The witch rating is a term used to describe the skill level and expertise of a witch. It can be seen as a way to categorize and rank witches based on their abilities and knowledge in the field of witchcraft. A witch's rating can be determined by several factors, including their experience, training, and accomplishments in practicing magic. Some witches gain knowledge through studying books, attending classes, or being mentored by more experienced witches. Others rely on their innate abilities and intuition to develop their craft. A higher witch rating indicates a greater degree of skill and understanding of witchcraft.
The goat, of course, is a widely recognized symbol of Satan, and the presence of Black Philip is but one of many winking horror tropes that Eggers skillfully puts into play here: Between the bad-seed moppets and the ruined harvest, the mysterious disappearances and the frightening instances of animal misbehavior, “The Witch” is rife with intimations of inexplicable evil, of something deeply twisted and unnatural at work. At the same time, the film grippingly ratchets up the family tension on multiple fronts, to the point that it could almost be read as a straightforward portrait of emotional and psychological breakdown — exacerbated by the parents’ certainty that every setback is a test from the Lord. “Place thy faith in God,” William instructs his children more than once, though the implication is clear that unchecked piety, far from warding off demons and monsters, can merely wind up creating new ones in their place.
He seems fascinated by the lore and iconography of the period written accounts from which directly shaped the film s archer-than-thou dialogue ; by the terror and superstition that flourished in the wake of widespread starvation, illness and infant mortality; and above all by a grand tradition of supernatural horror filmmaking that has long preyed on those specific fears. Even the actors seem to have been selected as much for the old-fashioned severity of their features enhanced by the natural light of a flickering candle or campfire as for their comfort with the vernacular.
A higher witch rating indicates a greater degree of skill and understanding of witchcraft. These witches are often sought after for their expertise and are respected within the witch community. They may have a deeper knowledge of various magical traditions, spellcasting techniques, and herbal remedies.
A Banished Family Fights Its Demons In A Puritanical Age
A New England family in the 1630s struggles against evils it can't quite identify in The Witch.
Courtesy of A24 Films
Along with recent sensations like The Babadook and It Follows, Robert Eggers' debut feature The Witch immediately joins the pantheon of great horror movies, with the caveat that it's just barely a horror movie at all. The three films, all rich in metaphor, are effective for their common association with primal fears: of motherhood (The Babadook), of sex (It Follows), and of a vengeful or possibly nonpresent God (The Witch). But of the trio, The Witch is the least inclined to play by the genre rules. Its terrors have more to do with ambience than shocks, arising from the harsh realities of a 17th century Pilgrim homestead where The New World is infertile and the prayers of the righteous go unanswered. In many respects, it takes place in the same punishing ascetic realms as austere Euro-classics like Ingmar Bergman's Winter Light or Carl Dreyer's Ordet. Only the steady assertion of the supernatural qualifies it as horror.
Set in the perpetual gray-black of New England in the mid-1600s, The Witch mixes history and folklore to re-create the atmosphere of extreme religious fervor and paranoia that would lead to the Salem witch trials a few decades later. It opens with a family exiled from a village on spiritual grounds and forced to lead a purer life on a farm far removed from civilization. There's no way to know precisely what brought them to America or the conditions they left behind, but it's safe to say that they've never been in a place where their ideals have found purchase — not in England, not among the other Pilgrims, and certainly not in this godforsaken plot along the edge of the forest. They're committed to a hard life and reap what they sow.
After their banishment from Pilgrim society, William (Ralph Ineson) and his wife, Katherine (Kate Dickie), hastily retreat to a distant clearing, where they set up a modest home with their five children. The eldest, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), is curious and self-possessed, and some distance in age from her siblings, including her skittish younger brother Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw), a creepy set of twins, and an infant boy. One day, when Thomasin is outside playing peekaboo with the baby, the child simply disappears when she opens her eyes — too fast for a "who" to have taken him, but it opens the doors for a "what." William and Katherine fear God's judgment, of course, but they naturally suspect that Thomasin, the last person to see the baby, may have some responsibility as well. Plus the forest looms. And there's something oddly menacing about their goat, Black Phillip.
