The Witch (2016)

User Review

• 

  Barneyonmovies

  7 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: Having seen 'The Lighthouse,' and now 'The VVitch,' it's clear that Robert Eggers is fascinated by the way that paranoia manifests itself.
  
  His feature debut follows a God-fearing family in 17th Century New England who believe they're sinners being punished for their wrongs. The film only confirms their beliefs when their baby is taken by a witch, their crops die, their goat goes mad, and their son gets lost in the woods and comes back possessed by the devil. Each time the mother (Kate Dickie) and father (Ralph Ineson) try to repent, they end up spiralling further into suspicion and hatred, and - buying into the ancient patriarchal classic that female sexuality is sinful, dark magic - they even accuse their own coming-of-age daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) as the witch responsible for their torment.
  
  Particularly as Thomasin is then forced under threat of death or banishment to embrace the devil that her parents believe is within her, it's pretty clear that the film is both a tale of paranoia becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, as well as a powerful portrayal of the patriarchy at its most suspicious and oppressive. That's only furthered by the atmospheric sense of dread that Eggers manages to build with his uniquely drab colour palette and set design, Jarin Blaschke's claustrophobic camerawork, and the haunting score from Mark Korven.
  
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The fact it only ever reinforces the family's delusions is a little frustrating.
  
  VERDICT: Robert Eggers' 'The VVitch,' is a bold, feminist horror movie about religious paranoia becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

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