In a land of deep forests and misty valleys, there lived a wanderer. He was a man of few possessions, carrying only a small knapsack that held his meager belongings. He roamed from village to village, never staying in one place for too long. He was a solitary figure, content with his own company. One day, as he walked through a dense thicket, he came across an old hut. It stood in stark contrast to the natural beauty that surrounded it, with faded paint and a roof that sagged under the weight of time.
Martha Goode (Elizabeth Mitchell, Lost, The Purge: Election Year) is part of an underground railroad that helps smuggle witches out of the country. She’s aided by her conflicted daughter Claire (Gideon Adlon, The Mustang) and younger brothers Corey (Cameron Crovetti, The Boys) and George (Nicholas Crovetti).
Writer director Elle Callahan Head Count opens her new film Witch Hunt on a harrowing note as two young girls Fiona Abigail Cowen, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and her sister Shae Echo Campbell watch their mother burned at the stake. She can t invite friends over, or happily join in witch-bashing banter, because mom uses their home which conveniently has hidden passageways between walls as a safe house on a sort of underground railroad smuggling witches to Mexico, which is still granting them asylum.
It stood in stark contrast to the natural beauty that surrounded it, with faded paint and a roof that sagged under the weight of time. Curiosity getting the better of him, the wanderer cautiously approached the hut. As he reached the doorstep, a mysterious voice called out from within, beckoning him to enter.
Witch hujt 2021 film
Writer/director Elle Callahan (Head Count) opens her new film Witch Hunt on a harrowing note as two young girls Fiona (Abigail Cowen, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and her sister Shae (Echo Campbell) watch their mother burned at the stake. But this isn’t Medieval England or colonial Salem, this is modern-day America. An America where witchcraft is illegal under Amendment 11 of the Constitution and agents of the Bureau of Witch Investigation (BWI) hunt down and execute practitioners of magic.
Martha Goode (Elizabeth Mitchell, Lost, The Purge: Election Year) is part of an underground railroad that helps smuggle witches out of the country. She’s aided by her conflicted daughter Claire (Gideon Adlon, The Mustang) and younger brothers Corey (Cameron Crovetti, The Boys) and George (Nicholas Crovetti).
When circumstances keep Fiona and Shae at Martha’s longer than planned Claire, for the first time begins to bond with one of the witches. She also begins to suspect she has powers of her own. But as this is happening, the BWI, led by Detective Hawthorne (Christian Camargo, Europa Report, Penny Dreadful) starts to close in on them.
Witch Hunt operates both as a horror film and as a young adult dystopian thriller. And like most dystopian works the film has its share of political allegory. It’s along the lines of The Craft meets The Handmaid’s Tale although it wouldn’t be hard to see it as referring to any oppressed group.
The film does a nice job of setting up its world. From small details, like a girl being denied entry to a theatre because she’s on a list of those related to witches. To much more chilling scenes, such as Detective Hawthorn dousing a vehicle containing a suspected witch with gasoline and casually burning her alive, no warrant is needed or questions asked.
In another scene, several girls from Claire’s school are only checked for marks indicating that they’re a witch. Those that fail are then tested by the old method of tossing them in water. If they float they’re witches, if they sink they’re innocent. The reaction when this causes an accidental drowning is as chilling as the testing.
Witch Hunt gives us very few clues about how this version of the United States came about or what kind of government is running it. Perhaps to avoid being called partisan this is all pretty much ignored, although the presence of a border wall might be intended as a clue. I do wish that aspect had been better fleshed out to give the film’s world a better sense of reality. That said, Hawthorn serves as an extremely hateable face for the government and its policies.
The film’s supernatural element only really comes into play in the last act. Up until then, Witch Hunt is more of a thriller that involves witches, but not much in the way of witchcraft. When they do let their powers loose it’s hampered by some extremely bad CGI, particularly the fire creature that turns up near the film’s end. On the other hand, the effects of the girl’s mother burning are certainly convincing enough to make their point.
I wanted to like Witch Hunt a lot more than I did. It is a good film and it does get its point across. But for some reason, it never really manages to be better than that. Giving the film’s horror element a bit more edge probably would have helped. So would at least clarify if this is an alternate reality version of America or some kind of post-revolution one. And just because the film Thelma and Louis plays a part in the story there’s no need, apart maybe from a budgetary one, for a Harry Potter Meets Thelma and Louise style ending.
Signature Entertainment has released Witch Hunt in the UK on DVD & Digital platforms. Australia and New Zealand will get it on August 18th.
A teen’s family runs a safe house for persecuted witches in this supernatural tale stronger on political allegory than thrills or chills.
Intrigued, he pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit and filled with the scent of herbs and potions. In the center of the room, a wizened old woman sat hunched over a cauldron, stirring its bubbling contents. The woman introduced herself as the witch of the woods. She was known far and wide for her wisdom and formidable powers. The wanderer listened intently as she spoke of the secrets of the forest and the creatures that dwelled within. Her words were filled with ancient knowledge and a deep understanding of the natural world. Over the following days, the wanderer became a frequent visitor to the witch's hut. He would sit by her side, absorbing her stories and learning from her vast experience. She taught him how to decipher the messages of the wind, the language of the trees, and the healing properties of the plants that grew in the forest. As the days turned into weeks, a bond formed between the wanderer and the witch. They became allies in their quest to understand the mysteries of the world. The wanderer shared tales of his travels and the people he had met, while the witch imparted her wisdom and guidance. One day, news reached the wanderer of a village plagued by a terrible curse. The villagers were desperate for help, as their crops withered and their livestock fell ill. Without hesitation, the wanderer turned to the witch for advice. She nodded knowingly and handed him a small vial of golden liquid. With the witch's potion in hand, the wanderer set off towards the troubled village. Word had spread of his encounter with the witch, and the villagers were hopeful that he could bring an end to their suffering. With his newfound knowledge and the witch's guidance, he cured the village of its curse, restoring prosperity and joy. The tale of the wanderer and the witch spread far and wide, becoming a legend that was told and retold by generations to come. Their unique bond and quest for knowledge reminded people of the power of friendship and the importance of embracing the unknown. And so, the wanderer continued his journey, forever grateful for the chance encounter that had changed his life. He carried the lessons of the witch with him, sharing her wisdom wherever he went. And the witch remained in her humble hut, a guardian of the forest and a teacher to all who sought her guidance..
Reviews for "Embracing the Wild Soul: A Wanderer's Guide to Witchcraft"
1. John - 2/5 stars - "The wanderer and the witch was not my cup of tea. I found the plot to be confusing and hard to follow. The characters were also poorly developed and lacked depth. Additionally, the writing style was monotonous and did not keep me engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others."
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - "I had high hopes for The wanderer and the witch, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The story had potential, but it fell flat in its execution. The pacing was off, with parts of the book dragging on while others felt rushed. The dialogue was also cliché and lacked authenticity. Although the description of the settings was vivid, the lack of character development made it difficult for me to emotionally connect with the story. It was an okay read, but it didn't leave a lasting impression."
3. Michael - 2/5 stars - "I struggled to finish The wanderer and the witch. The writing felt amateurish and the dialogue was stilted. The plot lacked originality and was predictable. The main characters were unlikable and their actions often made no sense. I was hoping for a captivating fantasy read, but this book fell short. I would not recommend it to fans of the genre."
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - "I was excited to dive into The wanderer and the witch, but I was left disappointed. The story was confusing and the world-building felt incomplete. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and chaotic action sequences. The characterization was weak, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. Although the idea behind the book had potential, the execution fell short. It was a lackluster read overall."