The Witch (2015)
A film that may truly make you believe in blackmagic.
Presentation:
The film uses unrelenting moody overcast lighting in 1630s folktale New England. Robert Eggers makes you see both sides of the frenzy of witchcraft with nuance making you question its existence. The film successfully manages to put you right in the shoes of paranoid Christians and you really see through their eyes and perhaps a little more of how one could turn on each other during this frenzy.
Story:
The film succeeds in many ways. Throughout the film, you question if black magic is overdramatized or real. The film convinces you that the events are harmless, which makes the ending even more enthralling. Anna Taylor Joy plays an innocent lead, which the film takes advantage of to elicit a more powerful emotional response. When the cards do unfold, you are truly shocked. I found myself wanting more, but perhaps a little too much.
Conclusion:
A chilling horror that unravels the frenzy of the witch trial phenomenon. It puts you at odds with the psychological aspects that turn societies and families against one another while also delivering a beautifully desaturated atmosphere. Witchcraft never felt so real.
Recommendations
Warm, nostalgic melancholy.