Corruption of the Puritans

Rating: 7/10 (7 May 2016)

While watching "The Witch", I felt that the movie had a deeper meaning that many people might not have been able to see. Much like "The Babadook", which highlighted the feelings of guilt and loss, "The Witch" showcased the effects of corruption. Each member of this devote religious family are all seduced by the Devil in different forms. Mercy and Jonas, the twins are the first to be corrupted.The two bring devastation and misery to their family by unknowingly inviting the Devil into their lives. In the form of Black Philip, the demon manages to befriend the youngest members of the family and uses their naivety and innocence against them, using them as pawns in his efforts to destroy this family. Next Caleb, the eldest boy is seduced by his own lust. Soon to be coming into his adolescence, Caleb begins to have an interest in girls, which is established when he constantly finds his eyes are drawn to his sisters chest. However, when he is confronted in the wood by a beautiful woman, he is awe stricken and can't help but give into temptation. After suffering the loss of her two children, it doesn't take much for the mother Katherine to willingly denounce her faith in the name of children. Seeing the faces of her deceased children brings her to her knees, and the need to be with them clouds her judgement and she gives herself over to the Devil. In stark contrast, the father William is the only member of his family to completely ward off all temptation and stands with his faith. Everyday he tries his best to provide for his family and does what her thinks is best to keep them safe, even if those means are somewhat drastic. In the end, he is confronted by Black Philip and is impaled by his horns and crushed to death by the firewood he had spent so long collecting for his family. And finally we have Thomasin, who's journey to the powers of evil is long and devastating. Left with nothing, no family, livelihood or faith, she comes to the devil on her knees asking for help. After removing her cloths, leaving behind all sense of vanity, conventions and her religion, she leaves her home and ventures into the forest under the guidance of the devil. There, she joins a coven of witches, chanting around a roaring bonfire, and there, she receives the first taste of power in her life and lifts into the air becoming that which she feared the most. A Witch. Though this mightn't have been the most polished and pristine evaluation, this was my personal interpretation of what the film was trying to establish. "The Witch" was truly an experience and a film that, I hope will become a staple in the horror genre.