The Witch (2015)
Director: Robert Eggers
Starring: Anna Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Its no secret that I've long considered Horror to be my favorite film genre. Even though its rare to get more than three or four quality movies out of the category each year I can't help but get excited for each new release. Tonight's film has been on my radar since 2014 when director Robert Eggers took home the "Best Directing" award from that years Sundance Film Festival. The film finally received a wide release this past weekend so I eagerly bought my ticket to last night's late show and settled in expecting great things. Did it deliver on my high hopes? Is this one of those few "quality " Horror films I mentioned? Lets dive right in and find out!
In 1630's New England young Thomasin finds her life in upheaval after her father deems that the colony's church has strayed too far from what he believes to be God's true teachings. He decides to move his wife, Thomasin, and her four siblings to leave behind the comfort and security of the community and start their own farm alone in the wilderness. The family's faith is soon tested though when the youngest child disappears under Thomasin's care and rumors of a witch living in the woods begin to circulate among the children.
As I said above quality Horror films are few and far between. I am overwhelmingly happy to say that The Witch is one of them! The films atmosphere and cinematography are sumptuous and the performances from everyone in the cast feels genuine and utterly believable. The Witch is not your average jump scare or gore filled slasher. It takes its time to build its characters and setting so perfectly that by the time it neared its end I was hopping that each scene would be the last. Not because I hated it, but because I truly felt afraid of what might happen next.
Trivia from IMDB for The Witch:
The premise is based on America's first witch hysteria in colonial New England, set 62 years before the infamous "Salem Witch Trials" which occurred in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie both appeared in Game of Thrones although they never shared any scenes together.
Stephen King, who is often called the "master of horror", has stated that he was terrified by this film.
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