Moloch tells the story of Betriek who lives a quiet life with her family at the edge of a peat bog. When they are attacked by a random stranger one night, Betriek sets out to find an explanation. But the deeper she digs, the more she becomes convinced something ancient is after her and her loved ones. A film by Nico van den Brink, starring Sallie Harmsen, Alexandre Willaume, Noor van der Velden, Edon Rizvanolli, Anneke Blok, and Fred Goessens.

Jonas (Alexandre Willaume), the head anthropologist, is summoned to investigate a recently unearthed corpse unlike any seen before. Adding to the mystery, earlier, a villager is found dead within a pit of his own digging. The air crackles with intrigue and demands answers.

For generations, Betriek’s family has lived in a house on the edge of a peat bog in a small town in the north Netherlands. But tragedy struck early when Betriek’s grandmother was murdered, leaving her father to drown his grief in alcohol. Seeking a fresh start, Betriek (Sallie Harmsen) eventually fled to the bright lights of New York City.

Life has taken a cruel turn for Betriek. Following her husband’s passing, her mother has fallen inexplicably ill, baffling even the best doctors. With no answers and a growing sense of despair, Betriek begins to feel as if a dark shadow hung over her family. Whispers of a curse swirled in her mind, offering a desperate, if bleak, explanation for their misfortunes. Betriek returns to her childhood home with her daughter Hanna (Noor van der Velden).

Under the cloak of night, Radu (Edon Rizvanolli), a member of the anthropology team, breaks into Betriek’s home. Driven by an unknown force, he attempts to kill Betriek’s mother Elske (Anneke Blok). Luckily, Roelof (Fred Goessens) intervenes and saves to Elske’s life.

The elders of the townsfolk believe that the peat bog near Betriek is haunted by Helen, a vengeful spirit whose chilling whispers can twist minds and compel people to commit unthinkable acts. According to the weathered tale of Feike, centuries ago, Helen discovered her husband’s infidelity with their young maid, Feike, who was pregnant at the time. Consumed by jealousy and rage, Helen imprisoned Feike, branding her a witch who twisted dark magic to ensnare her husband’s heart.

Feike was afraid and prayed for God to help her. Instead, Moloch, the ancient pagan God of child sacrifice answered her prayer, offering to release her from pain and suffering and also grant her the power to take revenge. In exchange, she must forfeit the life of her unborn child and the future generations of her bloodline.

Moloch is a name which appears in the Hebrew Bible several times, primarily in the Book of Leviticus. The Bible strongly condemns practices associated with Moloch, including child sacrifice. Since the medieval period, Moloch has often been portrayed as a bull-headed idol with outstretched hands over a fire; this depiction takes the brief mentions of Moloch in the Bible and combines them with various sources, including ancient accounts of Carthaginian child sacrifice and the legend of the Minotaur.

The film offers a terrifyingly fresh take on the pagan deity mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, subverting expectations and weaving a chilling folk horror tale. Director Nico van den Brink and co-writer Daan Bakker expertly capture the desolate beauty and eerie atmosphere of the Netherlands countryside.

The film’s use of children’s stage play as a storytelling device is particularly fascinating. Symbolic gestures like a marker pen representing throat slitting and the mere shadow of Moloch’s horn create a chilling atmosphere without resorting to explicit gore.

The score by Swiss-Dutch musician Ella van der Woude plays a crucial role in amplifying the film’s unnerving atmosphere. Unsettling dissonances and eerie melodies crawl beneath your skin, perfectly capturing the film’s sense of dread and lurking malevolence.

The decision to never fully reveal Moloch, keeping him confined to a drawing, adds to the film’s unsettling power. It allows our imaginations to run wild, conjuring up something far more terrifying than any special effect could portray. The final moments of Moloch pack a punch with a shocking twist that will leave you reeling.

Moloch was theatrically released in the Netherlands on 19 May 2022.