The Witch - directed by Robert Eggers
Screenplay: Robert Eggers
This is absolutely the sort of movie that rewards a viewer ill-informed of its content and nature.
Even describing it as a horror film is almost spoilery.
The less you know going into this film the better.
Needless to say I shall be steering clear of anything remotely like a spoiler for this review.
For my part I was almost ignorant enough of this movie going in.
I would have preferred to have known a title and nothing else.
But still - the surprises that the plot has and the overall delight in experiencing a movie so original and finely crafted as this were very much present.
So, spoiler alert..... I really, really liked it.
Debut director (and writer) Robert Eggers apparently drew much of the events and dialogue for this movie from real accounts from New England in the 1600's.
The film's subtitle is in fact 'A New England Folktale'.
As the film begins we see a family held to account before a village tribunal.
William the Father is defiant in the face of charges that he is guilty of 'prideful conceit'.
My understanding is that he felt he was a better Christian than the rest of the town and they don't like being called lesser worshipers.
Thus he is (willingly) banished.
The family - William, wife Katherine, daughter Thomasin, son Caleb, Twins Mercy and Jonas and newborn baby Samuel- head deep into the wilderness and finally set up a farm beside a river and a forest.
Now, I might normally be tempted to push a little further into the plot as what I have already covered is barely eight or nine minutes in and not really indicative of the sort of film that this is.
It is this discovery however that is best to make for yourself.
What I can say is that the direction, writing, cinematography, editing, casting, performances, music and sound design are of the highest order.
Possibly some viewers will be disappointed by the deliberate pacing and perhaps others by the films restraint in what it doesn't show you.
This however is all part of writer-director Eggers grand plan.
"The Witch" (VVitch to use marketings preferred moniker) draws the viewer in slowly, the tension ever increasing thanks to hints of what may (or not) be going on.
Sometimes it is a barely heard sound or a partially glimpsed..... something.
Other times the clues (and red herrings) are in the dialogue.
Aspersions are cast on several characters and I was constantly assessing what was being said by whom to see if any evidence of evil doing could be pinned down.
Of course this works because Eggers script is smartly constructed and he frames every scene beautifully.
Characters are shot from below and above - William is frequently given an intimidating air by having him tower over other characters.
Eggers often utilises an ever so slow zoom that draws the eye desperately back and forth looking for whatever it is we are 'supposed' to see.
But the secret sauce is undoubtedly the cast.
Ralph Ineson will be familiar to fans of tv shows "The Office" (the British one) and "Game of Thrones" and also for his small role as one of Yondu's men in "Guardians of the Galaxy".
As William he delivers the olde English dialogue with impressive authority and is an imposing figure.
Kate Dickie - veteran of stage, tv and film is perfect as his wife Katherine.
(note that she, like Ineson is a Game of Thrones veteran)
Her face tells of years of hardship and misery long before we know for sure that this is the case.
These actors look absolutely like they have been plucked out of history.
The costuming, dialects, architecture and day to day tools and utensils are slavishly authentic.
I am saving the real star until last though..... Anya Taylor-Joy.
The twenty year old is so good in every way there seems no doubt that she has a massive career ahead of her.
There is a bubbling undercurrent of burgeoning sexuality to her character. More than once her slightly unbuttoned blouse draws the eye of her brother Caleb.
Is this important or just a curious young man?
It is further testament to the writing and performances that there is the tendency to examine every action, every glance or expression with undue attention lest you miss a clue to a character's motivation.
Much has been made of the ambiguity of "The Witch" and in particular one early scene and the climactic one.
For me there is no mystery.
In my mind I know exactly what happened and why.
But, I have no doubt that when I see it again (and believe me I will!) I may completely change my mind.
For every absolute we are given there are a dozen vagueries.
None seem like cheats and there is plenty of 'evidence' here for whatever your preferred conclusions are I would think.
It's a superbly shot movie too- I cannot stress enough the importance of seeing this on the big screen if you can.
One of my favourite sequences features a woman cloaked in red with a pale, heaving cleavage and a look that is either evil intent of genuine concern.
A dinner scene appears to have been shot under candlelight ala "Barry Lyndon"
Another sequence set in the forest during a hunt has some terrific shots for what is effectively simple dialogue.
Angles and colours are employed (dare I say) devilishly well.
So wonderfully made and acted is this film that even lines like 'Did ye make some unholy bond with that goat?' elicit not titters and guffaws but a genuine desire to have the question answered and right bloody now!
I am recommending this to true horror fans..... if you think that "The Grudge" and the Paranormal Activity movies are GREAT horror films I am not talking to you.
(Relax - I like them but they are not great works of the genre)
I am speaking more to people for whom "The Exorcist" is still the Citizen Kane of the genre and who consider the original "Cat People" or "I Walked With A Zombie" as still infinitely more defining of Horror than a dozen remakes and sequels.
Mostly though I am suggesting that anybody at all - horror fan or not- see this movie if they even remotely consider themselves a lover of movies.
RATING: 82 / 100
CONCLUSION: A stunningly well crafted movie with an utterly perfect cast delivering dynamite performances to the last. Subtle, tense, moody and ultimately hugely rewarding this is going to be long talked about.
