The wretched witch broom is often associated with mythical beings known as witches. These brooms are said to possess magical properties and are used by witches for transportation and spellcasting. However, the term "wretched" suggests that these brooms are not in a good or desirable condition. In folklore and literature, the wretched witch broom is often depicted as an old and dilapidated object. It may be described as having worn out bristles, a crooked handle, and a generally unkempt appearance. This portrayal adds to the idea that witches are often associated with darkness and decay.
Credits: Written, directed and produced by Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce, The Pierce Brothers. An IFC Midnight release.
I didn t really know what to expect from this movie, I expected less thrills, more slow-burn kind of stuff, and an older period setting with a more disturbing looking albeit still traditional kind of witch. Struggling to deal with his parents divorce, Ben John Paul Howard goes to live work with his dad Jamison Jones at the boat docks and tries to figure out how he s going to deal with it.
This portrayal adds to the idea that witches are often associated with darkness and decay. The wretchedness of the broom may also emphasize the poor conditions under which witches are believed to live. In many tales, witches are depicted as outcasts or solitary individuals who live in remote and secluded places.
Wretched witch broom
When the babysitter stumbles upon a crazed woman devouring the kid she’s supposed to be caring for in the opening moments of “The Wretched,” my first thought was “zombies” and second thought was “vampires.”
Silly me. WITCHES. The feminine evil you can ward off with salt, kill with fire, those folks.
Besides, the Pierce brothers, veterans of all sorts of film set jobs before jumping into directing, already made their zombie movie — “Deadheads.”
“The Wretched” is a polished reasonably tight tale of a witch infestation coming to rural, lakeside Michigan, and the teenage boy who screams “Why won’t anybody BELIEVE me?”
The picture’s sheen doesn’t hide the script’s grim inevitability, its deer skulls and witching tree and witch hole in the heart of the woods. But it does tend to distract from the umpteenth tale of the kid who sees what the grownups are up to and struggles to save the littler kids from devouring by the ladies who like brooms.
Not that we see any of those. This isn’t “Wizard of Oz.” It’s “dark,” which passes for sophistication in the genre.
Ben (John-Paul Howard of TV’s “Cheerleader Nightmare”) is the boy who shows up for the summer, not-really-ready to work for his dad (Jamison Jones) at the (Northport, Michigan) marina. He’s got a busted arm.
Still, friendly-sassy Mallory (Piper Curda) is there to guide him through.
And after hours, there’s all the weird and randy goings-on from the summer rentals next door. Tattooed mama Abbie (Zarah Mahler) grew up there, and when she isn’t scaring her little boy, Dillon (Blane Crockarel) in the forest, she’s gutting the deer they hit on the drive home.
“You should have seen at her burning man,” Dillon’s dad (Kevin Bigley) cracks. “Mom’s always been weird.”
And that’s not the half of it. When we hear that clicking growl from the “Predator” movies, when we see flowers wither in her presence and see that reassamble-the-bones back and neck-crack to stand upright (a horror movie staple) we know something’s moved in on Abbie.
Ben finds himself fretting for Dillon and freaking out on “witchlore” websites as he pieces together what he thinks is happening with the neighbors. But he’s up against it.
The “witch” takes over host bodies. The “witch” bends minds in that “These are not the droids we’re looking for” way, makes people forget what they’ve seen, or even that they have children.
Because the witch, as any Hansel and/or Gretel could tell you, craves children.
The story’s few distractions include bullying by the rich kids, teen drinking and panting for Ms. Wrong when Ms. Right, who knows “port” from “starboard” and other boatways, is right in front of you.
The acting’s not bad, the production values solid. But “The Wretched” is never more than a horror thriller you don’t mind as opposed to one worth tracking down. Except for one thing.
It streams May 1. But it also heads to select American drive-in theaters, the safest way to “go out and see a movie” these days. This beast, with its monsters and witchcraft and dating dos and don’ts, was made for the drive-in.
MPAA Rating: unrated, gory violence, teen drinking, nudity, profanity
Cast: John-Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Jamison Jones, Zarah Mahler and Blane Crockarell.
Credits: Written, directed and produced by Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce, The Pierce Brothers. An IFC Midnight release.
Overall, “The Wretched” is a fresh bucket of blood for Halloween horror fans to sink their teeth into. Its lead character isn’t particularly deep and I feel our leading lady is criminally underused, but the scares are effective and chilling, the monster’s design and execution is superb and it kept me legitimately hooked and surprised from start until finish and I cannot recall the last time a had that level of investment in a horror movie. This is worth a watch, maybe even a couple of watches; definitely something different.
This isolation and rejection from society may contribute to the idea of their brooms being wretched. Additionally, the description of the broom as wretched may serve as a symbol of the witch's own perceived wretchedness. Witches are often portrayed as morally ambiguous or even evil characters in folklore and literature. The state of the broom could be seen as reflecting the witch's own flawed or corrupted nature. Overall, the wretched witch broom is a symbol that adds to the mystique and otherness of witches in popular imagination. The broom's wretchedness conveys a sense of darkness, decay, and marginalization associated with characters that are often misunderstood and feared..
Reviews for "Taming the Wretched Witch Broom: Mastering the Art of Flight"
1. Jessica - 2/5 - I was really excited to try the Wretched Witch Broom, as I had heard so many good things about it. However, I was extremely disappointed with my purchase. The broom was flimsy and did not have enough bristles to effectively clean up the mess. The handle also felt cheap and uncomfortable to hold. Overall, I found it to be a waste of money and would not recommend it to others.
2. Alex - 1/5 - The Wretched Witch Broom was a complete letdown. It did not live up to its claims of being the best broom for sweeping all surfaces. I found that it left behind a lot of dirt and hair, and had to constantly go over the same area multiple times just to get a decent clean. Additionally, the broom had a strange odor that was rather unpleasant. Save your money and invest in a better quality broom.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for the Wretched Witch Broom, but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The bristles were not sturdy enough and started falling out after just a few uses. The broom also did not glide smoothly across the floor and seemed to get stuck easily. On top of that, the broom was difficult to clean as the bristles were too tightly packed together. I would not buy this broom again and would recommend looking for a more durable option.
4. Mike - 1/5 - I had such a terrible experience with the Wretched Witch Broom. It felt poorly made and broke after just a few uses. The handle snapped in half while I was sweeping, which was a real inconvenience. The bristles also seemed subpar and did not effectively pick up dust and debris. I would not recommend this broom at all. Save your money and buy something more reliable and durable.