Causing a stir at the festival circuit last year, The Witch has enjoyed a lot of buzz before its opening in the UK. Unlike most modern horror movies, this is a slow burning creepy affair that doesn’t rely on jump scares – I think there was only one moment that could qualify.
A family in New England in the 1630s are banished from their village for reasons that aren’t fully explained. They set up home in a remote spot at the edge of some woods and go about their hard living, extremely God fearing existence, in isolation. However, when their youngest son disappears, evil seemingly is lurking in the woods.
You can feel a sense of menace pervading throughout this film. There is a very slow build up that accentuates that feeling of dread, and, as the family begins to fall apart there are some extremely unsettling scenes that will live with me for a while to come. The performances are almost universally solid, with special mention to Ralph Ineson (Finchy from The Office!) as the father and Anna Taylor-Joy as Thomasina, the oldest daughter.
I do have three criticisms though. The titular witch is shown too early in the film, so that the possibility that there is another explanation for the events is discounted too soon; Ellie Grainger as one of the young twins gives a performance even more annoying than the kid in Room; and the ending feels a little bit of a let down.
So, recommended – best seen in a quiet, dark cinema to heighten the mood – but slightly overrated. I was reminded of Ben Wheatley’s Kill List from 2011, which is a better film.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10