A Family Torn Apart

Rating: Null/10 (22 October 2016)

Paranoia tears apart a superstitious and devoutly religious seventeenth century family in this unusual horror movie that debuted to considerable acclaim at Sundance. The film's most striking aspect is the attention to period detail; not only are the sets and costumes authentic, everyone also converses in Old English with appropriate vernacular, which helps to capture the flavour of the times. The film additionally benefits from a superb lead performance by Anya Taylor- Joy as the eldest daughter whose parents and siblings gradually begin to suspect of witchcraft as she undergoes adolescent changes. The less said about the actors playing her siblings the better though and the film's attempts at authenticity are sadly compromised by the washed- out visual approach with so many greys and blues favoured that the style calls attention to itself. The project also narrowly misses the mark for psychological horror. It is, after all, made quite clear that something sinister and malevolent is in the midst, giving little room to question whether it is all in their minds, onset by religious paranoia. That said, there is much to like in the notion that religious fanaticism further drives the family apart and causes them to distrust one another rather than bond together to combat the evil around them. The ending, if a tad overly literal, is highly memorable too and the film certain leaves much to ponder over. 'The VVitch' may not be all that it could have possibly been, but it is quite understandable why it has amassed such a following in this era of highly recycled horror movies.