Masterpiece of Horror

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2019)

At a time when horror movies are a dime a dozen, there are very few that manage to stand out from the crowd. The VVitch, or The Witch, is one of said movies. It's the work of Robert Eggers, who would later go on to do The Lighthouse. The premise is that puritan family in 1600s Massachusetts moves to the woods over a religious dispute and come to believe that they are being hunted by witches, or that there is a witch among them.
The atmosphere in this film is fantastic. 80% of the movie is set in their small cabin and farm, with most of the remaining 20 in the woods. There is a strong sense of isolation, even among the group, which is felt by the audience. It's a very creepy film. It has zero jumpscares. The scary factor comes almost entirely from the tension built up throughout, and it's very effective.
What's particularly notable about this film is the dialogue. It's not just set in the 1600s. They talk like it's the 1600s. The period accurate dialogue is fantastic and adds to the feeling of being in a different age. It's the same type of language you hear in Shakespeare. It feels very authentic. It's still understandable, because you still feel the weight of it in the visuals and emotion in the performances.
Spoilers: the twist in this movie is the type that gets you off guard. The whole idea of the Devil taking the form of a goat is something that is known, as there is the image of Baphomet, a demonic entity seen in folklore who has the head of the goat. Everything about him is unsettling. The way he talks, the way he's barely visible... it's an unforgettable moment.