An amazing period piece with horror elements

Rating: 9/10 (29 February 2016)

The Witch is written and directed by Robert Eggers and is about a Puritan family in early 1600s who is torn apart by a witch living in a forest near them. Now I've been really excited for this movie for a while and now that I've seen it, I can honestly say that this one of the best directed movies I've ever seen from a first-time director. First off, all the performances in this movie are amazing, especially from the oldest daughter (Anya Taylor- Joy) and the father (Ralph Ineson). All of the actors aren't well-known so it was nice to see some new actors to look out for. Also, the tone and atmosphere make this movie what it is. This movie is really creepy, disturbing and, at some points, really hard to watch. Also, the musical score for this movie helps you feel the tension and uneasiness of what's happening. The cinematography and look of the movie also help set the tone. The movie is slow-paced and there are a lot of wide shots and it worked perfectly for this movie. Lastly, the ending was really disturbing and interesting. It's the kind of ending that is left up for interpretation and leaves the audience thinking about what it means exactly. If I were to say anything bad, it would be that this is not our typical modern-day horror movie. Compared to the horror movies that come out today, this is a slow-paced movie that will probably leave a lot of typical moviegoers bored and wanting more. This might be because of the way this movie is marketed, which shows it as a full-on horror flick specifically about a witch. While it is that in certain parts, this is really a movie about the effects that a witch has on a Puritan family. For what it is, this is a wonderfully crafted film that can described perfectly in one word: disturbing. I give this a 9.5 out of 10.