In the Earth 2021

As Martin Lowery (played by) arrives at the government-controlled outpost in a once-thriving forest outside Bristol, he’s met with an eerie silence. The air is heavy with the scent of decay, a poignant reminder of the pandemic that has ravaged the country. His presence is a deliberate choice, one driven by his professional and personal ties to Olivia Wendle (played by), a brilliant scientist who’s been conducting groundbreaking research on mycorrhiza in these very woods. Martin’s role is crucial to her work, and as he begins his two-day hike towards her site with guide Alma, the atmosphere grows thick with anticipation.

But before they reach their destination, Alma drops a bombshell: Olivia has gone missing, leaving behind only whispers of her research. The pair stumbles upon an abandoned tent, its remnants telling a haunting story of a family in distress. As night falls, Martin’s discovery of a mysterious rash on his arm is soon eclipsed by the brutal attack that leaves their camp in shambles. Without shoes and reeling from his injuries, Martin’s world begins to unravel.

It’s here that Zach, an enigmatic figure with secrets of his own, intervenes. His offer of aid seems genuine, but as Martin and Alma succumb to sedatives, they’re left vulnerable to Zach’s sinister intentions. The ritualistic photos, the strange symbols etched into their skin, and the brutal amputation of Martin’s toes – it’s a descent into madness.

As consciousness returns, Martin finds himself lost and alone, his foot infected from the ordeal. His only solace is the cryptic guidance offered by Zach, who claims to be channeling an ancient sorcerer’s essence. The boundaries between reality and fantasy blur as Martin stumbles through the forest, searching for answers. His quest ultimately leads him to a pair of gruesome corpses, a grim reminder that the line between life and death is thin indeed.

In the midst of chaos, Olivia reappears, her arrival marked by a burst of hope. But it’s Alma who finds her own path forward, navigating the treacherous landscape with a newfound determination. As the sounds and lights surrounding Olivia’s site reach a fever pitch, Zach’s malevolent presence is banished, leaving only the faintest glimmer of hope in the darkness.

As dawn breaks, Olivia’s skilled hands tend to Martin’s injured foot, simultaneously unraveling the mystery surrounding her enigmatic project. Her words drip with conviction as she discloses that Zach, her estranged ex-husband, had been an integral part of her quest to connect with the otherworldly presence residing within the ancient stone. Their joint endeavor, guided by a centuries-old tome on local legends, had reached a stalemate due to differing approaches, ultimately leading to Zach’s abrupt departure. Alma, sensing trepidation and mistrust, urges Martin to abandon the site, but he remains resolute in his commitment to Olivia’s research, refusing to divulge the nature of their relationship.

The following morning, an eerie veil of mist envelops the campsite, trapping them within its fungal-infused grip. Alma is dispatched through the veil, clad in a hazmat suit, only to find herself beset by hallucinations as the spores penetrate her protective gear. That night, the mist closes in, like a suffocating shroud, as Zach reappears, demanding that they tap into the stone’s secrets using an electronic soundboard and a mysterious sacrament derived from ground mushrooms.

Martin agrees to partake in the sacrament, waiting for its effects to unfold. Meanwhile, Zach ambushes Alma, intent on sacrificing Martin. But she manages to escape and make her way back to camp, where she discovers Olivia ensconced within her tent, surrounded by staged photographs of their victims. The atmosphere turns hostile as Olivia attacks Alma, but our protagonist fights back, ultimately killing Zach in the process.

As the mist continues its relentless advance, Alma pursues Olivia back to the standing stone, both women surrendering to the visions induced by the fungal spores. Come morning, Alma and Olivia find themselves far from the stone, broken out of their trance-like states. Overcome with a sense of wonder, Olivia collapses onto the ground, while Martin, now fully aware, is approached by an altered Alma. Her voice distorted, she offers to guide him out of the woods, casting a surreal pall over the proceedings.