The Witch (2015) Movie Review - Robert Eggers' Modern Horror Classic
Welcome back to Knockout Horror. We are now past the halfway point of our K-O-Ween 31 Days of Halloween feature. For day 17 we are taking a look at Robert Eggers’ phenomenal horror hit The Witch (Stylised as the The VVitch due to the letter “W” basically not being a thing back when the movie was set).
The Witch was a huge success for Eggers and something of a surprise for the horror genre. Marking Eggers’ feature film directional debut. The Witch is a slow moving period horror movie beautifully shot and incredibly well acted. Loved by critics, unsurprisingly The Witch divided viewers.
There was an insane level of hype for this movie. It could be argued it would be almost impossible for it to live up to said hype. Some found it too slow, some didn’t find it scary, many didn’t see what all the fuss was about. Others, however, myself included, really enjoyed the movie for what it is – a fantastic folk horror. With that in mind, let’s take a look at The Witch. As always I will give a quick spoiler free breakdown of the movie that can be skipped if you like.
A Haunting Period Horror
The premise here is pretty simple. A family in 1600’s New England are banished from their puritan settlement over a religious dispute. The family, consisting of father William (Ralph Ineson), mother Katherine (Kate Dickie), eldest daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) and son Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw), as well as young twins Mercy and Jonas, are determined to carry on. They set up home in a rural location and attempt to live off the land. After Katherine gives birth to a son. The child goes missing while under the care of Thomasin. Could it be true that a witch kidnapped Samuel or could this just be the start of the family’s inevitable decline?
The Witch sparked something of a revival in the folk horror genre. It’s easy to see its influence in movies such as Gwen and the like. When a great movie comes along, people realise the untapped potential of a certain style of film-making and, suddenly, everyone wants to have a go. It’s probably fair to say, however, that none of these movies did it quite as well as Robert Eggers did with The Witch.
While I am not the world’s biggest fan of folk horror. When done right, it can be incredibly effective. Folk Horror takes those tales and mythical legends we hear about as kids and brings them to life. Those stories you heard about the creature living deep in the woods? Folk horror wants to make you believe that those stories were completely true. When done properly, a decent folk horror can tap into that very same fear you felt as a child. Isolation, religion, segregation and folklore are all essential ingredients and The Witch has them by the bucket-load.
Almost Fairy tale Like
The idea of there being something ominous hiding in the woods is a tale as old as time and extremely effective. Fairy tales have been used for centuries to warn people of the dangers that exist when one wanders from the beaten path. The Witch captures this perfectly. The family here know that the world around them is hostile.
Despite the vast expanses of the landscape around them, they are trapped within their own fenced off area. Everything feels incredibly claustrophobic. Nowhere is safe and the ground at their farm is barren. They are essentially trapped and unable to escape their terror. Eggers expertly uses the family’s religious ideals to blur the lines between what is real and what is in their heads. It is powerful stuff.
The sense of impending doom and confusion felt by the family is constant. Whereas this type of horror might not work set in the modern age. The period setting of the 1600’s establishes the family’s belief structure and adds a sense of authenticity to the character’s reactions. The fear of witches, and the unknown, was all too real for people back then. On top of this, the family are banished from their community. There is no help and nowhere for them to run to. This adds a sense of desperation to everything the family go through. In our modern world, it might not be easy to relate to the characters in The Witch but you can sympathise with their plight.
Stunningly Filmed
Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke decided to film The Witch in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio which lends the movie a very antiquated look. You do not see a lot of movies that look like this nowadays and it will likely stand out straight away to people who watch mainly modern media. Somehow the black bars at the side of the image feel almost as old as the period the movie was set in. It’s funny how quickly filming standards have changed. With this being said, however, The Witch looks truly stunning.
Closeup shots of characters look fantastic with the larger vertical aspect helping to frame characters perfectly. Forest scenes are imposing with the limited horizontal shot making the trees feel as though they are closing in on the characters. Night time scenes are claustrophobic and foreboding as the dimly lit characters are lost in the narrow blackness of the lens. It’s all very beautiful to look at. Jarin Blaschke would go on to work with Eggers again on The Lighthouse and was head of photography on M Knight Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin.
An Acting Tour de Force
Viewers from the UK will likely recognise a face or two from The Witch. Ralph Ineson has been acting in British drama series since the late 90s and Kate Dickie has been around since the 2000s. Both put on absolutely tremendous performances that stand out for their authenticity. They are both incredibly believable as pious English people living in a strange land and trying to survive.
The standout performance here, however, is Anya Taylor-Joy in her first credited acting roll. Obviously she has gone on to do tremendous things and is one of the most promising actors in the world right now. It is her performance here that opened the eyes of people in the industry and for good reason. She is entirely believable as Thomasin and perfectly encapsulates the turmoil of a young woman facing a number of horrific accusations while trying to help her family as much as possible. It’s a powerful performance and one that deserves a lot of praise considering Taylor-Joy’s lack of acting experience at the time.
It should be mentioned that some may struggle with the accents here and the audio mix can be a problem. Ralph Ineson, in particular, can be difficult to understand. His thick Northern English accent is thicker than ever here. He has a deep voice, as well, and the sound mix does him no favours. Making him difficult to understand, at times. This is Eggers’ style and he would do the exact same in The Lighthouse.
Is it Scary?
This is perhaps the biggest question of all regarding a horror movie. I think the answer, to be honest, is not particularly. I absolutely love The Witch but it doesn’t really offer up any major scares. There are a few scenes that will likely frighten a few viewers but the movie relies far more on tension than outright horror. The things the family experience are terrifying in and of themselves. The desolate area they live in and the forest next to it are extremely foreboding but the scares are minimal. Like most folk horror, it is the concept that is scary rather than the things we see on screen.
You could make the argument that The Witch is barely a horror movie at all. I think, in my opinion, it is many different things. It is a period drama; it’s a mystery; it’s a little bit of a thriller; and it is a little bit of a folk fairy tale. If you demand scares to class something as a horror, you may be disappointed but it is, at its heart, a horror story. Sure, it is not a very scary horror, but how many horror movies are legitimately scary?
Should You Watch The Witch?
You should absolutely watch The Witch if you have any interest in horror movies. Even if it is just to decide that it isn’t for you. One of the most significant folk horror movies of recent times. It launched the career of megastar Anya Taylor-Joy and revived period horror. It’s a great movie. Both beautiful and haunting and, while not for everyone, it is deeply affecting for those it resonates with. Go in with your expectations set and you may just love it.
