"The Witch" is a gripping and atmospheric horror film from 2015 that has become a cult classic. It follows the story of a Puritan family in 1630s New England who are banished from their community and forced to live in a remote area. As they struggle to survive, they are plagued by strange occurrences and the suspicion that they are being targeted by a witch. The film's unsettling atmosphere and attention to historical detail create a sense of authenticity and make it a standout entry in the horror genre. The highly anticipated second installment of "The Witch" is set to continue the story and delve deeper into the dark and mysterious world presented in the first film. While details about the plot of the sequel are still under wraps, it is expected to explore new characters and expand on the mythology established in the original.
Yes and no. I stayed away from quite a bit of Orisha worship, for the same reason I don’t think I’d put Jesus in my novel. Because these are active religions, and these are living gods who are being worshiped. I’ve read novels where the active participation of the gods or the spirits is what makes it great. But this comes back to the whole idea about genre, that the irreverence which we take these characters is also part of a tradition. One of the reasons why the oral tradition has stayed for hundreds of years is a certain irreverence, and having irreverent characters like Anansi. So there were characters that I took huge liberties with, and also fantasy characters I made up. In the book, my favorite characters—I completely play favorites—are the shape-shifters.
I recall several heated conversations I had with friends about the movie The Wolf of Wall Street after it came out several years ago that captured this predicament. At the end of both books, there s an intimation that a threat is coming from the West and that the characters of the kingdoms will need to unite against this threat.
While details about the plot of the sequel are still under wraps, it is expected to explore new characters and expand on the mythology established in the original. One of the main reasons why "The Witch" resonated with audiences is its exploration of themes such as religious fanaticism, paranoia, and the breakdown of the family unit. It is a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking film that leaves viewers questioning their own beliefs and fears.
The Bell Witch Part 2: The Story, the Newspaperman and Some Theories
Behold! The second installment of our two part series on The Bell Witch.
Today we’re going to dive into the actual story—well, the QUOTE actual story—and get into many of the details that tend to be omitted in its retelling. We’ll get to know M.V. Ingram, the author of the first book on The Bell Witch, a bit better, and we’ll examine theories on what the haunting may have *actually* been. And! I was contacted by one of the highest authorities on all things Bell Witch in regard to last week’s episode, so I’ll share a bit about that.
We’re joined by our pal Sean Nelson in this episode! Thanks so much for lending us your voice talents, Sean!
We also pull heavily from Betsy Philips’ blog Tiny Cat Pants. Particularly these installments:
You can find Pat Fitzhugh’s Bell Witch website here: http://www.bellwitch.org/
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Pat Fitzhugh says:Thanks so much for yet another excellent episode on the “Bell Witch.” I really enjoyed it, and I like the approach you took. Below are a few general comments I have to share. The recent news media frenzy about John Bell’s “poisoning,” which one outlet proclaimed “that may solve it all,” isn’t new, conceptually. Every couple years, new “the Bell Witch has been solved” articles circulate. Thus far, all have featured old, beaten-like-a-dead-horse theories that have already been debunked, or which can not be validated. I looked at arsenic years ago. I concluded that Ingram did a great job of describing arsenic poisoning, even to the point of making an indirect chemical reference to the alleged “blue flame,” but all the while insisting that the “witch” did it. More importantly, I concluded that there is no credible evidence which suggests he was poisoned in the first place. At the time, Bell had lived almost twice his life expectancy (36 years for a white male born in 1750 in Isle of Wight, Virginia), meaning he could have died from almost anything. A direct descendant who is a medical doctor and professor told me Bell’s symptoms (as stated by Ingram, whether true or false) were consistent with an affliction of the central nervous system. The cause of those symptoms–if he really experienced them–is anyone’s guess. At the end of the day, we don’t know his true cause of death. Poisoning can’t be ruled in, or out. The “abuse theory” was a convenient way to reach a Hollywood-marketable closure to the story. The theory came about in several phases. In the 1930s and 40s, Dr. Nandor Fodor, a Hungarian attorney-turned-parapsychologist and student of Freud, theorized that poltergeists where the result