What went we out in this wilderness to find

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2016)

At first viewing I really didn't know what to make of this movie. I thought perhaps that it was an attempt at an art house horror film. Some of the scenes made me think of the art of John Atkinson Grimshaw and others of Fuseli. Almost at times too disturbing to look at, and too disturbing to look away. The story is of some mad fairy tale, as if puritan America had be somehow correct in their witch-madness and crones haunted the woods in search of babies in which they might steal for their unholy rituals.
I had to watch it again.
The second time I realized that it was not really an attempt at an art house horror film, but rather beautiful in itself as a piece of art. It lacks compassion however and views the harshness of life as the horror itself as this family comes apart in the situation they find themselves. They really are good people, for their time at least, and they try to love each other as their fantasy of life-- where good conquers evil-- erodes over the course of a few weeks.
A Stylized fairy tale with no clear moral, though exceptional photography and acting. My biggest criticism would be the black-outs that the director uses to change certain scenes. They are quite long. That is a pretty petty complaint and really not worthy of this beautiful, yet disturbing film that has long lingered in my thoughts well after the final credits.