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, Lucas Dawson, Julian Richings, Bathsheba Garnett, Sarah Stephens, Axtun Henry Dube, Athan Conrad Dube, Viv Moore
Screenplay: Robert Eggers
Music Score by: Mark Korven
Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke
Edited by: Louise Ford
Running Time: 93 minutes
Rated: R16 - Violence, dark themes
Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke
Edited by: Louise Ford
Running Time: 93 minutes
Rated: R16 - Violence, dark themes
Even describing it as a horror film is almost spoilery.
The less you know going into this film the better.
Needless to say I shall be steering clear of anything remotely like a spoiler for this review.
For my part I was almost ignorant enough of this movie going in.
I would have preferred to have known a title and nothing else.
But still - the surprises that the plot has and the overall delight in experiencing a movie so original and finely crafted as this were very much present.
So, spoiler alert..... I really, really liked it.
 |
| To say that "The Witch" is awash in atmosphere and period detail is an understatement |
The film's subtitle is in fact 'A New England Folktale'.
As the film begins we see a family held to account before a village tribunal.
William the Father is defiant in the face of charges that he is guilty of 'prideful conceit'.
My understanding is that he felt he was a better Christian than the rest of the town and they don't like being called lesser worshipers.
Thus he is (willingly) banished.
The family - William, wife Katherine, daughter Thomasin, son Caleb, Twins Mercy and Jonas and newborn baby Samuel- head deep into the wilderness and finally set up a farm beside a river and a forest.
Now, I might normally be tempted to push a little further into the plot as what I have already covered is barely eight or nine minutes in and not really indicative of the sort of film that this is.
It is this discovery however that is best to make for yourself.
What I can say is that the direction, writing, cinematography, editing, casting, performances, music and sound design are of the highest order.
Possibly some viewers will be disappointed by the deliberate pacing and perhaps others by the films restraint in what it doesn't show you.
This however is all part of writer-director Eggers grand plan.
 |
| There were times when I could almost smell the religious fervour |
Sometimes it is a barely heard sound or a partially glimpsed..... something.
Other times the clues (and red herrings) are in the dialogue.
Aspersions are cast on several characters and I was constantly assessing what was being said by whom to see if any evidence of evil doing could be pinned down.
Of course this works because Eggers script is smartly constructed and he frames every scene beautifully.
Characters are shot from below and above - William is frequently given an intimidating air by having him tower over other characters.
Eggers often utilises an ever so slow zoom that draws the eye desperately back and forth looking for whatever it is we are 'supposed' to see.
But the secret sauce is undoubtedly the cast.
Ralph Ineson will be familiar to fans of tv shows "The Office" (the British one) and "Game of Thrones" and also for his small role as one of Yondu's men in "Guardians of the Galaxy".
As William he delivers the olde English dialogue with impressive authority and is an imposing figure.
Kate Dickie - veteran of stage, tv and film is perfect as his wife Katherine.
(note that she, like Ineson is a Game of Thrones veteran)
Her face tells of years of hardship and misery long before we know for sure that this is the case.
These actors look absolutely like they have been plucked out of history.
The costuming, dialects, architecture and day to day tools and utensils are slavishly authentic.
I am saving the real star until last though..... Anya Taylor-Joy.
The twenty year old is so good in every way there seems no doubt that she has a massive career ahead of her.
There is a bubbling undercurrent of burgeoning sexuality to her character. More than once her slightly unbuttoned blouse draws the eye of her brother Caleb.
Is this important or just a curious young man?
It is further testament to the writing and performances that there is the tendency to examine every action, every glance or expression with undue attention lest you miss a clue to a character's motivation.
 |
| The shot selection and framing are meticulously set up and utilised to great effect (Ralph Ineson above) |
For me there is no mystery.
In my mind I know exactly what happened and why.
But, I have no doubt that when I see it again (and believe me I will!) I may completely change my mind.
For every absolute we are given there are a dozen vagueries.
None seem like cheats and there is plenty of 'evidence' here for whatever your preferred conclusions are I would think.
It's a superbly shot movie too- I cannot stress enough the importance of seeing this on the big screen if you can.
One of my favourite sequences features a woman cloaked in red with a pale, heaving cleavage and a look that is either evil intent of genuine concern.
A dinner scene appears to have been shot under candlelight ala "Barry Lyndon"
Another sequence set in the forest during a hunt has some terrific shots for what is effectively simple dialogue.
Angles and colours are employed (dare I say) devilishly well.
So wonderfully made and acted is this film that even lines like 'Did ye make some unholy bond with that goat?' elicit not titters and guffaws but a genuine desire to have the question answered and right bloody now!
 |
| The truly talented Anya Taylor-Joy..... bright future ahead |
(Relax - I like them but they are not great works of the genre)
I am speaking more to people for whom "The Exorcist" is still the Citizen Kane of the genre and who consider the original "Cat People" or "I Walked With A Zombie" as still infinitely more defining of Horror than a dozen remakes and sequels.
Mostly though I am suggesting that anybody at all - horror fan or not- see this movie if they even remotely consider themselves a lover of movies.
No comments:
Post a Comment