The Witch (2016)

User Review

• 

  FILM

  10 / 10

  The Witch is one of the best horror films this century. Seriously. As far as debuts go, this is next level. What Robert Eggers does as a first-time director is nothing short of insane. His first feature, and he casts 4 children, has several animals on set, writes a script in 17th century dialect and scores it with and entire choir. He may be nuts, but this is a guy who's been studying films all his life, and boy does it show. The way each frame of The Witch just fills you with dread is quite uncanny; you'll never want to set foot in the woods again.
  
  Perhaps my favourite aspect of this film is the shot composition. It sounds minor, but once you see how meticulously unnerving the framing and colour palette is, you can't shake it from your mind. Blackened branches entangle the frame, trees dominate each establishing shot and lurk in the background of each close up, shadows are like nightmares.
  
  Everyone knows how good the acting in this film, particularly from Anya Taylor Joy and Kate Dickie, both giving career best efforts. There are some of the best child performances I've seen, the fiendish twins giving utterly compelling turns at what looks like 6 years old.
  
  I could go on forever. All you need know is that for horror fans, this is absolutely required viewing, and will become a cult classic for the ages.

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