Deny the witch is a concept that has been used throughout history to determine whether an individual is guilty of practicing witchcraft. This concept has been prominent in various societies, particularly during the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries. The belief in witches and witchcraft was fueled by superstition, fear, and religious beliefs. People were accused of practicing witchcraft based on various reasons such as unusual behavior, healing abilities, or simply being different from societal norms. Once accused, individuals were subjected to a trial to determine their guilt or innocence. During these trials, the accused were often tortured or subjected to harsh interrogation methods in order to extract a confession.
“That came from my moviemaking story sense,” Zemeckis says. “It was a beat that a movie needs so that both the grandma and our hero mice have their big showdown with the Grand High Witch. I think it makes [Grandma] a rounded character. The young boy describes her in the beginning of the movie that she’ll give you a big, old hug or a spanking if you needed one. She’s a strong, opinionated Southern American woman who isn’t going be run over by a witch. It was important to see her character do what she needed to do.”
Robert Zemeckis new adaptation, released last week on HBO Max, makes several key changes to the story and setting, but maintains the core plot of Dahl s work, including the hero s fate. Warning The following article contains spoilers for the latest adaptation of Roald Dahl s novel The Witches, currently streaming on HBO Max, including a discussion of the ending.
During these trials, the accused were often tortured or subjected to harsh interrogation methods in order to extract a confession. The idea of denying the witch was rooted in the belief that an innocent person would not be able to withstand the torment of witchcraft accusations and would ultimately confess their guilt. However, denying the witch was not an easy task.
Can we talk about the ending of *The Witch* (2015)?
The ending of *The Witch* is weird. Really, freaking weird. And kinda out of nowhere. Quick little summary of the ending, avoid the next paragraph if you haven't seen the movie yet:
After losing her entire family, our heroine, Thomasin realizes the goat, Black Phillip is Satan. She takes up Satan's offer to "live deliciously" and joins a coven of witches. A coven that was never once alluded to in the entire film.
Now, before I continue I need to say that I don't really care for this movie. Personally, I think most of the praise is do to it being an original movie. The production value's great and I respect Eggers' use of period-accurate dialogue, but there's a lot more I disliked. Thomasin doesn't do anything between losing the baby and killing her mother in self-defense. Anya Taylor-Joy did a good job, but the lack of focus on Thomasin made her arc feel under-developed. The film also tries the old "maybe magic, maybe mundane" trope but fails to pull it off. I don't want to go off on a tangent about that so just ask me for an example in the comments if you want one.
With that out of the way, let's discuss why this ending is so bizarre. Throughout the film, we are only shown one witch. One. She appears in a series of short cutaway scenes doing stuff like making baby guacamole and other magic stuff that could really just be eft-up versions of folk medicine. She is never shown with company. And, again, nothing prior to the ending indicates that there is another witch, let alone a coven, in the film.
It's so strange and out of nowhere. This would be like if at the climax of Jaws the boat isn't attacked by Bruce but by a whole pack of sharks with no clear connection to Bruce. It takes the hour-and-a-half of build up and throws it out the window.
It has been four years since I've seen this movie and I'm still perplexed as to why no one ever brings up the ending. It is so out of nowhere. So, can someone who liked this movie, please give me some feedback about what they thought of the ending or just send me a link to an article interpreting the ending?
Those who chose to deny the charges were seen as defiant and working in collaboration with the devil. They were often seen as guilty by association, which further complicated their defense. It was believed that witches had made a pact with the devil and denying their involvement with witchcraft was seen as a sign of loyalty to Satan. Those who confessed were often spared from severe punishment, while those who denied the charges were typically subjected to harsher penalties. This created a dilemma for the accused – whether to confess to a crime they did not commit or face torture and possibly death if they denied the witch. The concept of denying the witch highlights the flaws in the witch trials and the unjust treatment of innocent individuals. It shows how fear and hysteria can lead to false accusations and unjust convictions. The denial of a witch does not necessarily prove innocence, but rather demonstrates the cruelty and injustice of the witch trials. In modern times, the belief in witches and witchcraft has largely diminished, and the concept of denying the witch is not commonly used. However, the history of witch trials and the denial of the witch serves as a reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of fair and just legal systems..
Reviews for "Redefining denial: Challenging misconceptions and embracing its potential"
1. John - 2 stars - I really wanted to like "Deny the Wotch" as I had heard great things about it, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, making it hard to follow the story. The characters lacked depth, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style also felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, "Deny the Wotch" just didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I can't express how much I disliked "Deny the Wotch." The story was slow-paced and lacked any real excitement. The dialogue felt forced and the characters were forgettable. I found myself constantly checking how much longer I had to read before it was over. The ending was also unsatisfying and left me with more questions than answers. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Robert - 2 stars - "Deny the Wotch" had a promising premise, but it fell flat in execution. The writing was filled with clichés and predictable plot twists. The main character was unlikable, and I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in their actions or motivations. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of tedious descriptions and then rushed action scenes that lacked proper development. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 3 stars - While "Deny the Wotch" had an interesting concept, I found the writing style to be overly verbose and unnecessarily complicated. The plot had potential, but it was bogged down by excessive descriptions and unnecessary subplots. The characters were decently developed, but their actions often felt forced and unrealistic. The book had its moments, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me.