Monday, April 05, 2021
The Witch
- Commentary: I finally watched this film last night, 6/30/21. I know. I've had it since April. My only excuse is that, although since that time I've added several movies (seen and unseen previous to purchase) I've wanted to own, at the same time I entered into a period, not the first I've experienced, when I just didn't want to spend much time staring at the screen, no matter how much any particular movie excited me.
Anyway, interesting, interesting film! First of all, there's not a false performance in it. Second, the setting is exquisitely managed. Third, the story, itself, slips, expertly between "witches, yes" and "witches, no". Third, character development and relational portrayal between characters are never neglected. I ended the movie with no questions or holes in my understanding. In addition, my attention was riveted from beginning to end.
Truthfully, having been born on Halloween, I have a special relationship with horror movies that focus on witchery. I have, by no means, seen all of them and tend to avoid the hundreds (if not thousands) of horror films, witched or not, that cluster-release around Halloween. This movie, though, is designed, I think, to be thought provoking and decidedly eerie any time of the year, especially since it unfolds slowly. Impressive job for a directoral first. It would, in fact, be an excellent job for a film made in the middle or end of a long film-making career.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Anya Taylor-Joy Thomasin Ralph Ineson William Kate Dickie Katherine Harvey Scrimshaw Caleb Ellie Grainger Mercy Lucas Dawson Jonas Julian Richings The Governor Bathsheba Garnett The Old Witch Sarah Stephens The Young Witch Charlie Goat Black Phillip Wahab Chaudhry Human Black Phillip Axtun & Athan Dube Samuel
Here's the Wikipeda write-up on this film.
Release Date: 2015
Directed by Robert Eggers.
Labels: A24, drama1, feminist, folk-horror, period1, popcorn-and-soda1, psychological1, spiritual1, women's-movie2