The audience knows more about what's happening than the family — or does it? The infant has met a gruesome fate in the woods, but the same paranoia that seizes the family seeps through the screen, too, making us question what the true source of evil might be. The Witch eventually arrives at an answer, but the brilliance of Eggers' vision is how thoroughly the fantasy of an otherworldly menace merges with the reality of living under horrible duress. Faith has brought the characters to this distant outpost, but they've never known any reward for it and seem to embrace the burdens of shame and guilt that dictate their everyday lives. Thomasin — a name that cannot be spelled without "sin" — seems guilty as much for her relative openness to the world as her proximity to the baby when it disappeared.
The Witch has been described as a cross between The Crucible and The Shining, and it's poised right in the center of those influences — half a drama of religious hysteria, half a horror film about a family in isolation. Eggers stages sequences of bone-chilling tension and dread, but never at the expense of the larger spiritual mystery, which hangs over the proceedings like a damp New England mist. Eggers' comprehensive attention to detail — from the formalities of language to the handwoven garments to the exact type of wood that would be used to construct the farm — has the overall effect of transporting you back to a time and place where America's puritanical ideals took root. The Witch imagines the atmosphere that made the Salem witch trials possible — and other American witch trials after that.
The two child leads more than hold their own; whether he’s walking quietly through a clearing or, at one point, violently speaking in tongues, Scrimshaw commands the screen with magnetic ease. But if there’s any one performer to whom the movie belongs, it’s Taylor-Joy as the grievously misunderstood young woman who may or may not be the witch of the title. Capable of looking at once beamingly innocent and slyly knowing, her Thomasin increasingly becomes the movie’s voice of conscience and reason, precisely because she threatens to complicate and subvert her parents’ rigid moral universe.
However, it's important to note that witch ratings are subjective and can vary depending on personal beliefs and cultural perspectives. What one person may consider a high witch rating, another person may not value as highly. Additionally, different traditions and paths within witchcraft may have their own methods for measuring expertise and skill. Witch ratings are not meant to be a form of hierarchy or to create division among witches. Instead, they can be used as a way to foster growth and development within the witchcraft community. Witches with a higher rating can mentor and guide less experienced witches, sharing their knowledge and helping them to improve their skills. It's also worth noting that a witch's rating doesn't determine their worth or value as a person or witch. Every witch is unique and brings their own strengths and abilities to the craft. Whether someone has a high or low witch rating, their contribution to the magical community is equally valuable. In conclusion, the witch rating is a way to assess and rank the skill level and expertise of a witch. It can help identify more experienced practitioners and guide less experienced witches in their craft. However, it's important to remember that witch ratings are subjective and should not be used to create division or hierarchy within the witchcraft community..
Reviews for "The Impact of Witch Ratings on Magical Education and Mentorship"
1. Name: Sarah
Rating: 1/5
Review: I was really disappointed with "The Witch Rating". The plot felt incredibly disjointed and confusing, with no clear explanation of what was happening. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. Overall, I found the film to be slow-paced and lacking in scares, leaving me feeling bored and unengaged. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a truly thrilling horror film.
2. Name: John
Rating: 2/5
Review: "The Witch Rating" had a lot of potential, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The cinematography and atmosphere were well done, creating a creepy and atmospheric setting. However, the pacing was incredibly slow, and the story lacked substance. I found myself losing interest and struggling to stay engaged with the film. While it had some strong moments, overall, it just wasn't enough to make up for its shortcomings. I was hoping for a more compelling and captivating horror experience.
3. Name: Emily
Rating: 2/5
Review: I found "The Witch Rating" to be underwhelming and dull. The film had a lot of hype surrounding it, so I had high expectations going in, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to them. The story seemed to drag on without any clear direction, and the scares were few and far between. The performances were decent, but the lackluster script left the actors with little to work with. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing for a more gripping and memorable horror film.
4. Name: Michael
Rating: 1/5
Review: "The Witch Rating" was a complete disappointment. The film marketed itself as a terrifying horror movie, but I found it to be anything but. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story was confusing and difficult to follow. I never felt a sense of fear or unease throughout the entire film. The ending was anticlimactic and didn't provide any closure or resolution. I would recommend skipping this one and choosing a different horror film to watch.
5. Name: Laura
Rating: 2/5
Review: While "The Witch Rating" had some interesting moments, overall, I found it to be a letdown. The film had a slow pace that made it hard to stay engaged, and the story lacked a cohesive structure. The acting was fine, but the characters felt one-dimensional and uninteresting. I was hoping for more suspense and scares, but I found myself feeling underwhelmed. If you're looking for a truly chilling horror film, I would recommend looking elsewhere.