An Amish witch does not have a specific name or title in the Amish community. The Amish people, who are known for their simple and traditional way of life, do not typically believe in witchcraft or any supernatural powers. Their religious beliefs are rooted in the teachings of Christianity, and they strive to live in harmony with nature and the world around them. The Amish community places a strong emphasis on family, community, and hard work. They value simplicity and prioritize living a humble and modest lifestyle. They dress in plain clothing, avoid the use of modern technology, and live in close-knit agrarian communities.
How Do You Mess Up A TV Movie Called 'Amish Witches'?
The most curious character in Lifetime’s Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County (debuting Saturday, October 29) is someone who’s never seen or spoken of, but whose existence is a given. As a Sunday-school dropout, I’d love to know why the Devil wants to keep crowding his house with the worst of humanity, like Jesse Pinkman on an eternal bender. More relevantly to the TV movie at hand, if stockpiling souls like some Hoarders subject is his main #squadgoal, why would he let some rando newcomer go back to her old house as soon as she’d arrived in Hell? And if that afterworld tourist squandered her clearance to return home with the weakest scare-pranks since Moses’s frog plague (which we could actually really use right now), what’s the Devil’s preferred method of venting his diabolical spleen?
Amish Witches is a horror tale, but only technically. Free of frights and reluctant to indulge in the exploitative sleaze implied by the title, the found-footage film flunks every possible measure by which a spooky movie can be judged: creepy atmospherics, a logical villain, menacing production design, even jump scares. Forget the heebie-jeebies. Amish Witches’s ineptness is much more likely to instill a fidgetiness that’ll distract you with a different anxiety: You know you probably aren’t, but what if you’ve been suffering all this time from restless leg syndrome?
For a film in which nothing seems to happen, there’s a fair bit of plot. A three-person film crew (played by Nicole Rodenburg, Amanda Jane Stern, and Chase Conner) arrives in an reclusive-even-by-Amish-standards community to shoot an exposé — of what, we never learn. The death of the local brauchau, or Amish witch, brings together three young women: the old woman’s protégée, Iva (Kaylyn Scardefield); granddaughter Ruthie (Evangeline Young); and the latter’s cousin, Esther (Hayley Palmaer). Shunned by the rest of the town during her lifetime, the brauchau is denied a proper burial by the bishop (David Winning), and thus condemned to Hell. Or not: As the cameras roll, the brauchau expresses her rage at the living women, along with a mysterious smirking girl (Michelle Young) claiming kinship to the deceased by . giving the faceless scarecrow outside a sinister visage and . leaving smudgy handprints on the window. To a modern viewer, forcing her victims to clean glass with pre-industrial cleaning solutions seems like the brauchau’s cruelest revenge.
The fixed, wide-shot compositions, many in night-vision black and green, mean it’s not always clear which character is doing what. Little matter, since the eeriest effects are probably the occasional Nosferatu-like shadows approaching the sleeping women. But the most disappointing element is in the dopey script, which fails to conjure a single compelling character and bungles the story’s internal coherence. The dead go to Heaven or Hell, unless they’re ghosts. Witches are just misunderstood women, until they’re not. They actually are murderous monsters, but worse than a witch is a bitch. I don’t really know. Neither will you.
Is Lifetime’s Amish Witches: Holmes County Based on a True Story?
Directed by Jake Wade Wall, Lifetime’s ‘Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County’ is a 2016 horror film set in Holmes County, Ohio. A reality TV crew decides to follow the members of an isolated sect of the Swartzentruber Amish, who call the county their home. However, when Brauchau, an Amish witch, passes away, the project comes to a halt—following her less-than-ideal funeral, the women of the community team up with the show’s crew to investigate and record the strange events happening in the area. They soon realize that the one haunting the community might not be done with its sinister plans.
With talented actors like Hayley Palmaer, Nicole Rodenburg, and Michelle Young, the movie has garnered a significant fan following given its thrilling premise. Specifically, many fans cannot help but admire the film’s narrative and suspenseful elements. Thanks to the intriguing title and the seemingly realistic details within the film, you are left wondering if the Lifetime movie is inspired by real-life events. If you are searching for answers, here we are with them!
They dress in plain clothing, avoid the use of modern technology, and live in close-knit agrarian communities. While the Amish do not have a specific term for a witch, they do believe in the power of prayer, faith, and the spiritual realm. They hold regular church services, engage in communal worship, and rely on their religious leaders, known as bishops, for guidance and support.
