Winona Ryder is an American actress known for her diverse range of roles. While she has portrayed characters from various genres, one memorable role that comes to mind is her portrayal of a witch in the film "The Crucible." "The Crucible" is a historical drama set during the Salem witch trials in the late 17th century. Ryder plays the character of Abigail Williams, a young woman who falsely accuses others of witchcraft to hide her own misconduct. Abigail is portrayed as manipulative and deceitful, using her power of persuasion to manipulate those around her. Ryder's performance as Abigail Williams received critical acclaim and showcased her talent as an actress.
Park’s film hedges on the vengeance of this girl, and her anger over her upbringing, one as a lab subject of sorts. The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion brings together elements of young adult novels and stories of the last 20 years, along with the fast-paced action of large scale set pieces, like the ones seen in the James Bond franchise. That’s not hyperbole, either. The action is riveting, and if the plot doesn’t reel you in, the action gives any viewer a good reason to keep watching, though you’ll have to stomach large quantities of blood and bullets.
One, a young boy, is retrieved, but the other, a young girl, takes off into the woods and escapes to a remote country house where she is adopted by an elderly couple and raised as their own. The cinematography by Kim Young-ho and Lee Teo is amazing, and really sells the top notch action choreography once the film makes its dramatic switch from witch hunt to action movie.
Ryder's performance as Abigail Williams received critical acclaim and showcased her talent as an actress. She perfectly captured the dark and complex character of Abigail, portraying her as both vulnerable and dangerous. Ryder's portrayal of a witch in "The Crucible" was praised for its intensity and emotional depth.
‘The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion’ Review: You Need This Kick-Ass Movie In Your Life
There is nothing quite like South Korean genre cinema. From the tonal mastery that sees them instantly move from pathos to pratfalls, to plots denser but far tastier than year-old fruit cake, to the sheer beauty and brutality of their action sequences, Korean filmmakers create dark magic on a regular basis while the rest of the world bathes in their glory. The Man from Nowhere, Lady Vengeance, The Chaser, Confession of Murder, I Saw the Devil, to name just a few. Last year’s most deliriously thrilling export was The Villainess, a film that pairs an elaborately convoluted story with mesmerizing fights and action set-pieces, and now 2018 has found its own kinetic masterclass from Korea.
A dark and no longer sterile medical facility sees its walls turned red as adult attendees and child wards are slaughtered. Two kids escape into the surrounding woods, but while the boy is caught the girl makes it to an old couple’s farm before collapsing in silence. They take her in, and a decade later Ja-yoon (Kim Da-mi) is a happy high-schooler using her charm and wits to help keep her adoptive parents farm in the black. An opportunity arrives in a televised singing contest held in a nearby city, but while Ja-yoon’s after the prize money it’s unwanted attention she finds instead.
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion is a mealy mouthful of a title, but it’s worth mumbling along with en route to one hell of an action/thriller. Writer/director Park Hoon-jung previously delivered Korean thrillers as varied as New World, The Tiger, and V.I.P., but it’s his script for Kim Jee-woon’s I Saw the Devil that he’s currently most revered for. The Witch might just change that as it teases elements of Nikita, Psychokinesis, X-Men, Hanna, and last year’s brilliant Thelma.
Overly convoluted plots are typically a death knell for action movies as they slow things down and risk losing audiences, but Korean cinema has a knack for loading the screen with story turns and dramatic reveals one atop the next that elevate the fun rather than bog it down. Here we’re gifted with amnesia, secret government training, parental mysteries, competing abilities, and an amateur singing competition, and all of it swirls together into a concoction that’s both grimly dramatic and blistering fun.
I’m avoiding the majority of the plot details as the genre maelstrom is best experienced first-hand, but just know that the story goes both where you expect and where you don’t. Exposition explaining it all is repetitive and overwrought at times, but happily the chaos and antics surrounding it are typically plenty distracting so as to make it forgivable.
The film is a stylish joy throughout, but its two biggest strengths are its action and its lead. Fight scenes are fast and mean with sharply choreographed brawls sending characters into walls and beyond, and the conflicts range from hand to hand combat to gun play to other more specialized abilities. Park captures the sequences with an eye for detail and effect, and while most of the action is inside tight quarters it never fails to impress thanks to a combination of execution and Kim Young-ho‘s cinematography.
As the only film on Kim Da-mi’s IMDB page this is one hell of a calling card, and in addition to a sequel she should probably expect more offers soon. She convinces on the action front — thanks in part to the magic of film-making — but just as importantly she offers an incredibly compelling performance as a teenager suddenly thrust into situations beyond her expectation or understanding. Her distress at her parents’ dilemma is tangible, and it’s only heightened by the arrival of assassins, hit squads, and killers. (Redundant, maybe, but there are a lot of them!)
As the title states, The Witch is a part one, and while it delivers a highly satisfying whole its ending suggests a lot more fun to come. Hopefully soon…
Rob Hunter has been writing for Film School Rejects since before you were born, which is weird seeing as he's so damn young. He's our Chief Film Critic and Associate Editor and lists 'Broadcast News' as his favorite film of all time. Feel free to say hi if you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.
As the only film on Kim Da-mi’s IMDB page this is one hell of a calling card, and in addition to a sequel she should probably expect more offers soon. She convinces on the action front — thanks in part to the magic of film-making — but just as importantly she offers an incredibly compelling performance as a teenager suddenly thrust into situations beyond her expectation or understanding. Her distress at her parents’ dilemma is tangible, and it’s only heightened by the arrival of assassins, hit squads, and killers. (Redundant, maybe, but there are a lot of them!)
She brought a sense of authenticity to the role, immersing herself in the character and delivering a powerful performance. This role also showcased Ryder's ability to transform herself physically for a character. In "The Crucible," Ryder dons period-appropriate costumes and hairstyles, further adding to the authenticity of her portrayal. While "The Crucible" is just one example of Ryder playing a witch, it stands out as a notable performance in her extensive filmography. Ryder's portrayal of Abigail Williams in "The Crucible" remains one of the most memorable witch characters in cinema. Overall, Winona Ryder's portrayal of a witch in "The Crucible" demonstrates her versatility as an actress and her ability to bring complex characters to life. Her performance in this film stands as a testament to her talent and has remained relevant in discussions of her career..
Reviews for "The Witchy Transformation of Winona Ryder: A Journey into the Occult"
1. John - 1/5 stars - As a fan of Winona Ryder, I was really disappointed with "Winona Ryder Witch". The plot felt convoluted and poorly executed, and the acting felt forced and unnatural at times. I had high hopes for this film, but unfortunately, it fell flat. The special effects were also underwhelming and did not add much to the overall experience. Overall, I would not recommend "Winona Ryder Witch" to anyone, especially to fans of the actress.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Winona Ryder Witch" had the potential to be a captivating film, but it failed to deliver. The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction, making it hard to stay engaged. Additionally, the characters were poorly developed, and I found it difficult to connect with any of them. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, which took away from the overall viewing experience. While the concept of the film was intriguing, the execution fell short, leaving me feeling disappointed.
3. Mark - 2/5 stars - I was eagerly anticipating "Winona Ryder Witch" as a fan of the supernatural genre, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The pacing of the film was inconsistent, with some scenes feeling rushed while others dragged on unnecessarily. The storyline was confusing and lacked depth, failing to provide a satisfying resolution. Additionally, the performances by the actors felt lackluster, with little emotion or chemistry between the characters. Overall, "Winona Ryder Witch" left me feeling unfulfilled and wishing I had chosen a different film to watch.