Fantastic Historical Supernatural Horror

Rating: 8/10 (29 March 2020)

The Witch is... something. It is not a traditional horror film, and really, the only apt comparison I can come up with is Eggers' other major film, The Lighthouse, mixed with a bit of Midsommar. Regardless, it is an awesome film. Eggers' writing and direction, combined with perfect acting and an immersive set design, create a chilling tale that stands out among modern horror.
First off, the acting. Wow. Each actor in this film is incredible, despite half of the cast being child actors. And I don't mean good acting, when you are watching and think, "that actor is doing great right now". I was not even registering that they were actors at all, I was so immersed. And their colonial dialect was authentic yet understandable, and seemed to be spoken completely naturally, which is often difficult to pull off. Each character became paranoid or corrupted throughout the film, creating a suspenseful tone that lasted the whole movie. I would like to specifically recognize Ralph Ineson, as the tormented, prideful, authoritative, and increasingly uncontrolled father. His performance stood out among an impressive cast as one of the best I've seen in horror.
Of course, this acting would be nothing without the writing that make this so convincing. Using writings from the period, Eggers makes the dialogue feel real, not like our interpretation of how they sounded. And the progression of the film makes it feel like a "slow burn" movie, yet so many events are put into the 92 minute film, that it is constantly entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. The exploration of the themes of paranoia, corruption, and religion are obvious, but not thrown in your face. The viewer will "get it", but not feel like it's just been entirely handed to them.
The set design and direction compliment the other factors in making a complete atmosphere for this film. The farm is shabby and poor, and in seemingly every shot, you can see the weak, unappealing crops, a subtle reminder of the coming desperation of the family. The woods loom over them ominously, never easing the feeling of dread and mystery. The movie is mostly lit by candlelight and features many close up shots of the characters, which outside of showcasing their acting chops, also keeps the viewer in the same position as the characters: wondering what will happen next.
All in all, The Witch is a stunningly suspenseful film, immersive in all aspects. Much like other A24 horror films, it is not something you can shake off right after viewing. It is absolutely worth a watch, but maybe not right before going out with friends.