The Witch (2015) is a horror film written and directed by Robert Eggers. The main idea of the film revolves around a puritan family in the 1630s New England who are banished from their community and embark on a journey to establish their own farm on the edge of a secluded forest. Shortly after their arrival, strange occurrences begin to happen, leading the family to believe they are being tormented by a witch. The film explores themes of religious devotion, isolation, and the breakdown of the family unit. One of the main characters in the film is Thomasin, a teenage girl and the eldest daughter of the family. **The film focuses on her coming-of-age and her struggle with the idea of sin and evil.
She was indeed dead; blistered and charred, with her clothes melted into her flesh. Though she wouldn’t remain dead for long, as a tall, dark figure in the darkness of the moon’s absence made its way toward her. Their eyes shone a deep violet as they knelt before her collapsed body.
The dark figure grinned again as the villager groaned in agony, his blood pooling in their chest, filling the chambers of his heart, his lungs, he gurgled as he attempted to scream before suddenly bursting. They struggle and groan in pain and absolute terror as the blood rushes out of them and down into the coffin, dripping on her flesh and eventually submerging her completely.
**The film focuses on her coming-of-age and her struggle with the idea of sin and evil.** As the supernatural events escalate, suspicion and paranoia consume the family, leading to the breakdown of trust and the questioning of their own faith. **The film cleverly blurs the line between reality and superstition**, leaving the audience questioning the true source of the family's troubles.
Curse of the Blood Countess
Elizabeth Bathory (1560 – 1614)
In 1611, the superstitious land of Hungary,Countess Elizabeth Bathory also known as the “Blood Countess” began the legend over again. She was accused of kidnapping and torturing young women to death and then bathing in and drinking their blood believing that it would preserve her youth and appearance. But as I’m sure your questions are…”how did she come to this conclusion?” Well, research says she was the wife of a Count who was always away at war. Elizabeth became bored with her lifestyle so she began to study black magic which then led to her horrible endeavors.
When a large number of young women became missing, Bathory’s own cousin led a soldiers and policemen to capture her. Although her accomplices were all killed, she was eventually spared execution because of her royal ties, but was locked up in a tower room for the rest of her life with door and windows shut.
Elizabeth Bathory (1560 – 1614)
1560 Elizabeth Bathory was born in Hungary where she spent her childhood at Ecsed Castle. Her father was George Báthory, a brother of Andrew Bonaventura Báthory, who had been Voivod of Transylvania of the Ecsed branch of the family, while her mother was Anna Báthory (1539-1570), daughter of Stephen Báthory, another Voivod of Transylvania, of the Somlyó branch. Through her mother, she was the niece of Stefan Batory, King of Poland.
At eleven years old, Elizabeth was engaged to Ferenc Nadasdy and moved to his Castsle in Sarvar where she allegedly had a short affair with a peasant. The reports go on stating she got pregnant and gave birth to an illegitimate daughter who was stillborn. In 1575 Elizabeth was 15 and married Nadasdy.
Nádasdy’s wedding gift to Báthory was his home Cachtice Castle, situated in the Carpathian Mountains near Trencín. The castle itself was surrounded by a village and agricultural lands, bordered by outcrops of the Carpathians.
In 1578, Nádasdy became the chief commander of Hungarian troops, leading them to war against the Turks. With her husband away at war, Elizabeth Báthory ran the affairs.
Elizabeth was an educated woman who could read and write in four languages. Based on letters she left behind, we know of several instances where she intervened on behalf of destitute women, including a woman whose husband was captured by the Turks and a woman whose daughter was raped and impregnated.
During the height of the Long War (1593-1606), Elizabeth was charged with the defense of her husband’s estates. During this time it is said by some that Elizabeth became bored with her lifestyle so she began to study black magic which then led to her horrible endeavors of kidnapping and torturing young women to death and then bathing in and drinking their blood.
Her husband died in 1604 at the age of 47. It is commonly reported that he died of battle injuries while others suggest he was murdered by a prostitute. Others claims he was murdered by General Basta whose reign over Transylvania at that time led to a decline in the Bathory family power.
Between 1602 and 1604, a Lutheran parish priest complained about atrocities both publicly and with the court in Vienna, after rumours had spread.
Finally, in 1610, King Matthias assigned Gyorgy Thurzo, the Palatine of Hungary, to investigate. Thurzo ordered two notaries to collect evidence in March 1610. Even before obtaining the results, Thurzo debated further proceedings with Elizabeth’s son Paul and two of her sons-in-law. December 29, 1610 Elizabeth Bathory and four of her servants, were arrested and accused of being Elizabeth’s accomplices. Thurzo’s men reportedly found one girl dead ,one dying, and another woman was found wounded, others were locked up.
