Moody, raw and disturbing.

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2017)

I don't quite know what to say about "The Witch", but I'll certainly try. To sum it up in a stupid way, it's about a family of settlers coming to New England from England. They're extremely religious, to the point where they are driven off from an already religious community. So they live alone in the crude wilderness. Life is hard. They live in poverty, under all kinds of stress and tragic events soon follow. There might or might not be a witch involved. That is all, no spoilers.
"The Witch" is a horror movie that is actually a movie. It's not a soulless studio product, it's not about jumpscares or about dumb and uninteresting characters you won't care about. It doesn't dance around hard subjects, and if it wants to show you something, it doesn't shy away. It has that '70s movie feeling to it, so the quality is there. The craft of cinema is continuously on display. It's very well shot, very well paced, filled with exceptional acting and it takes a minimalist approach to almost everything. The locations and clothing feel so real, because they are. You feel like you are in the dirt with these people.
Religion is a big part of the movie. I think many people might avoid it for that, religious and non-religious alike, but hear me out. The religion of these people certainly is of a strict kind. Many might find it offensive, as if the movie is making a statement against religion or Christianity in general. Maybe it is, maybe not so much, but I, as a Christian, didn't take offense to it. In fact the movie might have worked on me better because of it. I did recognize parts of myself in some of these characters. Many people back then treated their religion with utmost importance to the point of raw harshness, and I like how this movie shows it. What I like about the religious aspect (which is always present in the film) is that the characters aren't made to be "evil". You certainly question them a lot and some of their words or actions do seem outright crazy, but ultimately the movie shows them as real people under unimaginable stress, not so much as villains - which is vital for the movie to work.
And the movie works. I was always questioning the main characters, their mental stability, but I was also sensing that perhaps there really is something dangerous and evil out there. It's not a Shyamalan movie that just takes a sudden turn in the end, but there are turns. And when they come, they are deserved, and they do not destroy the earlier parts of the movie leading to those revelations. There is ambiguity to this film though, and I think it's not about the writer/director Robert Eggers being lazy. It certainly doesn't feel like a "just bring your interpretation to it" - hack job, but instead it leaves you thinking about it. Not out of frustration on your part or pretentiousness from the writer's part, but out of curiosity.
The actors are top-notch. Veterans Kate Dickie and Ralph Ineson are outstanding which is a given. The two older children are played by Harvey Scrimshaw and Anya Taylor-Joy. Scrimshaw and Taylor-Joy are excellent, and Taylor-Joy really steals some low-key moments. She has a good career in front of her, it's easy to see. It was these two people that stole the show, and I haven't seen them anywhere before this. I'm glad I did now. However I want to make a special mention about the little kids. You know this isn't a soulless Hollywood movie when the child actors don't make you cringe. In fact, some of the most harrowing scenes in this movie involve pretty good child acting. So well done, Lucas Dawson and Ellie Grainger.
I already complimented Robert Eggers. He did a very good job, and I'm looking forward to his future movies. I must also compliment the DP, because this is a beautifully shot movie. The shots are well framed and lit, and they linger on for quite some time at the right moments. I got some "Shining" vibes from some of the visual aspects. It's not that great, but there are some similarities. Same with the music - it's not really "just" music, but noise to make you uncomfortable along with the visuals you're seeing. Just add the hard life of wilderness, and the disturbing mood is set.
"The Witch" is a hard watch. It's not a popcorn movie, but it's not a shock film either. It's just so raw and real, and the tension is always present. The tension eats you a little and gets under your skin. There are some really disturbing scenes, and the minimalist approach works wonderfully with them, because the movie doesn't make a big deal about any of it. It just shows them to you, and they're so much more powerful because of it.
I'd recommend this movie for everyone who hates what the horror movie industry has become and yearns for the good old days. I'd recommend it even for those who normally don't like to watch anything to do with religion or occult. It's a slow burner, but it's full of real, raw quality. If you want a fast-paced spookfest or a clear-cut story with every question answered, then this movie might not be for you. For me it's a gem. A gem that I won't be seeing again soon, because I think it got a bit too far under my skin and like I said, it's not an easy watch. Whatever the case, it's an excellent movie. Not just a horror movie, but a movie.