A masterpiece of both archaic drama, colonial representation, and psychological horror

Rating: 10/10 (21 October 2017)

This movie immediately struck me as what the result of a Shakespeare & Brothers Grimm collaboration would look like. The film is like a beautifully embroidered tapestry, with an interestingly somber & sullen style & theme, and surprising authenticity. The most notable & well structured aspect of this film is the design of the early 17th century set. All the actors speak in an old, yet recognizable English. You likely won't understand half of what the characters are saying unless you've studied Shakespeare. The somber and misty feel of 17th century New-England is captured in a beautifully perfect & realistic fashion. The actors clothing, manner of speech, and heavily religious mindset is accurate to that of 17th century New-England that the movie uses as its setting. The film does a good job of making a statement about how hard it was to be alive in the 1620's, and that these peoples lives were never easy. Even if you're someone who's never studied the hardships of this historical era, or the lifestyle of settlers in the new world, the film gives you a powerful impression that it was extremely hard to be alive in this time. (It accurately captures the grueling lifestyle, while it also remains true to what witches were believed to be in this time)
The first glance at the forest is chilling. The battalion of impenetrable trees seem to pulse with a ominous intent, and the portrayal of 17th century witches is both deeply disturbing, and unnervingly accurate. The witches on-screen moments, and her actions throughout the movie have an overpoweringly gripping effect on the audience, as the witches presence and potency seems to span over the entire forest, and echo a dark omen for the poor family of seven that resides by the forest side.
The film is frightening in a rather subtle way. (mostly after the ending, which resolves all the disturbing occurrences in a solemnly saddening conclusion, which has the most powerful effect on the audience) Robert Eggers immaculately designs a thick, omnipresent tension which further contributes to an increasingly uncanny atmosphere. The film conveys a unique design of horror that's chillingly unfamiliar these days, (but not absent) and deviates from the unusual expectations from an average horror film. (That being said, this is most definitely not an average horror film. (In a good way) I mostly enjoyed this film as a piece of genuine art and as a folktale. If what you desire from a horror movie is jump- scares, gory images, and creepy faces, (Or most of what the horror genre is producing today) rather than a layered and deeply soul-shaking story, than this movie is most definitely not for you.) The film is scariest to those who think deeply about it, and those who understand the 17th century folklore, and the importance of faith in this time, since the film is also frightening at a religious angle. The audience can do nothing but watch as the families faith is questioned and attacked by theirs God's absence in their suffering, and as the family is plagued, tormented, and (figuratively) torn to shreds by the deceitful & manipulating hand of the evil that resides amongst the trees. Thus, the events of this movie are a perfect presentation of a Puritan's worst nightmare. Some of the most frightening & disturbing implications are hidden behind seemingly innocuous, yet slightly sinister things. And some of the most saddening, most horrific implications are hidden beyond the ending, leaving contemplation and speculation on the viewers mind for days or weeks after. While each time you recommence speculation of post-movie events, you also remember how well the film captured your subconscious in its quintessential design of psychological haunts, and you're reminded of the depth of this profoundly powerful story. Robert Eggers combines these layers of subtle horror with expert film-making to create a truly nerve racking story about religious paranoia & familial trauma.
I felt like the full impact of the movie didn't strike me right away. But as I thought and thought (which I guarantee you will) about the plot and the genuinely saddening conclusion, the film started to grow & gnaw at my thoughts until I realized the sheer magnitude of depth & meaning of what I had watched. There is Biblical symbolism scattered throughout the run-time, a perfect display of how religion ruled the lives of people living in this time, and some much deeper elements that I cannot reveal without spoiling major plot points. But overall, this film is a masterpiece, as a horror, a drama, and as a film in general. Everything about it is executed in a perfect design, and the unbelievably disturbing ending will shake you to whatever is at your core.