THE WITCH Review

THE BEWAILED COVEN 

The Witch

A Review By Ben Hunter

5 Out Of 5 Stars

GET TO THE POINT BEN!

Once the letters are comprehended, prepare for some amazing sentences!  

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Another night’s passing, another morning’s weep.  My dearest Samuel I lament in thine return.  I bemoan thy departure.  O Lord why doest thou forsaken me? Mine own offspring in turmoil, my husband in disarray.  I fear us in Satan’s path.  I fear the tales he circulates in our journey … of the woman he’s cast upon us, taken dear Samuel, sickened Caleb, ostracized our good name and possessed my young lady, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), I fear … to be the influenced possession of the woman cast upon us … a necromancer of sorts … a witch.

Dear Katherine prays and bewails over the loss of control over her family’s direction.  This small family of hers that she fears has lost all hope has been exiled from a puritan plantation in late 17th Century New England due to a difference in interpretation of The New Testament.  Her baby, Samuel, is stolen so abruptly from her daughter Thomasin’s grasp one day.  A day they learn of a witch taunting their farm and bringing them grief from persistent encounter.  Their son Caleb gets sick after her touch, thus causing turmoil and unraveling of more sinful conduct both outside and inside the house walls.  Their twin children Mercy and Jonas reveal conversations with a talking goat in the chaos of Caleb’s witchcraft expulsion prayer conduct.  Evil begetting more evil.  

We pray for each other and for their lives be protected from the destruction that seeks.  

The family in anarchy, tensions escalate as the sanity of characters slowly unravel new revelations.  New intentions from the evils that be usurping possession that of the ground now below and open our eyes … to “The Witch”!  

Who would’ve fathomed that an “old pilgrim movie” where they speak in difficult “oh brother where art thou?  Come hither and give heed” kind of talk would entice those of the willing audience, eager for a good story?  Writer/Director Robert Eggers distinctly displays such an innovative, accurately acute, vision.  A vision thoroughly examined by historians of this era who all say this first time director hit the nail completely on the head.  The vernacular of the father, William, his wife and children, the town folk, behavioral tendencies, all constructed this world to the very letter.  

They are letters, however, that may spell out words not everyone is interested in reading.  As I mentioned, they speak “very differently” than what we’re used to.  Some of the dialogue between characters may be difficult to comprehend.  This is a different movie, something we’re not used to seeing and hearing.  Which is exactly why I love it so much, because of its innovation and creativity.  Though, we Americans are lazy and want the work done for us.  Especially when it comes to our entertainment (how dare they put subtitles or speak differently in a movie and make me work for my pleasure?!).  Though The Witch (dubbed the “VVitch” for the accuracy in the period of time) isn’t a foreign subtitled film, it does take a lot of work to comprehend and figure out just what’s happening as this poor family breaks down.  And when you do just that, oh man does the witch possess the very soul of your attention!

Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) fears for her life in possession of ... The Witch!  

There are beautifully crafted acts as if taken from the latest piece of Shakespeare or a prominent playwright that we’re dying to see (the substantial Michael Bay’s of the era).  Combine this with convoluted cinematics that leave one without a word to speak in reaction to the display of beauty before them.  Even if it is deriving of the purest of evil of the Earth, where it all ingresses into civility, and tells you that it is good to enjoy the bad.  

Welcome … to the underworld!  

The Witch: A New England Folktale (2016)

Horror, 92 Minutes, R

Written & Directed By: Robert Eggers

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, Lucas Dawson