The desolate witch wailing echoes through the night, a haunting melody that sends shivers down the spine. Her cries pierce the darkness, carrying with them a sense of sorrow and longing that cannot be ignored. She stands alone, her sapphire eyes filled with a sadness that runs deep. Her long ebony hair falls in tangled waves around her pale face, matching the dark depths of her soul. She is a creature of the night, a mystic being that dances between worlds. Those who dare to venture near are met with a presence that is both enchanting and terrifying.
'The Wailing (2016)' is an affair that sticks with you, leaving you to turn it over and over in your mind long after its credits have rolled. It's a constantly evolving experience, moving through several somewhat distinct acts defined only by your understanding of its plot's events. This is evidence of its keen awareness of its audience, as it is able to predict what you're thinking in order to set up a blindsiding reveal. A lot of the narrative is ambiguous, despite a fairly concrete end, and it makes for an extremely enigmatic watch, one in which your assumptions are always shifting and, somehow, never quite correct. When you think back on the piece, you realise how meticulously crafted it is right from the opening shot. It's exactly what it needs to be, even if it does sometimes seem slightly meandering and you can certainly feel its length. It's never even close to boring, constantly keeping you engaged and occasionally wrenching you to the edge of your seat. It's the kind of film that sneaks up on you; you don't realise your heart is in your mouth until it's too late. It's as much a mystery as it is a horror, but it's ultimately rather frightening. It has moments of wince-inducing gore, creepy imagery and unbearable tension but it's its overall effect that affects you the most. It's difficult to describe, really, but to say the picture is ominous is an understatement. Its only real flaw is the fact that some of its odd comedy, particularly in its earlier sequences, detracts ever-so-slightly from the sincerity of its narrative. Still, even this contributes to the story's decidedly off-kilter vibe. When it comes down to it, the thing is absolutely brilliant, a distinct and distinguished movie unlike most others of its kind. It gets under your skin and wriggles around for a long time. 8/10
Every story becomes a song on this 16-minute EP by means of the voice of a male singer that comes neither from Ireland nor from England, but from Kazakhstan. The brevity of the album is probably a defect, but it could be solved by listening to Daughters of the Twilight , a 2-song EP released this year that s a natural thematic continuation of The Witch of Glendale.
Those who dare to venture near are met with a presence that is both enchanting and terrifying. Her ethereal beauty masks a power that is beyond human comprehension. She is a force to be reckoned with, a guardian of the unseen realms.
Bansheerie – The Witch of Glendale
The mysterious figure behind this project is apparently “a wailing mad banshee swept by the winds of woe” that tells four gruesome stories firmly rooted into the Anglo-saxon culture and in the “murder ballad” tradition. Each of these tales features a strong feminine presence, being about women who suffer and are persecuted for their supposed or actual involvement in esoteric knowledge. Every story becomes a song on this 16-minute EP by means of the voice of a (male) singer that comes neither from Ireland nor from England, but from… Kazakhstan. The first impression could be that the origins of the songwriter are too far away from the matter of his songs and from the heritage that they try to bring into music. But listening to this mini-album, you immediately feel the authenticity of the author’s intentions, as if the songs were one of the many English traditionals that we have known from English folk and neofolk music. This happens especially in the first two tracks, where many ingredients (the lyrics, some rhymes and the presence of symbolic characters such as the crows) are perfectly in line with the aforementioned traditional folkloristic ballads, showing an accurate philological research on the argument. The second two tracks are still rooted in the same imagery, but probably borrowed by more recent influences. For example “The Coven is Rising” makes me think about the occult prog-rock band Black Widow and their masterpiece “Sacrifice” and the themes found in some parts of “Lady Forlorn” seem familiar with the black-metal scene. Anyway the lyrics are always good, and the suspense is increased by the raucous dead-like voice. Also in the musical aspect there are good ideas and even if you can recognize the neofolk inspiration, this album shows more complex arrangements than many of the musician’s English and German colleagues. There’s a vast use of unsettling carillon sounds, along with harps, flutes and even a theremin (in “The Coven is Rising”). A bunch of songs that create a fascinating atmosphere. The brevity of the album is probably a defect, but it could be solved by listening to “Daughters of the Twilight”, a 2-song EP released this year that’s a natural thematic continuation of “The Witch of Glendale”.
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About 40 minutes into the movie, I stopped to look at how much time was left and was actually RELIEVED to see that there was still so much left. That's how engaging and interesting the story was for me.
But it is not her power that draws attention, it is her pain. The desolate witch carries the weight of a thousand sorrows, every tear she sheds transforming into a haunting wail. Her anguish is palpable, like a knife to the heart. Some speculate that it is a lost love that plagues her, a soulmate torn from her grasp. Others say it is the burden of the human world, the suffering and injustice that she witnesses from her hidden realm. Whatever the cause, her cries resonate with those who have felt the sting of loss and the ache of unfulfilled dreams. Her wails echo through the forests, the mountains, and the valleys, a mournful serenade to a world that cannot understand her pain. She stands as a reminder that darkness exists in every corner of existence, even in the most enchanting of beings. But amidst the desolation, there is also beauty. In her wailing, the witch finds solace. It is a cathartic release, a way to purge the sorrow that threatens to consume her. And as her cries fade into the night, a sense of peace settles upon her once more. The desolate witch continues her vigil, her wails serving as a beacon of hope to those who find themselves lost in the darkness. She is a reminder that even in the depths of despair, there is always a flicker of light waiting to be found. Her haunting melody sings of strength and resilience, of a spirit that refuses to be broken. And as long as there are those who listen, who truly hear her cries, the desolate witch will never be truly alone..
Reviews for "The Desolate Witch's Wailing: An Examination of its Psychological Effects"
1. Claire - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Desolate Witch Wailing". Despite the intriguing title, the storyline was confusing and hard to follow. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to feel invested in their struggles. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, dragging on with unnecessary details and descriptions. Overall, I found the book to be a chore to read and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Ethan - 1/5 - "Desolate Witch Wailing" was a complete letdown. The writing style was overly verbose and pretentious, trying too hard to sound literary but ended up being convoluted and self-indulgent. The plot seemed promising in the beginning, but it quickly devolved into a mess of disjointed subplots and repetitive themes. The constant shifting perspectives made it even more confusing to keep track of what was happening. I struggled to finish this book and honestly, I wish I never picked it up in the first place.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Desolate Witch Wailing" based on the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The author seemed more focused on creating a dark and eerie atmosphere than developing a coherent plot or engaging characters. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the story. While the writing style had its moments of beauty, they were overshadowed by the overall lack of substance. It's a shame because there was potential for a great story, but it didn't deliver.