The Witch - DVD, Digital

I heard about this movie and saw it had terrific reviews from many critics. The movie doesn't disappoint. It really takes you back to that puritan era where people lived in dread of god and the devil. The atmosphere of the film is amazing. It really takes you back to that time and place. There are some memorable scenes in this film too. When the baby disappears when playing peek a boo and what happens to him after. When the young boy finds the witch's hovel. When he is sick on his bed. The scene in the field where the oldest girl Tomison turns the tables on her younger sister when she gets accused of being a witch. There are others. The whole crew of actors is really good. And of course you have black Phillip. Baaaaaa! Not only is this a horror story, but is also a metaphor for coming of sexual age and also rebelling against a very strict authority. So there are layers there. But if that stuff doesn't interest you, no biggie, because it works great as a very intense, dark, horror movie. The only mild complaint is the use of old English, not that you can't understand what they mean (I don't mean unintelligible old English) if you hear it, it is just sometimes you can't catch what they are saying. I watched the film twice and the second time I caught everything that was said. Fortunately you can set the film up with subtitles so even that is not an issue. This film is not for everyone. It's a thinking mans (or woman's) horror movie. It is measured, dark and creepy. If that time in history, or witches, or dark horror are your things, you will like this film. If not, you should pass.

I love this movie

A very immersive horror movie in the classic sense. It's not full of sudden shocks or spectacular gore. What it does offer is steadily raising tension and a series of deeply disturbing scenes. Apparently they culled the story from various folk tales and evidence gathered in historic witch trials. It does seem very authentic, although if you have trouble understanding archaic English in vaguely British accents you may have some trouble getting through the dialogue. The plot revolves around a family of Puritans early in what I'm assuming is the Massachusetts Bay colony (they just refer to it as "the plantation") that gets banished and moves outside the fortress-like town. Except for the brief introductory scene much of the movie is centered on the family's small, struggling farmstead. Things begin to go awry when the infant son, Samuel, disappears without a trace. The film is equal parts Greek tragedy and psychological tension. For much of you're not even sure if there really is anything supernatural going on or these people are just going crazy due to their isolation and hardships. This is not a movie for everyone. It stays very true to its source material and if you're familiar with it AND you like deeply disturbing horror movies you will absolutely love this film. You will not like it if you're looking for dazzling creature effects, over the top gore, or a campy horror movie. Even when the characters joke with one another there's this constant, gnawing fear underlying everything. The pacing may seem slow if you're used to mainstream horrors or thrillers, and while it's not a gore-fest there are a couple of very disturbing images that are shown (albeit briefly or or in the relative background).

First things first, this movie is not a thrilling slasher flick or jumpscare fest. It’s not the kind of scary movie you watch with your friends because it’s fun and packed with suspense and startles. If you’re looking for that sort of movie you’ll likely be disappointed by this film. No, this film is slow, dismal and boring as hell. The dialogue is rendered difficult and tedious with its thick old English accent and vernacular. The plot is somewhat hard to follow, as it doesn’t provide turn after turn, twist after twist. It’s just not a fun movie to watch. It’s also amazing. The film really sits with you. Right from the first incident, you feel sick and uncomfortable. And those are the sorts of feelings that build throughout the film. There’s no masked killers jumping out to say boo, before you realize it’s really not so scary and have a laugh with your friends, humored by your own gullibility. Nothing ever jumps out. You never have the satisfaction of feeling that tinge of ridiculity for being scared. This movie never lets you release the tension and disgust; it never permits you a sigh of relief. It imprisons the horror inside you with chain and shackle and doesn’t let it out even after the movie ends. If you’re in the market for horror that can be appreciated on an artistic and symbolic level, you might just like this film. Otherwise, pass it up. There’s other great horror flicks to entertain you.

A little slow but very interesting. Love Anya Taylor Joy. Good movie.

