This is horror.

Rating: 9/10 (22 April 2016)

Seems like you either love this film or hate this film. I fall squarely into the "love it" camp.
Off the bat, this movie movie knows atmosphere! From the first few scenes it caries with it an intensifying dread, rarely if ever letting up. If you're looking for a slasher or creature feature, steer clear. This is a deep, dread building, slow burn, void of cheap jump scares.
I could be mistaken, but I believe this is writer/director Robert Egger's feature length debut, and holy s**t does he deliver. He mentioned in an interview spending at least 3 yrs on the script, crafting dialogue directly from puritan American period sources as well as first hand "accounts" and myths. Boy, did he deliver. Believe me, this is a director to look out for.
Special shout out to the casting director and actors. They pulled some unique and fresh talent. Everyone was on A-game. Specifically Anya Taylor-Joy whom I guarantee will be a household name in the next few years. She was standout.
I could go on but I'll spare you. This film is so refreshing in a genre that seems to be lacking innovation and falling back on paint-by-numbers story telling. Prepare to watch a family be ripped apart by their fears, both spiritually and emotionally.