The Witch

About The Witch

The Witch, released in 2016, is a historical period supernatural horror film. The plot centers around a Puritan family living in the New England wilderness in the 1630s. After the mysterious disappearance of their youngest member, family's unity begins to dissolve. Collective paranoia leads them into witchcraft, black magic, and possession. Written and directed by Robert Eggers, the film highlights fear and the breakdown of their faith and family.

Making / Production

The Witch marked the directorial debut of Robert Eggers, who was praised for his detailed research and faithful portrayal of the 17th century Puritan life. The film was shot entirely in Canada, aesthetically using natural light and minimalistic set designs. Creating an atmosphere of isolation and dread was crucial and successfully achieved, lending an eerie authenticity to the movie.

Actors

• Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin: She brilliantly portrays a young girl unfairly accused of witchcraft, revealing her character's development from innocence to desperate defiance.
• Ralph Ineson as William: He played the role of the well-meaning but ultimately failing patriarch of the family, his performance full of gravitas and despair.
• Kate Dickie as Katherine: Mother Katherine's transformation from a grieving parent to a hysterical accuser was convincingly portrayed.
• Harvey Scrimshaw as Caleb: Caleb's descent into supernatural affliction was hauntingly depicted by Scrimshaw.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Director Robert Eggers took approximately four years for research to ensure the authenticity of the film.
• The dialogues in the film were written in Early Modern English, which is a version of the English language used from the late 15th to the mid-17th century.
• The film is notable for its extensive use of natural light and minimal artificial light.

Awards

The Witch won numerous awards including the Directing Award in the U.S. Dramatic category at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Anya Taylor-Joy also won several awards for Breakthrough Actor including the Gotham Independent Film Award.

Quotes

• "What went we out into this wilderness to find?" - William
• "You are a witch!" - Caleb to Thomasin.
• "I be the witch of the wood!" - Thomasin.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film’s haunting and unsettling score was composed by Mark Korven, which greatly added to the atmospheric tension of The Witch.
• Songs like 'Caleb's Seduction' and 'Caleb's Death' plays crucial roles at peak scenes of the movie.
• 'Isle of Wight Hymn' is a notable piece in the film, contributing to the whole early modern English aesthetic.