The Black Witch Project is a distinctive and captivating film that falls under the genre of psychological horror. Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, it follows a group of film students who embark on a documentary project in hopes of unraveling the mystery surrounding the legend of a notorious witch called Elly Kedward. The film is shot in a found footage style, adding an element of realism and immersiveness to the narrative. The group of students venture deep into the woods of Burkittsville, Maryland, the supposed location of the witch's curse. As they delve deeper into their investigation, strange occurrences start happening, adding to the eerie atmosphere. What makes The Black Witch Project stand out is its ability to generate fear and suspense through minimalistic means.
Witch Hunt’s downfall is really in its delivery of it’s central underlying message and whilst it’s intention may have been well meaning, it’s reception by audiences may not be what was intended at all.
The strained relationship between Claire and her mother is a relatable one as a young adult trying to forge her own beliefs and navigate her way through an uncertain and dangerous situation. While Witch Hunt does make a strong commentary on xenophobia within real life America, perhaps it would have been better off not focusing the witch hunt on white women.
What makes The Black Witch Project stand out is its ability to generate fear and suspense through minimalistic means. It utilizes a combination of implied horror, unsettling sounds, and psychological tension instead of relying on jump scares or gruesome visuals. The audience is left haunted by the unseen presence of the witch, creating a sense of dread and unease throughout the film.
[Film Review] Witch Hunt (2020)
Directed by Elle Callahan, Witch Hunt (2020) is set against an alternate America where witchcraft is illegal and punishable by death. Suspected practitioners are mercilessly persecuted along with those who dare to help them.
Witch Hunt is centered around teenager Claire (Gideon Adlon- The Craft Legacy) and her mother (Elizabeth Mitchell- The Expanse, The Purge: Election Year) as they negotiate being part of an underground system that aims to aid witches in crossing the border from America into Mexico whilst avoiding persecution and execution. When two young witches, Fiona and Shae, are charged into the family’s care, Claire must come to terms with what society expects from her and her own moral compass, all the while helping her family steer clear of the modern day version of the witch hunter, played by Christian Camargo. In this supernatural crossover of political commentary and teen witches, the horror lies within the senseless persecution of all who are othered in society.
In the age of #MeToo , the term ‘witch hunt’ has been used numerously by ignorant people ( here’s looking at you Liam Neeson! ) to describe the scores of sexual misconduct allegations towards high ranking players within the entertainment industry, it is perhaps the perfect time for this film to remind audiences what an actual witch hunt is and it’s origins. Witch Hunt imagines a world in which the puritanical burnings of women accused of witchcraft across Europe and colonial America starting in 1450 AD never ceased and continues into modern day America.
In this world, the persecuted are red haired white women and at a time where non-inclusive white feminism is a bane on the movement, this story arc within Witch Hunt comes across as slightly problematic. Even though, historically speaking, red haired people were more suspected to be witches, the inclusion of these undesirable traits in the movie perhaps are meant to be ironic, but the storyline suffers from being too clumsy and thus it mainly comes across as tone deaf. While Witch Hunt does make a strong commentary on xenophobia within real life America, perhaps it would have been better off not focusing the witch hunt on white women. Also making additional references to the Mexican border wall, the underground railway system and the Holocaust, does not serve the movie’s message well at all.
The strengths of this film lies within its portrayal of main character Claire played by Gideon Adlon as she continues to cope with her internal battle of her morality versus the biases that the society in which she inhabits has forced upon her. The strained relationship between Claire and her mother is a relatable one as a young adult trying to forge her own beliefs and navigate her way through an uncertain and dangerous situation. The modernisation of the trials of the witches such as the pricking of the moles of suspected witches and dunking them in swimming pools to see if they float, is a nice addition and Witch Hunt also contains a few jump scares helped along by strong sound and score by Blitz//Berlin.
Witch Hunt’s downfall is really in its delivery of it’s central underlying message and whilst it’s intention may have been well meaning, it’s reception by audiences may not be what was intended at all.
Socially relevant tale is wickedly clever; peril, violence.
The found footage style also plays a significant role in creating an intimate connection between the audience and the characters. The shaky camera work and improvised dialogues give the impression of witnessing real events unfold. It allows the viewers to experience the fear and paranoia alongside the characters, making the film all the more unsettling and thrilling. The Black Witch Project garnered widespread acclaim upon its release, becoming a breakthrough film in the horror genre. It sparked a wave of found footage horror films and remains an influential work in the genre to this day. Its success can be attributed to its innovative storytelling techniques, masterful suspense-building, and the ability to tap into primal fears and anxieties. In conclusion, The Black Witch Project is an exceptional film that demonstrates the power of psychological horror. Through its distinctive found footage style and minimalistic approach to scares, it manages to leave a lasting impact on its viewers. Its legacy as a groundbreaking horror film continues to resonate with audiences, solidifying its place in cinematic history..
Reviews for "The Black Witch Project and the Modern Witchcraft Renaissance"
1. Emily - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Black Witch Project". The story was incredibly dull and lacked any sense of suspense or excitement. The characters were poorly developed, and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The dialogue was also very flat and unnatural, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. Overall, I would not recommend this film to anyone looking for a thrilling or gripping experience.
2. John - 2/5 - "The Black Witch Project" fell short of my expectations. While the concept seemed intriguing, the execution was poor. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it felt like nothing of significance was happening for the majority of the film. The cinematography was also quite subpar, with shaky camera footage that was hard to follow. The ending was also anticlimactic, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. I was hoping for a more captivating and thrilling experience, but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "The Black Witch Project" to be a rather boring and predictable film. The plot was unoriginal and lacked any real depth or substance. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked development, making it hard to care about their fates. Additionally, the film relied heavily on jump scares, which became repetitive and predictable after a while. Overall, I was left unimpressed and would not recommend this film to those seeking an original or thought-provoking horror experience.