of malformed brain waves and energy, usually generated by the mind of an adolescent going through some type of emotional trauma. Then, in the early and mid-1960s, William Rohl, a parapsychology researcher in North Carolina, theorized the poltergeist attacks were random, spontaneous forms of psychokinesis (mind over matter) generated by the mind of the adolescent without them being aware of it. This became known as “Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis” (RSPK). Shortly thereafter, in November of 1968, “Playboy,” the notorious men’s magazine, decided to run an article on the Bell Witch. Staying true to its reputation, the magazine decided to put a “bedroom spin” on the article. They took the poltergeist theories I mentioned earlier, plugged them into the variables, and VAVOOM… John abused Betsy, and Betsy’s mind generated the poltergeist. It killed John for revenge, and turned on Betsy, attacking her, as punishment to address her feelings of guilt for having remained silent about the matter. Since then, a few books, articles, plays, and at least one movie, have tried to cash in on the abuse theory. That’s the abuse theory and how it came to fruition. Personally, I don’t agree with it because it’s just a speculative conglomeration of theories. Thanks again for another great episode! Sat November 13, 2021 at 1:03 am
Moon Witch, Spider King (Riverhead, $30) is the second in the Dark Star Trilogy. The first book, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, set up a sprawling universe and constellation of characters, but the story was mainly told through the eyes of the protagonist, Tracker. In this book, the narrator is a different character who we know well already. She’s the Moon Witch, also known as Sogolon.
The sequel is likely to continue exploring these themes and provide further insight into the psychological and emotional turmoil experienced by the characters. The success of "The Witch" can be attributed to its brilliant direction by Robert Eggers, who created a visually stunning and meticulously researched period piece. The performances by the cast, particularly Anya Taylor-Joy as the film's protagonist, are also noteworthy and contribute to the film's overall impact. With the announcement of the second installment, fans of the original film are eagerly awaiting its release. While details are scarce at this point, it is safe to say that "The Witch 2" will likely deliver another terrifying and thought-provoking cinematic experience..
Reviews for "The Witch: Second Installment – The Witch's Journey of Self-Discovery"
1. Harry - 1 star
I was really excited to watch "The Witch Second Installment" as I enjoyed the first film. However, I was extremely disappointed with this one. The plot felt convoluted and confusing, with too many unnecessary subplots that took away from the main story. The characters lacked depth and I struggled to connect with any of them. The pacing was also all over the place, with some scenes dragging on for far too long and others feeling rushed. Overall, this film was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and well-executed storyline.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I was a fan of the original "The Witch" movie, but the second installment failed to meet my expectations. The acting was mediocre at best, with some of the main characters lacking convincing performances. The film attempted to be eerie and suspenseful, but it relied too heavily on jump scares and gimmicky horror clichés. The storyline was predictable and lacked originality, failing to bring anything new to the franchise. The ending felt rushed and left me feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled. Overall, "The Witch Second Installment" was a disappointing follow-up to its predecessor and didn't live up to the hype.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars
I had mixed feelings about "The Witch Second Installment". While it had some visually stunning scenes and impressive special effects, the overall story felt lacking. The plot was confusing and at times felt disjointed, with too many unanswered questions. The character development was also weak, making it difficult to truly care about their fates. The film seemed to rely too heavily on shock value and gore, rather than building a cohesive and engaging narrative. While it had potential, "The Witch Second Installment" ultimately fell short of delivering a satisfying and memorable horror experience.
4. Alex - 2 stars
"The Witch Second Installment" was a letdown for me. The pacing was slow and dragged on, making it difficult to stay engaged and interested. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them emotionally. Furthermore, the plot felt contrived and predictable, failing to deliver any real surprises or genuinely scary moments. The film seemed to rely heavily on atmosphere and visual effects, but failed to deliver a compelling and captivating story. Overall, I was disappointed with this installment and would not recommend it to fans of the horror genre.