stairs with her, surrounding Wilfred.
Suffer As She Did
Arlette could’ve ended Wilfred down in the basement, instead, she wanted him to know the real damage his schemed caused. As she leans down to his ear Wilfred begs for his life, pleading Arlette to end his suffering. Instead, she recounts what happened to his “pride” Henry.
Wilfred knew Henry had run off with Shannon but had no idea that they had turned into a Bonnie and Clyde-esque duo. Henry had turned to a life of robbery to supplement his and Shannon’s life on the road, but one robbery went horribly wrong. Shannon was shot by a man they attempted to rob, dying along with her unborn child in the cold. Henry who was devastated by her death killed himself as well. When Wilfred has to identify the body, he sees that rats have chewed off Henry’s lips and the insides of his eye.
In The End, We All Get Caught
After Henry’s quiet funeral, time passes and we see Wilfred in Room 209 of the Magnolia hotel. Rats have chewed away at the wall and made their way into the room, signifying Arlette’s arrival. Wilfred desperately tries to finish his manuscript before she finally gets to him.
As he finishes, the door opens and not only Arlette, but Henry and Shannon as well enter the room. Wilfred knows that this is it and whether he wants to admit it or not, he’s the only one to blame. Henry stares at his father, holding the knife that was used to murder his mother and says, “It’ll be quick, I promise.”
