The Witch [Movie Review]

The Witch [Movie Review] | I was probably watching too many scary movies that Netflix keeps on suggesting to me to watch The Witch. 

So, apparently, I gave in and watched the movie. 

SYNOPSIS

The Witch (2015) Trivia

• Directed by: Robert Eggers

• Produced by: Rodrigo Teixeira, Daniel Bekerman, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Jay Van Hoy

• Production companies: Parts and Labor, RT Features, Rooks Nest Entertainment, Maiden Voyage Pictures, Mott Street Pictures, Code Red Productions, Scythia Films, Pulse Films, Special Projects
• Distributed by: A24 (US), Elevation Pictures (Canada), Universal Pictures (International)

• Release date: Jan. 27, 2015

• Running time: 93 minutes
• Rating: R (for disturbing violent content and graphic nudity)

• Country: United States & Canada
• Language: English

• Tomatometer: 90%
• Metascore: 83%

• IMDb: 6.9/10
• Budget: $4 million
• Box-office: $40.4 million
• The film was shot in only 25 days.
• The premise is based on America's first witch hysteria, set 62 years before the infamous 'Salem Witch Trials' in colonial Massachusetts. 
• Stephen King himself stated that he was terrified by this film.
• This was the film debut for Anya Taylor-Joy. Such as it is also Eggers' directorial debut.
• The dialogues were based on writings from the time (1600s). 

The movie's set is around 1600s in New England. William and his family - wife Katherine, daughter Thomasin, son Caleb and twins Mercy and Jonas are banished from their colony after a quarrel. The family builds their new home near a secluded forest. Not soon after, the family welcomes new addition, Samuel. However, baby Samuel disappears while being babysat by Thomasin. The family thought that wolves took the baby.

Whereas deep inside the forest, a witch is seen killing Samuel to concoct a spell. 

Katherine cries and prays every day. She blames Thomasin for the disappearance of Samuel and scolds her at every chance, albeit not her fault.

Disappointed by her mother, Thomasin forces Caleb to take her with him into the forest as he was preparing to check a trap he set earlier. Caleb runs after their dog in the forest leaving Thomasin alone. She was knocked unconscious when the horse throws her off and runs off. 

Lost in the wood, Caleb comes across a pretty young girl who calls him closer and kisses him. And suddenly the girl turns into an old woman. 

When she gains her conscious, Thomasin returns home to her angry mother. Katherine accuses her of bringing Caleb into the forest and now lost him too. Later that night, Thomasin finds Caleb stumbling naked outside, delirious and ill. 

The next day, the nanny goat produces blood when Thomasin tries to milk it. Caleb's condition worsens and he dies after proclaiming his love to Christ. 

Enraged, William and Katherine keep on accusing Thomasin of being a witch. William locks Thomasin with the twins inside the goat house. He then admits his sins to God. Whereas Katherine sees a vision of Caleb and Samuel. She breastfeeds Samuel when in reality, it is actually a raven pecking at her breast. 

When he awakens, Williams finds the stable destroyed, the goats dead and the twins missing with Thomasin lying nearby with bloody hands. 

Is Thomasin really a witch that preys on her family?

MY REVIEW

Plot: 4.5/ 5.0 The movie is slow-burning. But when it finally catches fire - it was a huge fire! It revolves around the family's relationship with God - so, you'll hear a lot about Christianity and prayers. 

But can their belief rid off the witch that is haunting the family? And who is the witch? 

This movie is a tad heavy and intense to my liking. But my curiosity made me stayed. 

Cast: 4.7/ 5.0 Anya Taylor-Joy excels here. And the rest of the family members delivered their parts amazingly. For them to speak in that old English tongue - that must have took them quite some time to learn it. And that's commitment!

Will I watch it again: Yes, I would. 

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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