By— Jamil Oakford
Photo courtesy A24
There’s nothing creepier than holier-than-thou Puritans and their over-fascination with sin and evil. But be warned: There’s never been a movie quite like this.
The Witch follows the story of a former Puritan preacher who is cast out of the local village because of his contrarian messages. His family must now tough it out on its own on the edge of a wood that’s fabled to hold evil.
But as the crops fail and children go missing, the parents all point the blame on the eldest daughter Thomasin, who is just coming into her teenage years.
While critics are boosting the movie’s reputation by saying it’s one of the scariest movies seen in years, it should be made clear this isn’t just any old horror film.
This movie doesn’t thrive off of jump scares or CGI. This film is atmospheric. It thrives off of the audience feeling the dread and tension as the story moves.
It’s important to note that this is a slow film. It takes time to get to the really scary parts, but there’s enough creep factor to keep the audience wondering what happens next. But if the viewer is diligent, the payoff comes at the end. The last 30 minutes are spent gripping the armrests as the story goes at breakneck speed toward a haunting and discordant end.
This film boasts many accolades, including the prestigious directing award at the Sundance Film Festival for Robert Eggers.
And it’s Eggers’ vision that brings this film some true individuality. The pacing and the look are just two aspects that set this film apart from the Paranormal Activity-fueled horror genre it finds itself in. This brings back the slow-buildup-with-short-payoff concept as a soundtrack of discordant strings or voices heighten the terror.
This movie is perfect for viewers who don’t mind if a scary movie sits with them long after the final credits roll.
