Woo-hoo, witchy woman see how high she flies! – The Eagles.
Inspired by his fascination with witchcraft since childhood, Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse, Nosferatu 2024) wrote a script titled, “The Witch.” Set in the 1630s, a family is banished by from a settle due to a religious conflict. They build a farm near a forest. Suddenly, a sinister force causes the family to point fingers accusing one of ‘em as a witch.
The Witch officially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015 ( same year Fallout 4 came out) and later given a theatrical release in 2016. It received praise from critics and became a sleeper hit. The Witch launched the careers of Anya Taylor-Joy and Mr. Eggers. Anyway, the latter will direct next Horror film, Werewulf” with Aaron Taylor-John leading it. The upcoming werewolf film will be released in Christmas 2026. Approximately a week after “Avengers Doomsday.” I’m also watching and reviewing Horror films throughout October. In other words, get into the Halloween spirit.
Today’s review contains no crucial SPOILERS whatsoever.
Lifted & Cursed Aspects
Lifted; Anya Taylor-Joy (in her film debut) & Ralph Ineson (Galactus from The Fantastic Four: The First Steps) both did an excellent job for their respective performances.
Robert Eggers did a great job directing. He also wrote the script.
Death Scenes are realistic.
Mark Korven (The Lighthouse, The Black Phone) orchestrated the soundtrack.
Cinematography’s shot in stable condition lacking technical issues throughout.
Costumes and Set Pieces were manually crafted by decorators matching what existed back in the 1630s.
Chemistry between the family members serve as the main highlight. all of ‘em are interesting. Mostly, Thomasin and her father, William.
Character Development involving Thomasin. As the film progresses, she stands up for herself.
A goat named, Black Philip plays a pivotal role.
The dialogue is primarily written in Early Modern English. Meaning, “Shakespeare Talk.” Keeping it authentic to the time period set in the 1630. Mr. Eggers did his homework.
The family’s crisis of faith serves as an internal conflict. Thank goodness the religious theme didn’t shove it down my throat. It plays a significant part regarding the family hitting rock bottom after being exiled by a settlement.
The Witch herself appears in The First Act. Her introduction is really messed up. What you’re about to see, indicates things are about to get rough or as Mermaid Man from “SpongeBob SquarePants” calls it, “EVIL!”
Primary Themes are Hypocrisy, Misogyny, Family, Isolation, Poverty, Religion, Pride & Self-Destruction. Each one’s handled maturely.
The Ending will blow you away. I can’t give it away. You’ll have to see for yourself. It’s definitely gonna make your jaw drop.
After watching the film once rewatching it has subtle clues on what’s about to happen.
Cursed: Scare Factor lacks terror. I wasn’t scared at all. As if I lack ice in an ice machine. How am I supposed to pour an unrefrigerated bottle of Cherry Dr. Pepper in a tall glass? It’s not the same without ice.
Pacing in Acts 1-2 can be a drab at times. Pretty jarring for a 93-minute film. Act 3 gets better.
The Final Verdict: B, FOR BREATHTAKING!
Despite a lack of the heebie jeebies and slow pace, The Witch is basically a character drama regarding the performances of Anya Taylor-Joy & Ralph Ineson. Look on the bright side, Robert Eggers directorial debut wasn’t a letdown. I thought it was a great. If you’re looking for a unique Horror film, check out The Witch. It may not be catered to everybody, but it’s a nice gem. I cannot wait to see Mr. Eggers’ Werewulf.
Which Horror film should I review next? Please leave a comment and don’t forget to subscribe.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 