The Witch

 

Generic title, but courageous execution.

A husband and his family are pretty much expelled from the established religious community because of a different interpretation of the New Testament. Having moved towards a barn on the edge of a vast forest, they settle in peacefully.

After their youngest child dissapears and is killed, the wife questions the daughter about suspicious behavior, while the husband trades in a sentimental and valuable item for hunting supplies. Meanwhile, the son talks with his father about fate, and the twins claim that the black goat they play with speaks to them.

The Witch is one of those horrors where it calmly builds up the mood and the suspense in order to subtly creep you out from the unnatural events happening, while victims keep stacking up. New Engeland is the setting, and the language is old fashioned English with words such as "thou" and "thine".

It is playing effectively with the concept of witchcraft which has been around for ages and it naturally blends in into anything that can be considered remotely paranormal, has various perspectives, and tales from it can be found anywhere in the world.

Portraying polarizing scary scenes such as the temptation and flirting of a mysterious red hooded girl, or an old hag milking a goat, make sure that despite the film's speed, it still manages to deliver the goods to to speak.

Adding the subtle supernatural stuff up with death and vanishing scenes which all seem to be "accidents" at first, but in reality of the film's premise, are actually all occurances happening because of black magic, there's something worth seeing for any patient horror fan.

The climax is a beautiful display of a dramatic downfall for the family, all the while the identity of the black goat is revealed to be Satan, and the daughter transforms and ascends truly into a witch after signing a pact and joining a coven of nude women surrounding a bonfire holding a Witches's Sabbath.

The Witch will reward you for your patience and your attention.

Rating: 7.0