Religious Madness

Rating: 7/10 (17 May 2016)

I finally was able to catch this film On-Demand last evening. Since it did not play in my town--as most types of these films NEVER do--I waited patiently for its availability.
"The Witch" is a tale set in New England around 1630. A Puritan family has been banished from their local town because it seems the father was teaching religion that was in direct conflict with what was widely believed in this area. The family ventures out into the wilderness to restart their lives. Little do they know of the horror that waits.
I have read many other IMDb reviews and I can see how this film can be loved AND how it can be hated. Several scenes seemed incomplete. There are incidences that just do not make sense, i.e. the abduction of the baby by the Witch. Why did they not search for the child? Who was the Witch? Did she really exist? It is only until much later in the film that (I think) someone references the baby was taken by a wolf. I am still puzzled over the final scene, which I will not reveal.
I thought the acting was superb; however, I will say (again) that when you do a period piece with heavy British brogue, I just wish closed captioning was available. I had so much trouble understanding what was being said that it actually took my attention away from what was happening on screen. Anya Taylor-Joy is remarkable in her portrayal of the oldest daughter, Thomasin. Ralph Ineson plays the father, William very effectively, while Kate Dickie (who plays the mother, Katherine) proves she can wail with the best of them. The music and cinematography were both exceptional. Director Robert Eggers seems to know his way about the camera!
While this movie was billed as "horror," to me it is simply a tale about what religion and all its trappings can do to even the strongest of minds. There is some real tension here, and it was very refreshing to see a horror movie that was actually character driven.
Rated "R" for violence and nudity--and NONE of it graphic--"The Witch" is definitely a cut above most movies of its kind. However, I will caution any potential viewer to be aware of the pace and the accents. The movie is a little slow, and I've already stated what I felt about the heavy British brogues. Still, I would recommend it.