The Witch is a popular horror film that was released in 2015. It follows the story of a Puritan family living in New England in the 1630s who are banished from their village and forced to live in the wilderness. The film explores themes of religious fanaticism, isolation, and the supernatural. The Witch was written and directed by Robert Eggers, and it marked his directorial debut. The film received critical acclaim for its atmospheric cinematography, haunting score, and compelling performances. It was praised for its historical accuracy and attention to detail in depicting a period of early American history.
But Eggers’ film goes one step further – its ‘uncanny’ is its full-throated embracing of the puritanical 17 th century setting and the Jacobean language the film’s cast expertly utilise. It brilliantly allows a narrative that explores so many modern tropes and themes found in a myriad of supernatural films of every genre – the effects of passing from childhood into adulthood, of religious fervour and zealotry, of the ever-growing psychosis and paranoia stemming from an increasing sense of isolation, etc – one that should feel familiar in and of itself, to feel somehow warped, to take that sense of the familiar and make it feel in and of itself ‘uncanny’ based on nothing other than its settings, its language and it’s very DNA… and that’s before any element of the plot is manifested to the viewer.
Be it the Festival of the Sun on Summerisle, the seemingly happenstance and everyday denouncement of ordinary women by everyone in Witchfinder General and the sinister warpings of Christianity by the children in Blood on Satan s Claw. In another elision which is initially a bit dijunctive seeming, there s suddenly a new baby boy named Samuel on the premises, and in a horrifying moment, he disappears while Thomasin has her eyes covered playing hide and seek with the newborn.
It was praised for its historical accuracy and attention to detail in depicting a period of early American history. The film's script was written in authentic 17th-century English, which added to its realism. The Witch was released on Blu-ray and DVD in 2016, allowing audiences to experience the film in high-definition quality.
The Witch 4K Blu-ray Review
The best folk horror always worked because of its sense of the normalisation of the ‘uncanny’ – how something just a little bit. ’off’ from our everyday reality can be accepted as the norm to utterly unfathomable consequences. Be it the Festival of the Sun on Summerisle, the seemingly happenstance and everyday denouncement of ordinary women by everyone in Witchfinder General and the sinister warpings of Christianity by the children in Blood on Satan’s Claw.
But Eggers’ film goes one step further – its ‘uncanny’ is its full-throated embracing of the puritanical 17 th century setting and the Jacobean language the film’s cast expertly utilise. It brilliantly allows a narrative that explores so many modern tropes and themes found in a myriad of supernatural films of every genre – the effects of passing from childhood into adulthood, of religious fervour and zealotry, of the ever-growing psychosis and paranoia stemming from an increasing sense of isolation, etc – one that should feel familiar in and of itself, to feel somehow warped, to take that sense of the familiar and make it feel in and of itself ‘uncanny’ based on nothing other than its settings, its language and it’s very DNA… and that’s before any element of the plot is manifested to the viewer.
Movies & TV Shows ReviewThe Witch Movie Review
by Sharuna Warner · Mar 11, 2016The Witch tells the story of a Puritan family in 17th century New England who are banished to the woods and find themselves besieged by the dark forces of nature.
It's a masterstroke from a director who was only 32 at the time of its release, a director and writer steeped in New England folklore thanks to his own childhood growing up around these parts with the history of the place seeping into folktales and of his own parents' literary background (his father is a Shakespearean professor). The richness and detail in everything from the opening scene of a family being cast out of the safety of its settlement and into the wild New England forests through to the many strange and unsettling events that are symbolic of an ancient force living on the outskirts of their new home – of rabbits that stare, of crops that inexplicably fail, of a goat that seems to have a darkness hiding behind its eyes and of a baby that suddenly and literally disappears – gives an authority to the piece that utterly engulfs the viewer, taking hold and not letting go until its final, sanity-bothering moments.
