The film is set in New England around half a century before the infamous Salem Witch Trials. The hysteria though, is already creeping in as evident in this film. William, played by Ralph Ineson and wife Katherine, played by Kate Dickie, daughter Thomasin, son Caleb, and twins Mercy and Jonas are all part of a devout Christian family who we focus on, they are banished from their plantation due to the crime of “prideful conceit”.
This leaves them forced to relocate and build their own farm which happens to be near the dark, menacing woods. When the new born son mysteriously vanished and strange things start occurring the family begin to turn on each other, questioning each other's intentions, being ripped apart from within. The family turn on the young Thomasin, played by new comer Anya Taylor-Joy - what is she capable of?
When the blood begins to shed - and there is a lot of it - the truth will surely come out.... The atmosphere of paranoia and dread in this movie was so well done and it created a feel of unease, and unpredictability which I really liked.
I've seen a lot of reviews saying this is a 'slow burn' moments, and I totally agreed that the pacing does feel very up and down at times. But you could argue it reflects their real lives, they often would of had moments of pure quiet, especially without our modern comforts. If you are looking for a typical jumpy, slasher horror film this may not be for you.
The acting was pretty authentic, I loved that they all spoke in 'ye olde English' it added another element to the film. Both parents in the film have starred in Game of Thrones and their performances are very strong. They capture both signs of the coin displaying true vulnerability in one moment, then pure mania the next That's not an easy feat. The child actors are great too. The boy playing Caleb particarly has a insanely scary scene which he nails - playing a possession is not easy for an adult let along a boy of his age.
Thomasin played by Anya Taylor Joy is a basically unknown actress who really brings her own to this role. She is a strong, powerful young female who in one breathe we feel sympathy for and in the next are dubious that she may even be the witch herself. The family really does feel lost, miles from their home in England. This bleak mood transfers to the audience too, we know this won't end well. It's just a matter of when, how and why?
For a first time debut film, this is so well rounded and put together by Rogger Eggers - he did months and months of research for this film and the history behind witches in New England - and that shines through.
The overall colour palette reminded me of the later Harry Potter films, very grey and dour which added the the feeling of hopelessness. It was almost like the film had already given up on a happy ending. Like the Revenant, it appears most of the film is done with natural light that gave it a realistic and textured feel to the film. Each flick on dust can be seen in a sunlit barn and every twig on every tree feels sharp, a threat.
It's open to interpretation which in one way is a strength but also frustrating to the audience? A great, unexpected old fashioned take on horror, it's as much about loosing one's faith in God than it is about the paranormal. 7.5/10
Comments
Post a Comment