The Noonday Witch is a supernatural creature that originates from Czech folklore. According to the legends, she is believed to appear during the hottest hours of the day, symbolizing the scorching heat of midday. The Noonday Witch is often depicted as a hideous and terrifying woman dressed in rags, with long unkempt hair and a pale complexion. Legend has it that the Noonday Witch primarily targets children who misbehave or disobey their parents' instructions. She is known to lure them away from their homes or punish them by inflicting various misfortunes, such as illnesses or bad luck. The Noonday Witch is also said to be responsible for withering crops and causing droughts in the fields.
So, now that I’ve given you a dozen reasons to not watch The Noonday Witch, I’m going to tell you that it is still worth watching. The pacing keeps things interesting, with rising tension throughout. All of the actors play their parts well, especially Anna Geislerová as the film’s heroine. And, if nothing else, The Noonday Witch provides an interesting glimpse of Slavic folklore and the beautiful countryside of The Czech Republic.
This half-hearted lie, her mounting financial troubles, the absence of Anetka s father, and the blistering summer heat all put a strain on the mother-daughter relationship. She most victimizes mothers and children, but the broad daylight and dreary heat in the Slavic landscapes makes even the most cautious person susceptible to her fate.
The Noonday Witch is also said to be responsible for withering crops and causing droughts in the fields. To ward off the Noonday Witch, people in Czech folklore would often take precautions. They would hang mirrors on the walls or outside their homes, as it was believed that the witch would be scared by her own reflection.
The Noonday Witch: A Czech Folk Horror
The Noonday Witch (known as Polednice in its original Czech title) is a beautifully bright and quiet folk horror film. Directed by Jiří Sádek and written by Michal Samir (II), the story follows the lives of Eliska (Anna Geislerová) and her young daughter Anetka (Karolína Lipowská), who move to a remote countryside to start a new life. The two have a close relationship comprising of reading stories, sleeping in the same bed and cooking. All is well until a persistent Anetka discovers her mother has been lying about the whereabouts of her father, causing their relationship to deteriorate under the clutches of the Noonday Witch.
The Tale of Lady Midday
I have found the best way to get the most out of a folk horror film is learning about the folklore it is based on. “The Noon Witch” is one of those stories that answers questions you might ask after watching The Noonday Witch. The tale’s substance varies across cultures, but all share many commonalities. Below is an English summary of Karel Jaromír Erben’s poem, which you can read in English here.
“A mother is trying to prepare lunch, but her child is screaming for attention. She gives it some toys to play with, but nothing helps. So the mother decides to scare the child with a story about the Noon Witch who is said to come after children if they are naughty. At that moment, the church bell rings out, announcing that it is twelve o’clock – and there in the doorway stands the Noon Witch herself. She hobbles across the parlour, her arms reaching out for the child. The mother grabs her child and then faints in shock. The father comes home and finds the mother lying on the floor, their child in her arms. He manages to revive the mother, but the child is dead.” Source
The Noon Witch is an English title for the Slavic demon, whose other names include Polednice, Psezpolnica, Poludnitsa, Południca and Lady Midday. She appears in many forms (such as a young woman in white or an old weary woman) around noon during harvest time, the hottest days of the year, and possesses or kills those who dare enter the fields she resides. She most victimizes mothers and children, but the broad daylight and dreary heat in the Slavic landscapes makes even the most cautious person susceptible to her fate.
One of the most popular portrayals of the Noonday Witch is the symphonic ballad “Polendnice” by Czech composer Antonín Dvořá. You can listen to the song below.
“Don’t go anywhere. Not over the fence, not in the fields.”
AdvertisementMuch like the song it is based on, The Noonday Witch is slow-burning and symphonic. Ben Corrigan’s score incorporated with the sunny Czech fields creates an illusion of comfort that contrasts with the emotional turmoil each character goes through. It all works so well. Though I didn’t find movie scary, the tension builds to such grandeur that at the end I felt uneasy and on the edge of my seat. Geislerová and Lipowská’s provide convincing, exquisite performances of a struggle mother and daughter.
There are other components of the “Noon Witch” tale that I wish were included; for instance, adding more emphasis on the deaths or making the Noon Witch a greater threat could have made everything more suspenseful and frightening. But that isn’t enough to undermine how rewarding of a watch The Noonday Witch is. It is a feast for the senses originating from fascinating lore worth knowing. (4 / 5)
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This nobody-can-be-trusted trope works well up to a point. However, as the plot pushes forward, it becomes clear that either a) there is a witch that wants to take Eliska’s daughter or b) several perfectly rational factors are driving Eliska a little crazy (the summer heat, invasive neighbors, money problems, the death of her husband, her daughter’s rebelliousness, and on and on).
Additionally, others would place milk or honey outside their doorsteps to distract the witch from entering their homes. The story of the Noonday Witch has also been adapted into various literary and artistic works. One of the most famous examples is the musical composition "The Noon Witch" by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. This symphonic poem, composed in 1896, depicts the legend in a dark and atmospheric tone, capturing the eerie and supernatural essence of the folklore. In recent years, the Noonday Witch has gained popularity beyond Czech folklore, featuring in movies and horror literature. The concept of a malevolent creature appearing during the hottest hours of the day has captured the imagination of many, making the Noonday Witch a fascinating and fearsome character in folklore and popular culture..
Reviews for "The Tale of the Noonday Witch: From Ancient to Modern Times"
1. Emily - 1 star: I couldn't stand "The Noonday Witch". The story was incredibly slow and boring, with no real suspense or tension. The characters were weak and lackluster, making it difficult to care about their fates. The film tried to be a psychological horror, but it failed to deliver any real scares or thrills. Overall, it was a complete waste of time and I would not recommend it to anyone.
2. David - 2 stars: "The Noonday Witch" had potential, but it fell flat. The pacing was all over the place, with long stretches of dullness followed by brief moments of mediocre horror. The performances were lackluster, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. While it had an interesting premise, the execution left much to be desired.
3. Samantha - 1.5 stars: I found "The Noonday Witch" to be incredibly underwhelming. The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth or complexity. The scares were few and far between, with no real payoff. The film relied heavily on cheap jump scares and cliche horror tropes, which did nothing to elevate it. Overall, it was a forgettable and disappointing experience.