Von dem Horrorfilm "The VVitch - A New England Folktale" des Regisseurs Robert Eggers kann ein Fan von subtilen Horrorgeschichten nur noch begeistert sein. Diese mit Mystery angereicherte Geschichte spielt in der Zeit der Pilgerväter und erinnert sofort an Nicholas Hynters Filmdrama "Hexenjagd" mit Winona Ryder, Joan Allen und Daniel Day Lewis, das die Ereignisse im Jahre 1692 in Salem, einer damals streng puritanischen Gemeinde im US-Staat Massachuetts aufgriff. Diese Hexenprozesse fanden damals in dieser streng puritanischen Gemeinde tatsächlich statt. In ihrem Verlauf wurden 20 Beschuldigte hingerichtet, 55 Menschen unter Folter zu Falschaussagen gebracht, 150 Verdächtigte inhaftiert und weitere 200 Menschen der Hexerei beschuldigt. Die Anschuldigungen dehnten sich innerhalb weniger Monate auf viele andere amerikanische Gemeinden aus. Eggers Film spielt kurz vor dieser Zeit um 1630. Zehn Jahre nachdem die Mayflower mit ersten Siedlern aus England an Bord im amerikanischen Plymouth anlegte. Zu diesen ersten Immigranten zählt auch die Familie des streng religiösen William (Ralph Ineson). Gemeinsam mit seiner Frau Katherine (Kate Dickie) erziehen sie ihre Kinder Thomasin (Anya Taylor Joy), Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw) und die kleinen Zwillinge Mercy (Ellie Grainger) und Jonas (Lucas Dawson) sehr streng nach den Geboten Gottes und der heiligen Schrift. Vor kurzem haben die vier Kinder noch ein kleines Geschwisterchen Samuel bekommen. Das Leben als Neubürger in einer Plantage erweist sich aber für den wenig angepassten Vater William als sehr schwierig. Daher nimmt der Zuschauer in der ersten Szene an einem Prozess der Kirchenältesten gegen ihn tiel, mit dem Ergebnis, dass er und seine Familie aus der Gemeinde ausgestoßen werden. Die Familie verlässt das Dorf und nach einer kurzen Reise von einigen Tagen finden sie am Rande eines großen Waldes ein neues, scheinbar ruhiges Zuhause. Dort wollen sie sich eine Existenz aufbauen. Das Leben ausserhalb der Zivilisation bedeutet aber viel Arbeit und vor allem viel Gebet, damit dieses Vorhaben des Existenzaufbaus auch gelingen mag. Als der Winter naht werden die Pflanzen, die William gesät hat, von einer Krankheit befallen. Da der Mais so nicht eßbar ist, tauscht William heimlich den geliebten Silberbecher seiner Frau gegen Tierfallen ein. Die platziert er im nahen Wald, um dort erfolgreich Wild zu töten. Dann verschwindet der kleine Samuel wie von Geisterhand vor den Augen der ältesten Tochter Thomasin, die auf ihn aufpassen sollte. Dieses Verschwindet verändert die gesamte Familie. Die Mutter weint nur noch und betet, der Vater sieht nur die Jagd im Vordergrund und geht mit seinem Ältesten in den Wald zur Jagd, was er der Frau verheimlicht. Doch in den Fallen ist kein Tier. Aber sie entdecken auf dem Heimweg plötzlich einen Hasen, den der Vater schießen will. Doch auch dies misslingt - stattdessen verletzt sich der Vater durch den Schuß leicht am Gesicht. Während Mercy und Jonas vermehrt mit dem wilden Ziegenbock "Schwarzer Philipp" spielen, sieht der Zuschauer eine Szene im Wald. Eine dort lebende Hexe schmiert sich in der Nacht mit Blut ein. Und damit verstärkt sich auch der Konflikt innerhalb der Familie. Während William dies für eine Prüfung Gottes hält, denkt Katherine zunehmend an einen Fluch. Und dabei lässt sie ihren Kummer immer mehr an Thomasin aus... Wer ein Faible für düstere Märchen mag, der kommt bei diesem großartigen Horrorbeitrag voll auf seine Kosten. Am Anfang erinnerte mich der Film sogar an den hervorragenden Märchenfilm "Das Märchen der Märchen" von Matteo Garrone, der für mich zu den absoluten Highlights dieses Filmjahres zählt, aber sehr bald verwandelt sich diese mystische, geheimnisvolle Stimmung immer mehr in einen fiesen Alptraum. Dies geschieht aber alles äusserst subtil und glaubwürdig, die Atmosphäre bleibt stets auf dem höchsten Level erhalten. Grandiose Kameraarbeit von Jarin Blaschke, meines Erachtens ein potentieller Oscar-Kandidat. Wie auch die junge Anya Taylor-Joy als Thomasin. Aber auch Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie und Harvey Scimshaw liefern sehr gute Darstellungen ab. Umso erstaunlicher, dass "The VVitch" Eggers Regiedebüt ist. Dies hat er sorgfältig geplant, denn er hat mit Historikern zusammengearbeitet um die Geschichte sehr authentisch darzustellen. Er las Prozessakten, zeitgenössischen Überlieferungen - sogar landwirtschaftliche Abhandlungen. Ein Perfektionsbestreben, dass der Cineast ja nur von wenigen Ausnahmeregisseuren wie Luchino Visconti gewohnt war. Zu diesen Elementen ließ er sich aber auch von den Gedanken in seiner kindheit inspieren. So lässt sich das Märchenhafte dieser Geschichte ableiten. Eggert hat als Kind geglaubt, dass die Wälder hinter seinem Elternhaus von Geistern, Hexen und Dämonen bewohnt sind. Neben den menschlichen Darstellern sind im Film mehrere Tiere, darunter ein Hund, ein Pferd, Ziegen, Hasen und ein Rabe zu sehen. Und ja, der Teufel hat viele Gesichter. Ein perfekter Grusler für Halloween und einer der besten Filme des Jahres.

