Psychological Horror Meets Family Period Piece.

Rating: 8/10 (20 February 2016)

The Witch has been receiving a lot of buzz recently from horror fans and Sundance Film Festival attendees. Writer/Director Roboert Eggers even won the Best Director award at the festival. So does it live up to what people are saying? Well yes, but you have to know what you're getting in to. Knowing that this is a smaller indie film from Sundance and that it isn't going to be your run of the mill, make-a- quick- buck horror movie there is a lot of great stuff here.
This film combines two things that I am not the biggest fan, period pieces and horror, and, surprisingly, make them work. in his first film, Eggers does a fantastic job and building and sustaining tension. The atmosphere of the film never lets up making for suspense that really gets under the skin in moments where it really counts.
Furthermore, the actors were just as equally great as the direction, at first, the older dialect was hard to follow and didn't feel very natural. But after about ten minutes, the language flows better and every thing becomes very believable. Going on with the believability, everything in the landscape and surroundings felt as thought it fit the time period. The film just pulls you into the time period where you fell the struggles as the family does. There was a point where I had to look around the theater to make sure that I was indeed not in Old England.
The one thing that might be off-putting to some will be that the story isn't exactly about a witch versus a family. The story focuses much more on the family aspect as we see every family member deal with grief in their own ways as they sink deeper and deeper a psychological trance. There aren't as many straight up "scares" as one might hope, but there no doubt be times that make you jump and make you gut wrench. The family struggle is the fuel that drives the story forward and it makes for some great dramatic acting from adult and child actors alike.
As for problems, there are a few, but none to detract from the tension and drama that the film builds. The film is very gray and bleak, and at some points, it can be a little overwhelming at times, where you wish the color palette would liven up. To continue, there was a point where I thought the mother character was a little one- note, but I just assumed that it was her way of dealing with grief since she is obviously the one that gets hits the hardest in family problems. The ending can be polarizing to some, I wish there was a even a little more ambiguity, but the way Eggers decided to end is sufficient enough.
Lastly, a note must be made about the music and cinematography, both add to the film wonderfully and enthrall the viewer into whatever Eggers wants them to see.
Overall, The Witch is a very good horror film, certainly a brilliant start for Robert Eggers and easily a mark or two above the average horror film that is released nowadays. The closest thing I can compare this film to would be The Shining. So, just know what kind of film you are getting in to and you won't leave disappointed.
"Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?"