. its dread-dripped atmosphere, and its spiralling sense of desperation turning into inevitability, unsettles and oppresses like few genre films of recent times
As with most folk horror, it’s not often it can be called ‘terrifying’ or even ‘scary’. But its dread-dripped atmosphere, and its spiralling sense of desperation turning into inevitability, unsettles and oppresses like few genre films of recent times. Unafraid to embrace its supernatural sensibilities – there’s little doubt as to what is actually going on - Eggars stays the course and has complete faith in his cast to provide the hook into the ambience and mood of the film, instead of any plot complexities or contrivances.
And the small cast are utterly mesmerising – from the reliable Kate Dickie as the fracturing and fraying matriarch to Ralph Ineson’s scared and bewildered patriarch to, of course, the introduction of Anya Taylor-Joy, truly a force to be reckoned with from the very first frame she shot in front of a camera thanks to an unnerving ability to almost physically manifest herself to match any work she’s doing, they all give staggering performances to match the exacting requirements of Eggers’ script.
Together with its woozy, drained-of-life but in-your-face visuals and its screechily ambient soundtrack, it’s a beguiling and heady concoction, one that gets better with age and viewings.
Somewhat ironically in this context, it’s the kind of film that any form of criticism, be it good or bad, does no justice to whatsoever – I remember on release hearing this was the most terrifying film since The Blair Witch Project and coming away somewhat disappointed – it should just be there, waiting for you to discover or re-discover it… waiting patiently in the woods for you to stumble over it, intrigued by its premise and open to letting it wrap itself around your guts as you find yourself transported into this strange, preternatural and deeply arresting world…
The Blu-ray edition includes a number of special features, such as behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with the cast and crew, and an audio commentary by Eggers. These extras provide further insight into the making of the film and enhance the viewer's understanding and appreciation of the story. The Witch became a cult favorite among horror enthusiasts and has been hailed as a modern masterpiece in the genre. Its unique blend of psychological horror, religious themes, and period setting sets it apart from more mainstream horror films. The film's atmospheric and slow-burning approach builds tension throughout, leading to a disturbing and unforgettable climax. Overall, The Witch on Blu-ray offers a captivating viewing experience for horror fans. Its combination of historical accuracy, thought-provoking themes, and stunning visuals make it a standout film. Whether you are a fan of horror or simply appreciate well-crafted cinema, The Witch is a film worth watching..
Reviews for "The Witch Blu-Ray: Comparing Director's Cut and Theatrical Version"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was incredibly disappointed with "The Witch" on Blu-ray. The advertised clarity and crispness of the picture was far from reality. The image quality was grainy and lacked depth, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the film. Additionally, the sound quality was subpar, with muffled dialogue and a lack of surround sound that left me feeling detached from the movie. Overall, I regretted purchasing the Blu-ray edition and would not recommend it to others.
2. Jessica - 1/5 stars - I found "The Witch" on Blu-ray to be a complete waste of money. The visuals were washed out and the colors were dull, making it difficult to appreciate the film's atmospheric cinematography. The audio was also poorly balanced, with too soft dialogue and overly loud background noises that made it hard to follow the plot. The lack of bonus features or behind-the-scenes content was another letdown, as I had expected more from the Blu-ray edition. Save your money and watch this film through streaming services instead.
3. Michael - 2/5 stars - "The Witch" on Blu-ray was a letdown for me. While I appreciated the film's eerie atmosphere and unique storytelling, the Blu-ray edition failed to enhance the viewing experience. The picture quality was decent, but nothing extraordinary, and I expected more vibrant colors and sharper details considering it was advertised as a high-definition release. The audio was also lackluster, with imbalanced sound levels that made it hard to fully immerse myself in the film. Overall, I was not impressed with the Blu-ray edition of "The Witch".
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was not impressed with the Blu-ray edition of "The Witch." The picture quality was underwhelming, with a noticeable lack of clarity and detail. The colors appeared dull and muted, which took away from the film's atmospheric visuals. Additionally, I found the sound mixing to be off, with overly loud background noises that often drowned out the dialogue. Considering the film's critical acclaim, I had higher expectations for the Blu-ray release, and unfortunately, it fell short of those expectations. I would recommend seeking out alternative viewing options for "The Witch".