Danger! Evil-staring Lagomorphs

Rating: 6/10 (27 September 2016)

I got intrigued by the premise of "The Witch", like many others with me I presume, because it's allegedly based on authentic writings and immigrant stories from the actual era in which it takes place; namely New England in the 17th Century! Far too few horror stories take place in the Middle-Ages, if you ask me, and - at least to my recollection - the existing ones are only loosely inspired on contemporary historical milestones, like the several interpretations of the infamous Salem witch trials in 1692. The tale of "The Witch" is situated much earlier in that same dark century – in the year 1630 - and focuses on a family that gets banished to the far edge of the community, to a farm right next to an ominous forest, where they gradually get confronted with occult occurrences, so the least you can say about the concept is that it is original. The first reviews that I read on the internet or in specialized magazines were also very stimulating, as they practically unanimously agreed that "The Witch" is indescribably atmospheric and petrifying. Having seen the film now, I can definitely concur  "The Witch" is most certainly a unique experience when it comes to eerie atmosphere. Literally from start to finish, writer/director Robert Eggers creates a gloomy and foreboding ambiance that makes you uncomfortable and keeps you on the edge of your seat, even when there's basically nothing happening at all. The slow pacing, integer character drawings, bleak performances and silent but sinister extended shots of the forest and treetops all contribute enormously to the mounting of the tension, but there was one element in particular that personally struck me as ultimately macabre and innovative. Robert Eggers and his obviously multi-talented cinematographer Jarin Blaschke excel in filming ordinary animals but simultaneously making them come across as extremely menacing and even pure evil, like the goat – Black Philip – but especially also the uncannily staring hare! Can you imagine After literally having seen and reviewed thousands of horror movies, I honestly never had thought that I would get uncomfortable from looking straight into the penetrating eyes of a  rabbit! Unfortunately, the atmosphere and these unique peaks of suspense are the only true strongpoints of "The Witch" (apart maybe also from the solid performances). The plot, even though compelling and full of potential, is too thin while the continuous biblical speeches & dialogs are somewhat unnerving (although I surely reckon that the religious overtone is inseparably linked to the era). Since even the tense atmosphere is something you get used to quite rapidly, the lack of an actual plot and narrative structure causes the film to become soporific. To simply label "The Witch" as a period horror piece would also be unjust, as it much more qualifies as a harrowing drama, particularly during the many scenes where the family loses another child or gets torn apart due to (false?) witchcraft accusations. Being a father of a newborn child myself, the sudden and inexplicably mysterious disappearance of baby Samuel had a more than nightmarish effect on me. All this and more (style, casting choices, period recreation ) to at least ensure us that Robert Eggers is a promising and out-of-the-ordinary young director to keep an eye on! That same goes for the naturally beautiful and gifted young actress Anya Taylor-Joy.