In the classic children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," the story follows Dorothy and her journey to find her way back home. Along the way, she encounters various obstacles and meets new friends who help her along the yellow brick road. However, one of the most prominent and sinister characters in the story is the Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked Witch of the West is a formidable and powerful character. She is known for her dark and sinister appearance, with green skin, long black hair, and a pointy hat. Her presence is often accompanied by stormy weather and a nefarious cackle that sends shivers down Dorothy's spine.
The Cannibalistic Witch of The Wretched
2020 is a weird year. On March 23 rd, my state decided to lockdown. It’s only been recently that I even felt any semblance of safety in leaving the house at all and even then, it comes with a mild amount of anxiety. It’s not so bad though. I’m catching up on my bookshelf of Criterion discs. I beat Ghost of Tsushima in a few weeks. I made my vinyl collection something to be proud of. Still, I miss my friends and the movie theater. No one really wins in this pandemic, but if there were winners, they were movies like The Wretched.
The Wretched premiered on VOD and theaters back on May 1 st costing a modest $66,000 to produce. Due to it being one of the very few titles being released and the resurgence of drive-in cinema, The Wretched topped the box office for six straight weeks. To date, the only other film to top the box-office for six consecutive weeks is Avatar. Not bad company at all. The film has gone on to make $3.1 million, almost 47 times its production cost.
The witch’s calling card etched into the title card
Her presence is often accompanied by stormy weather and a nefarious cackle that sends shivers down Dorothy's spine. **The main idea** is that the Wicked Witch of the West serves as the primary antagonist, providing a constant threat to Dorothy and her companions. Her sole purpose is to obtain Dorothy's magical silver slippers, which she believes will grant her immense power and control over the Land of Oz.
The Intro
The film begins on a scene set 35 years ago; a babysitter arrives for a night’s work. The house is in obvious disarray and the phone is off the hook. Through unawareness or legitimate reasoning (my family often took the phone off the hook for uninterrupted dinners), the babysitter unflinchingly traverses the seemingly empty house. Noticing the basement door ajar, she makes her way to the basement to find a woman with severe bone and joint issues feasting on something in the corner of the room.
Creeping up to the woman, the babysitter finally realizes something is amiss. The chomping noises stop and the head of the family’s daughter is revealed. A chunk of flesh missing from the child’s neck. Racing to the basement stairs, the babysitter arrives just in time to see the family patriarch locking the basement door. As the babysitter screams behind the locked door the camera pans out on a haunting sigil carved into the door.
This intro is highly effective, even if it is completely unrelated to the rest of the film. Setting tone and suspense, some real patience in camera work and editing pays off here. Intros like this one can make or break a film. Scream (one of my absolute favorites) arguably has the best intro in the horror genre. It gives the audience a peek of the carnage to come, do it wrong and your audience abandons you ten minutes in. Adding to that, I had now gathered a checklist of questions the film needed to answer.
Ben sees something on the railing of the porch out of the corner of his eye.
She pursues Dorothy relentlessly throughout the story, using her dark magic and cunning tactics to try and capture her. The Wicked Witch of the West's evil and sinister nature is further highlighted through her use of minions and allies, including a pack of flying monkeys and her army of Winkies. These loyal servants carry out her every command, adding to the sense of fear and danger that surrounds her. Despite the Wicked Witch's relentless pursuit, Dorothy remains determined to protect herself and her friends. With the guidance of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, Dorothy learns to harness her own inner strength and confront the evil that threatens her. She ultimately defeats the Wicked Witch by throwing a bucket of water onto her, causing her to melt away. The character of the Wicked Witch of the West serves as both a symbol of fear and an embodiment of evil in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." While Dorothy's journey is filled with whimsy and wonder, it is the presence of the sinister witch that adds an element of danger and tension to the story. Her defeat brings a sense of triumph and resolution, allowing Dorothy to continue her journey towards finding her way back home..
Reviews for "Behind the Curtain: Unveiling the Sinister Witch's Motives"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Dorothy and the sinister witch" as I'm a fan of fantasy novels. However, I was sorely disappointed by this book. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with them. The writing style was also very dull and uninspiring. Overall, it felt like the author put in little effort in creating an engaging story, and I would not recommend this book to others.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - "Dorothy and the sinister witch" had so much potential, but it failed to deliver. The concept of a sinister witch was intriguing, but the execution fell short. The pacing was slow, and it took a long time for the story to get going. The descriptions were also lacking, leaving me struggling to visualize the magical world the author was trying to convey. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to believe in the interactions between the characters. Overall, it was a lackluster reading experience that had the potential to be so much better.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I found "Dorothy and the sinister witch" to be a rather boring and uninspiring read. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises or twists. The main character, Dorothy, was flat and uninteresting, and I struggled to care about her journey. The writing style was also lacking in creativity and failed to transport me into the magical world the author was attempting to create. Overall, I was left disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to others who are looking for an engaging and imaginative fantasy novel.