The 1970 film "Mark of the Witch" is a low-budget, independent horror movie directed by Tom Moore. It centers around a young woman named Jill, who begins to experience strange occurrences after inheriting her family's estate. As she delves deeper into her family history, she discovers that her ancestors were accused of witchcraft, and she starts to believe that she may be carrying the curse of the witch. The film takes place in a rural New England town and incorporates elements of supernatural horror and psychological thriller. The atmosphere is eerie and tense, with dark, shadowy cinematography and a haunting score. The plot follows Jill as she tries to unravel the secrets of her family's past while facing increasingly bizarre and terrifying events.
It’s almost as though how well (or not) an infant sleeps is the gauge to measure the caliber or quality of the baby.
As childbirth parenting educators, postpartum doulas, and Newborn Care Specialists, we always strive to stay on top of the most up to date and relevant information pertaining to newborn sleep safety, developmentally appropriate sleep habits, and the latest sleep related gear and gadgets. A quick walk down the infant gadgets aisle at Target may also lead you to believe that it costs hundreds of dollars to get a baby to sleep- 400 variations of swaddles, white noise machines, cribs, bassinets, dozens of types of crib bassinet mattresses, projection machines, motion sensing video monitors, respiration and heart rate sensors, and intuitive bassinets.
The plot follows Jill as she tries to unravel the secrets of her family's past while facing increasingly bizarre and terrifying events. Throughout the film, she becomes convinced that she is being targeted by a malevolent force and is desperate to find a way to rid herself of the curse. One of the film's strengths is its strong performances, particularly by the lead actress, Anitra Walsh, who portrays Jill.
Safe Sleep: The 2022 Update
We, as a society, are obsessed with infants’ sleep. So many of the first questions people ask after you welcome a little one into your home are focused on sleep.
“So how is the baby sleeping?”
“Are you getting any sleep?”
And my personal favorite, “Are they sleeping through the night?”
It’s almost as though how well (or not) an infant sleeps is the gauge to measure the caliber or quality of the baby.
“She’s giving us 5 hour spans of sleep. She’s such a good baby.”
While your friends, family, colleagues and oftentimes perfect strangers, are all well-meaning, it can be difficult to filter through the opinions, misconceptions, and outdated information. As childbirth & parenting educators, postpartum doulas, and Newborn Care Specialists, we always strive to stay on top of the most up to date and relevant information pertaining to newborn sleep safety, developmentally appropriate sleep habits, and the latest sleep related gear and gadgets.
A quick walk down the infant gadgets aisle at Target may also lead you to believe that it costs hundreds of dollars to get a baby to sleep- 400 variations of swaddles, white noise machines, cribs, bassinets, dozens of types of crib/bassinet mattresses, projection machines, motion sensing video monitors, respiration and heart rate sensors, and intuitive bassinets.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released an updated version of their safe sleep guidelines earlier this summer. This information can be helpful to pass along to anyone who may play a part in your baby’s care. Much of this bulletin is clarification or reiteration of previously released information along with some updated recommendations. Here’s our recap.
1. The ABC’s of safe sleep: Alone , on their Back , in a Crib (or bassinet).
Babies should always sleep in their own dedicated sleep space (a crib or bassinet specifically), not bedsharing with any other family members (no shared couch or chair sleeping either). This applies to multiples sharing a sleep surface as well. Placing a baby to sleep on their back can help to maintain baby’s airway. Notice how your little one tends to turn their head to the side frequently – this is to ensure they can breathe properly, as dipping their chin to chest can close off their airway.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for testing and monitoring of infant sleep related products like cribs, bassinets, play yards and bedside sleepers. The CPSC also maintains an extensive recall listing, so you can check their website to ensure the baby gear you are using, particularly if it has been handed down to you by friends or family, is safe for your baby.
2. Avoid routine sleep on less safe surfaces.
Car seats, swings, loungers, etc are not recommended for routine sleep , and should never be utilized for unsupervised sleep. One of the guidelines that we teach in our Baby 101 workshop is that if your baby gadget has straps, USE them EVERY time. These straps help to hold baby’s bottom in the appropriate seating position so they don’t scoot and compromise their airway.
Another consideration is whether baby will be able to sufficiently turn their head to the side; swings, bouncer seats and pillow like devices like the Doc-a-tot or Boppy lounger can restrict head movement causing baby to rebreathe or inhibit the dissipation of CO2. If you are not able to keep an eye on your sleeping baby, it’s always best to move them to a safe sleep surface.
3. Sleep related items to use (and some to avoid).
Pacifier usage is shown to reduce SIDS risk. Swaddles should be used if desired, but only until your baby shows signs of rolling.
One of the most recent recommendations is to avoid the use of weighted swaddles (like the Nested Bean) or additional weighted objects (rice sock, etc).
Also updated in this summer’s recommendation is that for healthy, full-term babies, at-home cardiorespiratory monitors (like the Owlet, Snuza, Nanit Complete, etc) are not recommended . These products may actually increase new parents’ anxiety levels by alarming unnecessarily and creating a false sense of security.
If you’re attending our Baby 101: The 4th Trimester workshop or planning for in-home postpartum support or overnight newborn care, safe and developmentally appropriate newborn sleep is a topic we’ll prioritize.
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And my personal favorite, “Are they sleeping through the night?”
She effectively conveys the character's vulnerability and growing paranoia, making the audience empathize with her plight. The supporting cast also delivers solid performances, helping to create a sense of unease and uncertainty. While "Mark of the Witch" is not a widely known or critically acclaimed film, it is often considered a cult classic among horror enthusiasts. It has gained a following for its atmospheric visuals, eerie tone, and the suspenseful build-up to its climactic conclusion. The film's low budget is evident in some of the special effects, which can be seen as charmingly outdated or cheesy depending on one's perspective. In summary, "Mark of the Witch" is a 1970 horror film that follows a young woman who believes she is cursed with the mark of a witch. It features an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere, strong performances, and a plot that twists and turns with unexpected revelations. Although it may not be widely known, it has developed a cult following and is worth a watch for fans of low-budget horror and psychological thrillers..
Reviews for "The legacy of Mark of the Witch (1970) in popular culture"
- Emily - 1 star
"Mark of the Witch 1970 is a complete disaster. The story is confusing and lacks any sort of cohesion. The acting is stale and disengaging, making it hard to care about any of the characters. The special effects are laughable, even for a film from the 70s. Overall, this movie is a waste of time and I would not recommend it to anyone."
- Michael - 2 stars
"I had high hopes for Mark of the Witch 1970, being a fan of horror movies from that era. Unfortunately, this film fell flat for me. The pacing is incredibly slow, and there are long stretches where nothing of significance happens. Additionally, the plot is convoluted and hard to follow. While there are a few creepy moments, they are overshadowed by the overall lackluster execution. I was left disappointed and unimpressed."
- Sarah - 1 star
"Mark of the Witch 1970 is a prime example of a film that tries too hard to be mysterious and ends up being a confusing mess. The cinematography is poor, with dimly lit scenes that make it difficult to see what's happening. The dialogue is clunky and the characters are uninteresting. The climax is underwhelming and doesn't make up for the tedious build-up. Save yourself the headache and skip this one."