Cert 15
93 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong threat, violence
There has been quite a lot of hype around The Witch but, sadly, it fell short of my pre-movie anticipation.
To be fair to Robert Eggers, his debut film has an original concept and is well executed but I didn't find it as scary or even as creepy as its fans have claimed.
The Witch is set in the 17th century and focuses on a Puritan family who have been exiled from their community and have set up their new home next to a large forest.
Shortly after arriving, the family's matriarch (Kate Dickie) gives birth but soon after her baby son disappears.
Inevitably, this causes great angst among his parents and the remaining four children who fear there maybe some connection with malevolence in the forest.
Ralph Ineson plays the upstanding and very strict father who struggles to keep control of his often wilful brood.
Anya Taylor-Joy plays Thomasin the eldest child who seems to have something about the night.
But is she really a witch and is she to blame for the baby's disappearance?
These are questions which are at the heart of the movie and there are so many twists that my answers changed many times.
The Witch certainly creates a mood which I can see would be effective in scaring some cinema-goers but, while recognising its qualities, I just didn't feel the intended vibe.
Reasons to watch: Unusual and dramatic historical drama
Reasons to avoid: The concentration on old-world language in distracting
Laughs: none
Jumps: one
Vomit: none
Nudity: yes
Overall rating: 6/10
Star tweet
James Wan Of all the indie/festival horror hits in recent years, #TheWitch is the one to live up to its buzz. This movie permeates evil. So darn good
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