Film à thème sur la foi en dieu d’une famille et la sorcellerie ,poignant

Excelente producto, llegó en buen estado.

In 1630 William, a God-fearing Puritan father, along with his wife and children are banished from a New England settlement and travel to the edge of a gray and foreboding forest where they build a farm. One day their budding adolescent daughter, Thomasin, is tending to her new baby brother when suddenly, while playing a game of peek-a-boo near the forest, the baby mysteriously vanishes. Later her oldest brother Caleb disappears as well while in the woods with Thomasin. When Caleb wanders back naked he is not quite the same and the family becomes unhinged. Thomasin's young twin brother and sister accuse her of being a witch. She in turn accuses them of conversing with the family billy goat, Black Phillip. Enraged the father boards all three in the stable. Things only get worse. The directing, script, cinematography, costumes, sets, and acting are all of high quality. The music helps create a mood of darkness and despair. The pace is slow, deliberate, and sometimes dull. The archaic English can prove difficult but I watched the DVD with subtitles! Director/writer Robert Eggers takes his story serious, trying to bring to life a 17th century vision of a world that includes witches. Warning: If you are looking for a scary movie, this will disappoint. It is more about atmosphere. In this regard it is like "It Follows."

Si tratta di un dvd non di un bluray, quindi ha contenuti corrispondenti alla povertà della sua produzione, che è chiaramente a basso costo. Ma non fatevi ingannare dal mio prologo, l'opera prima, almeno in termini di popolarità cinematografica per Robert Eggers, è del 2015 e in essa si contengono tutte le premesse della sua futura cinematografia: un thriller ponderato, a sfondo religioso che parte da vere testimonianze dell'America puritana del 17esimo secolo e da una ricostruzione filologica dell'inglese antico utilizzato nei dialoghi di grande accuratezza che, metodologicamente, si ripete anche nella minuziosa ricostruzione dell'inglese del diciannovesimo secolo nel New England americano, con l'opera seconda di Eggers, The Lighthouse, uscita nel 2019 e che ho avuto modo di recensire pochi giorni fa. Il talento di Eggers è la dimostrazione che si può fare un ottimo cinema con piccole produzioni. I punti forti del film: - il bianco e nero, che sarebbe meglio definire un bianco e grigio in cui si intuisce la trama del tempo che unisce passato a presente, che significa? Significa che questa pellicola ci mostra filologicamente dove si trova la radice delle paranoie nordamericane che ossessionano il corrispondente genere horror in letteratura e cinema: il male che proviene dall'ignoto, l'ignoto che si trova nella nostra mente quando dobbiamo affrontare le realtà di un mondo nuovo, selvaggio, un terreno di conquista che, all'improvviso, può diventare un terreno di sconfitta, di perdita, di totale incapacità di assumere il controllo delle nostre vite e conseguentemente, di perdita della nostra razionalità, che sfocia in follia e genera mostri.. Allen Ginsberg ha detto qualcosa a tal proposito sul sogno americano.. - l'interpretazione dei sei protagonisti, che non è affatto cinematografica, è teatrale: si ha spesso l'impressione di assistere ad uno stage drammatico in un teatro shakespeariano a Stratford Upon Avon.. la voce del padre, interpretata dall'attore inglese Ralph Michael Ineson è la protagonista di tutta la prima parte del film, quella in cui la luce non ha ancora ceduto al sopravvento della tenebra, non è la voce di un padre di famiglia, è la voce di un profeta destinato al martirio che, sostenuto dalla fede in dio, conduce la propria prole alle propaggini della foresta, dove condurre una vita morigerata lontana dalla comunità da cui è stato cacciato per eccesso di zelo nella suo credo.. - la trama narrativa, veramente talentuosa questa sceneggiatura, che fa capire come il peccato si insinui nelle menti dei credenti nonostante la rigida osservazione dei propri principi religiosi che, proprio perchè tali, possono offrire rifugio ad un male che, come dice la bibbia, si presenta sempre da bene.. - la totale mancanza di propensione alla brutalità del dettaglio ripugnante, dei fiumi di sangue che spesso contraddistinguono l'orror vacui del genere horror americano che, in qualche modo, deve essere riempito con qualcosa, appunto un sangue finto che è messo a disposizione dello spettatore medio come un qualsiasi succo di mirtillo al bar a fianco della sala di proiezione. Ebbene nei film di Eggers il sangue è vero, ed è vero perchè tinge il bianco e grigio della pellicola con poche gocce: esso non riempie il vuoto della narrazione ma la evidenzia, enfatizzandone il contenuto morale ma perchè in Italia non fanno horror così? Buona visione PS spedizione nella norma