Is Amish Witches: Holmes County a True Story?
No, ‘Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County’ is not based on a true story. The movie’s concept was penned by Shannon Evangelista, with Dandi Dewey working on the screenplay. Unlike what the film’s title suggests, the events within the Jake Wade Wall directorial did not take place in real life. Instead, the title is a nod to the reality series being filmed within the horror movie. The crew is apparently recording the actual incidents occurring within the movie’s fictional universe. Hence, the title claims that the events form a true story with Holmes County as its setting.
The Lifetime movie’s style gives the audience an illusion of realism; the use of the make-believe reality show brings the audience on an adventure that is similar to how documentary crews often follow real-life subjects. While the movie is more thrilling than most documentaries, it uses visual effects for several scenes that make it seem like the events have been recorded on a camera and are being viewed through the lens. Unsurprisingly, ‘Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County’ is not the first movie that has used cameras to provide a realistic feeling to its scenes.
Fans of the horror genre might be familiar with the popular 2007 film ‘Paranormal Activity,’ which uses similar visual storytelling methods. Instead of a reality TV crew, the house owners, Katie and Micah, decide to use a home video camera to record the truth behind the strange occurrences within their home. The events showcased through the camera’s point-of-view detach the audience from what is happening on the screen and yet make the events feel more realistic in nature. Interestingly enough, there does exist a reality show that follows several members of the Amish community.
Paranormal Activity 2007
TLC’s ‘Breaking Amish’ premiered for the first time in 2012 and revolves around several Amish and Mennonite community members who left their homes and moved to New York City. Throughout the series, the cast members go through several trials and tribulations to integrate themselves into their new environment and decide whether they want to go back home or stay outside the community and risk losing their friends and family. Through the show, the viewers learn more about the intricacies within the Amish culture and the reality behind several traits often associated with the community.
The spin-off series ‘Return to Amish‘ follows those who chose to return to their roots and try to readjust to their previous lifestyle. Besides that, the horror movie is rooted in Amish folklore, as witches and hauntings are a common element in the myths surrounding them. Thus, we can affirm that Lifetime’s ‘Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County’ is certainly not rooted in reality. While it does explore the lifestyle of the Amish community, the details portrayed on screen cannot be considered purely authentic. In all, the movie is an entertaining, suspense-filled journey that brings most viewers into an unfamiliar setting where inexplicable events occur.
Is Amish Witches: Holmes County real? All the details
Halloween season is coming up, ushering in a time for tasty delights and horror film marathons. Lifetime’s Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County is a spooky season favorite, perhaps because many believe it offers insight into a highly secretive community.
The show’s synopsis says that the production of a reality show about an ‘isolated sect of Amish’ halts due to the death of an Amish witch. It continues:
“Following her unconsecrated funeral, a small group of young Amish women solicit the TV crew’s help in attempting to document the inexplicable events plaguing them. But as everyone soon discovers, the powerful malevolent force haunting them has deadly intentions.”
It is important to note that witchcraft and related practices are generally not accepted or encouraged within the Amish culture. Amish individuals are encouraged to turn to their faith and the teachings of their community instead of seeking out supernatural or mystical powers. Overall, the Amish community does not have a specific term for an Amish witch, as witchcraft is not a part of their belief system. They prioritize simplicity, faith, and community, and do not engage in mystical or supernatural practices..
Reviews for "Amish Witchcraft: The Name Game"
1. Emma - 2 stars
I was greatly disappointed by "What is an Amish Witch Called." While the concept of blending Amish culture with witchcraft intrigued me, the execution fell flat. The plot felt scattered and lacked coherence, leaving me confused and unable to fully invest in the storyline. Additionally, the characters were poorly developed, lacking depth and relatability. Overall, I found this book to be a missed opportunity and was left feeling unsatisfied.
2. Michael - 1 star
"What is an Amish Witch Called" was an extremely disappointing read. The title promised an interesting fusion of two contrasting worlds, but the book failed to deliver. The writing style was choppy and convoluted, making it difficult to follow and engage with the story. The lack of proper world-building left too many unanswered questions, leaving me frustrated and disconnected from the narrative. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-developed and cohesive plot.
3. Samantha - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "What is an Amish Witch Called," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took far too long for the story to gain any momentum. The characters lacked substance, and their actions often felt inconsistent or forced. The incorporation of Amish traditions and witchcraft seemed like an interesting concept, but it was poorly executed, and I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in the world created by the author. Overall, this book failed to captivate me, and I was left feeling underwhelmed.