Somehow, I can only watch Robert Eggers' films in a movie theater. I usually really like them in the end, but it always takes me ages to get into the leisurely pace of the narrative. It's no different with 'The Witch', with the first half of the movie in particular being quite a slow burn.
However, I was fortunate enough to attend a screening of the film at a local cinema. So, eventually, I became fully immersed in this folk horror movie. And there's actually a lot to like. Eggers is known for his attention to historical detail, which is reflected in both the costumes and the dialogue. Meanwhile, his use of only natural light can result in a slightly too dark image, but it is still quite impressive.
The actors are also strong, especially Anya Taylor-Joy, who has already shown her huge potential in her film debut. Ralph Ineson also delivers as the head of the family, William, who is totally overwhelmed by the whole situation around him and can't do much more than chop wood.
The most important thing, however, is that the horror aspect of 'The Witch' also works. The slow narrative pace certainly helps to build up a really dense atmosphere at a leisurely pace until everything gets really creepy at some point. There are definitely a few strong scares too.
Ultimately, I can fully recommend the movie. However, you should definitely make sure you watch it completely without any distractions; otherwise, there's a risk that you'll tune out at some point.
Review by ToralfVIP 3BlockedParent2024-02-21T06:49:23Z
Somehow, I can only watch Robert Eggers' films in a movie theater. I usually really like them in the end, but it always takes me ages to get into the leisurely pace of the narrative. It's no different with 'The Witch', with the first half of the movie in particular being quite a slow burn.
However, I was fortunate enough to attend a screening of the film at a local cinema. So, eventually, I became fully immersed in this folk horror movie. And there's actually a lot to like. Eggers is known for his attention to historical detail, which is reflected in both the costumes and the dialogue. Meanwhile, his use of only natural light can result in a slightly too dark image, but it is still quite impressive.
The actors are also strong, especially Anya Taylor-Joy, who has already shown her huge potential in her film debut. Ralph Ineson also delivers as the head of the family, William, who is totally overwhelmed by the whole situation around him and can't do much more than chop wood.
The most important thing, however, is that the horror aspect of 'The Witch' also works. The slow narrative pace certainly helps to build up a really dense atmosphere at a leisurely pace until everything gets really creepy at some point. There are definitely a few strong scares too.
Ultimately, I can fully recommend the movie. However, you should definitely make sure you watch it completely without any distractions; otherwise, there's a risk that you'll tune out at some point.