"The Witch" is a horror film that was released in 2015 and directed by Robert Eggers. The film is set in New England in the 17th century and follows a Puritan family who is banished from their community and is forced to live near a dense forest. Strange occurrences start happening to the family, leading to the suspicion that an evil witch is living in the woods. The film explores themes of religious paranoia, family dynamics, and the fear of the unknown. It is known for its atmospheric and eerie cinematography, as well as its authentic portrayal of the time period. "The Witch" received critical acclaim for its originality and its ability to create a sense of dread and tension throughout.
They are simply stories focused on the power of relationships between women: all relationships. One is the friendship shown between two women (The Tale of the Skin), another focuses on a step mother and her step daughter (The Tale of the Apple), or even a keeper who becomes someone else for the girl she keeps (The Tale of the Hair). Regardless each one of these stories, sensual or supportive, shows the positive sides of relationships that women can share, and if this doesn’t seem like such an interesting and revolutionary idea, then you haven’t read enough fairy tales.
In a way this novel actually reminds me of a method that the L Word had used for its third season, interlocking various women through the past and present by bringing up a story at the beginning of each episode and moving from one woman or guy to the next. While rap music is not for all tastes, it often encourages interest in the source material as in the resurgence of interest in Blue Note records following the bestselling album by US3.
"The Witch" received critical acclaim for its originality and its ability to create a sense of dread and tension throughout. One notable aspect of "The Witch" is its use of language. The dialogue in the film is heavily influenced by 17th-century English, giving it an authentic feel.
Kissing tge witch
The Grimm collection is, however, extremely influential to writers and tellers of fairy stories today, providing, in some cases, the source material as well as the literary precursor. Recent stories by authors like Ursula K. Le Guin ("The Poacher"), Charles de Lint (Jack, the Giant Killer), and Robin McKinley (Beauty) are riffs on the old, akin to the way that rap music samples classic rhythm and blues and uses it to provide the basis of their modern sound. While rap music is not for all tastes, it often encourages interest in the source material (as in the resurgence of interest in Blue Note records following the bestselling album by US3). The reworking of fairy tales shows modern readers that the classic stories have much to say about today's world, by stripping the Disneyesque exterior of the stories and unearthing the archetypes that lurk beneath the surface.
Emma Donoghue's name can now be linked to those above as a practitioner of this art. In her new book, Kissing the Witch, she incorporates the plot and themes of "Cinderella," "Hansel and Gretel," and "The Little Mermaid," among many, and interconnects them into an ongoing thread of causal connections and relationships. Kissing the Witch is not quite a novel, for it does not follow any one character or place, and yet it is not quite a short story collection, although it is broken up into sections labelled like "The Tale of the Handkerchief." Between each tale is a dream-like sequence, in which one character of the previous tale asks a question of another, which leads to the next tale. Like an ever-flowing river, the tales then drift by, separate yet connected. Sometimes a tale does not truly seem to be at an end when the thread is dropped to be picked up by another character, but that's a minor quibble.
Connecting fairy tales together is not new. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine managed to merge "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Little Red Riding-Hood," and "The Baker and His Wife" in their Broadway musical, Into the Woods. But Donoghue's method is not quite the same. Sondheim and Lapine merged their tales; Donoghue strings hers together like a strand of pearls. In Into the Woods, the stories are pretty similar to those we know, at least until the second half which follows after the immortal lines ". and then they lived happily ever after." Donoghue's fairy kingdom is rarely happy -- before or after -- and this is especially true for the women who provide the narrative thread. While some might find this off-putting, I found it quite refreshing, as this forces Donoghue into unlikely territory for fairies, a territory that is neither whimsical nor horrific, although it contains the elements of both. More than anything else, her fantasy resembles life, and that's an accomplishment.
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Connecting fairy tales together is not new. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine managed to merge "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Little Red Riding-Hood," and "The Baker and His Wife" in their Broadway musical, Into the Woods. But Donoghue's method is not quite the same. Sondheim and Lapine merged their tales; Donoghue strings hers together like a strand of pearls. In Into the Woods, the stories are pretty similar to those we know, at least until the second half which follows after the immortal lines ". and then they lived happily ever after." Donoghue's fairy kingdom is rarely happy -- before or after -- and this is especially true for the women who provide the narrative thread. While some might find this off-putting, I found it quite refreshing, as this forces Donoghue into unlikely territory for fairies, a territory that is neither whimsical nor horrific, although it contains the elements of both. More than anything else, her fantasy resembles life, and that's an accomplishment.
This, combined with the dark and foreboding cinematography, adds to the overall sense of unease and contributes to the film's immersive experience. Another interesting aspect of "The Witch" is the portrayal of the supernatural. While many horror films rely on jump scares and overt displays of violence, "The Witch" takes a more subtle approach. It builds tension through the use of sound design, visual cues, and the suggestion of supernatural occurrences rather than showing them explicitly. This creates a more psychological horror that leaves viewers unsettled long after the film has ended. Overall, "The Witch" is a unique and unsettling horror film that stands out among others in the genre. Its attention to detail, authentic portrayal of the time period, and ability to create tension without resorting to cheap scares make it a standout film for fans of psychological horror..
Reviews for "The Witch: A Feminist Statement in Horror According to Letterboxd Users"
- John - 2 stars
I was extremely disappointed with "The Witch." The plot was confusing and didn't make much sense. It felt like the movie was trying too hard to be artsy and ended up being pretentious instead. The pacing was also incredibly slow, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. Overall, I found it to be a boring and frustrating viewing experience.
- Sarah - 3 stars
I have mixed feelings about "The Witch." While I appreciated the eerie atmosphere and the performances of the actors, I found the story to be lacking depth. The movie had potential to be a thought-provoking exploration of supernatural themes, but it fell short in execution. Additionally, the dialogue was difficult to follow due to the heavy use of old English language. Overall, I think "The Witch" had some interesting elements, but it failed to fully captivate me.
- Mike - 2.5 stars
"The Witch" had a lot of buzz surrounding it, so I had high expectations going into it. However, I found myself bored and uninterested for the majority of the film. The slow build-up and lack of clear resolution left me feeling unsatisfied. I also found some of the character's actions to be unrealistic and unconvincing. While the movie had some visually stunning moments, it didn't make up for the overall lackluster storytelling.