Superb and Stylish

Rating: 8/10 (17 August 2017)

I chose this film based on seeing trailers on previous DVDs I had borrowed. The trailers were enticing and intriguing, and I must say, I was not disappointed in taking a chance on this movie.
Set in New England in 1630, The Witch is a period piece that evokes the ignorance, superstition and fear endemic to the culture and people of its time. Like Black Death (2010), its mysticism is couched in religion, in this case related to a Puritan family living on the frontier of New England. They leave a town to establish their own "farm", thereby creating a profound sense of isolation. Strange events and occurrences begin to take place, many of them explainable so that we as modern people would take them for granted. Each new incident heightens the tension not only for the family, but also the viewer. It's almost as if we're living with them, participating in their daily chores and life's struggles. And bit by bit, we feel the build-up of palpable distrust and suspicion.
However, what really makes this movie exceptional is the extreme attention to detail used in its creation. Robert Eggers pulled out all of the stops, starting with four years of exhaustive research. The buildings, structures and sets were built with trees felled in the area, using the same old fashioned tools from that era. The fabric and clothing was created using the same techniques that the Puritans used at that time. Mr. Eggers shot the film in natural light, which makes it appear gray and grainy, adding to its gloomy subtext. And he even imported British nationals to play the roles, believing that the accents would make the production even more authentic.
All this being said, this film will probably not appeal to the adrenaline or gore junkies who favor high action zombie and slasher flicks. It's simply not that kind of film. Rather, it is more of a thought provoking movie that explores the uncertainty and unpredictability of a family's journey to a new frontier in a new land.