To prevent public scandal and disgracing and influential family in Transylvania Elizabeth was kept under strict house arrest in the towers without further punishment. Her accomplices were brought to trial.
The defendants at that trial were found guilty and executed on the spot. Two of the accomplcies were tortured, having their fingers ripped out and thrown into a fire, the other was beheaded and her body thrown into flames. The last was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Although Elizabeth was never brought to trial she remained lockced away in a single room with no way out until she died. They allowed a slit in the cement so she could be slipped food.
August 21, 1614 Elizabeth Bathory died in her castle. She was buried in the church of Cachtice.
DURING THE TRIAL
Testimony was collected between 1610 and 1611 and contained a total of more than 300 witness accounts.
Elizabeth’s initial victims were local peasant girls, many of whom were lured to her castle with offers of good jobs. It is said that later on Elizabeth began to kill daughters of lower gentry who sent them to the castle to learn proper etiquette. Abductions seem to have occurred as well.
Although mostly hearsay, the atrocities that have been described included:
Severe beatings over extended periods of time, often leading to death.
Burning or mutilation of hands, sometimes also of faces and genitalia.
Biting the flesh off the faces, arms and other bodily parts.
Freezing to death.
Starving of victims.
Biting and the use of needles.
According to the defendants’ confessions, Elizabeth Báthory tortured and killed her victims not only at Cachtice Castle but also on her properties in other locations.
Between the years of 1585 and 1610 the number of young women tortured and killed by Elizabeth Báthory is unknown, though it is often cited as being in the hundreds.The estimates differ greatly.
The case of Elizabeth Bathory inspired numerous stories during the 18th and 19th centuries. The most common acts by her used in these stories where of the countess bathing in her victims’ blood in order to retain beauty or youth. This legend appeared in print for the first time in 1729 – it was the first written account of Elizabeth’s case.
In 1765 witness accounts of Elizabeth’s crimes surfaced and at the beginning of the 19th century, in 1817 they were published for the first time demonstrating that the bloodbaths were legend rather than fact.
The legend however was more popular for the imagination. During the 20th and 21st centuries, Elizabeth Bathory has continued to appear as a character in music, film, plays, books, games and toys.
Elizabeth Bathory has been grouped in the Vampire genre from the emergence of the bloodbath legend. The connection between bloodbaths and Vampires was not made until the 1970s to promote works of fiction.
Elizabeth’s initial victims were local peasant girls, many of whom were lured to her castle with offers of good jobs. It is said that later on Elizabeth began to kill daughters of lower gentry who sent them to the castle to learn proper etiquette. Abductions seem to have occurred as well.
Eggers's attention to detail and meticulous research create an authentic and immersive experience for the viewer. The film is heavily influenced by historical accounts of witchcraft and folklore, adding a level of authenticity and depth to the story. **The Witch stands out as a unique horror film due to its restraint and subtlety, relying on atmospheric tension rather than jump scares.** The use of period-accurate language and dialogue also adds to the film's authenticity and immersion. In conclusion, The Witch (2015) is a thought-provoking horror film that explores themes of religious devotion, isolation, and family breakdown in a puritan community. **Its focus on the coming-of-age of the main character and its blurring of reality and superstition make it a standout in the horror genre.** Through attention to historical accuracy and a subtle approach to horror, Robert Eggers has crafted a chilling and atmospheric film that lingers with the viewer long after it ends..
Reviews for "The Role of Folklore and Mythology in "Study the Witch" (2015): Analyzing the References"
1. John - 1 star - I have to say, "Study the Witch 2015" was a huge disappointment for me. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The acting was wooden and the dialogue felt forced. I had high hopes for this film, but it fell short in every aspect. I would not recommend wasting your time on this one.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - As a fan of witch-themed movies, I was excited to watch "Study the Witch 2015". Unfortunately, it left me feeling underwhelmed. The plot was predictable and cliché, and the special effects were outdated. I was hoping for a thrilling and suspenseful experience, but it ended up being quite dull. There are much better movies out there in the same genre, so I would suggest giving this one a pass.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars - "Study the Witch 2015" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver on many levels. The pacing was too slow, and the story felt disjointed at times. The scares were few and far between, and when they did happen, they were not effective. The film also relied heavily on jump scares, which felt cheap and overused. Overall, it had potential but didn't live up to it.
4. Michael - 1.5 stars - I found "Study the Witch 2015" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. It followed the same tired tropes of witch movies without adding anything new or fresh. The acting was subpar, and the characters were not memorable. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the movie and found myself checking the time regularly. Unless you're a die-hard fan of the genre, I would skip this one.