The Witch (2016) (UK)
Directed by: Robert Eggers
In my opinion, it takes a lot of effort to make a good, original and scary horror film and of recent years the quality of good horror films like "The Shining", "The Exorcist" and "Halloween" have been absent. I also think they're is an audience divide in horror. Theres an audience who look down upon more psychological horror films and end up disappointed because, "there aren't enough bits that make you jump", the others on the other hand like a good horror film with meat to it, some substance, rather than 90 minutes of cheap scares.
I consider myself a Horror Film Buff, I always try to go and watch the new horror film that's out as often as I can but of recent years, not a lot has stood out to me in these frequent viewings and gradually I started not bother any more because the content just didnt grab me enough with every critic under the sun slating recent releases or the fact that "Paranormal Activity 7" or however many there are had just been released with is purely a commercial hook.
"The Witch" directed by Robert Eggers, which is in fact his film debut, astonishingly, is a story set in 1630's in New England based on Folktales of that time which historically was influenced by the myth of Witches. I am glad to say that this isn't a stereotypical horror film and I loved it.
The story initially startes with a Puritan family who are exiled into the isolation of the rural areas of New England as the Father of the family speaks down upon the way that religion is being looked upon and not followed in the way it should be. After moving, the family begin to live amongst themselves, growing their own crops and following their own rules and how religion should be looked upon.
Whilst looking after the baby in the family, the eldest child, Thomasin, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, suddenly realises that the baby has been taken off into the woods, and whilst the family grieve, the idea of a witch taking the baby circulates around the family causing disruption amongst the different personalities presented in each family member. As days go by, strange things start to happen and it becomes more certain that there is a witch that lives out in the woods.
Judging from just the synopsis, the film sounds a bit stereoptypical and to be honest doesnt sound like a great film however this film is being considered as a horror masterpiece. Stanley Kubrick-esque, (according to some critics).
This film is an extremely uncomfortable viewing and one that I have found deeply disturbing whilst watching it in the dark, quiet cinema at 11pm at night. This film is not only uncomfortable to watch in the pure fear factor, some of the imagery in this film is very disturbing which I will not spoil.
After watching this movie, the best point for me was that it didn't use these cheap scares in modern horror films. It isn't plagued with jump scares from start to finish, like a slow intense scene leading upto an anti-climax like a rat crawling out of a dark space. Throughout, this film slowly depicted its scary moments making it, in my opinion, a lot more intense than these loud noise jump scares. I sat in my seat after the credits started scrolling in deep shock of what I had just witnessed, especially after the finale.
Another point to mention is that this film is definitely not a typical horror film, it is an acquired taste. The whole film is in Old English, which I thought was simply beautiful to listen to, but some people may find hard to follow which is understandable. However, the main reason why this film is an acquired taste is the deeper connotations of the film. It's not just a 90 minute film of horror that you and your friends can watch as a laugh, it has substance, it is a very clever film that portrays human sin and how that plays on the mind.
Final words, the look of this film as well is outstanding, it has been criticised to look very dull with the colours used in the presentation of the visuals however I thought that matched the severity and eeriness of the setting and events. This film was also shot in the now rare 1:1:66 aspect ratio by cinematographer Jarin Blaschke to give the picture an added height to the film and to make the trees in the forest to look more looming and the house to look more claustrophobic which is very notable. Actor performances as well were incredible too, in particular, Harvey Scrimshaw who has a breathtaking monologue in one scene of the film and especially Anya Taylor-Joy is was the star of the film.
If you're a fan of horror and you don't see this review too late, try and go and see "The Witch" in cinema, as unfortunately I personally dont think audiences at home will feel the same effect as I did in the cinema viewing as you are in a submerged nature when watching the film.
Pros:
Original, clever idea
Very disturbing
Acting
Cinematography
Cons:
Can be considered an acquired taste that not everyone will like
Cinema viewing is probably the most effective way to watch this film
Rating: B+
