The Witch (2016)
New England, 1630: William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness, with five children. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another. 'The Witch' is a chilling portrait of a family unraveling within their own fears and anxieties, leaving them prey for an inescapable evil. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Robert Eggers
Written By: Robert Eggers
Starring: Julian Richings, Kate Dickie, Ralph Ineson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Wahab Chaudhry, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, Lucas Dawson, Bathsheba Garnett, Sarah Stephens
Genre: Horror
AKAs: The VVitch: A New-England Folktale, The VVitch
Where to Stream
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The Witch belongs to 58 collections
1. A24 (collaborative: moderated by elhenzo - 18 stars)
2. Edgar Wright 1000 Favorite Movies (Aug 2016) (collaborative: moderated by Aron Ericson - 17 stars)
3. Directorial debut (collaborative: moderated by djross - 16 stars)
4. Films available in HD (collaborative: moderated by kubricksucks - 13 stars)
5. Witches (collaborative: moderated by Moribunny - 12 stars)
6. Occult (collaborative: moderated by mattburgess - 8 stars)
7. Folk Horror (collaborative: moderated by BeeDub - 8 stars)
8. Satanic (collaborative: moderated by djross - 6 stars)
9. Arthouse Horror (collaborative: moderated by BeeDub - 6 stars)
10. 17th century period film (collaborative: moderated by djross - 5 stars)
11. Top 3000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 5 stars)
12. Christianity (collaborative: moderated by Ag0stoMesmer - 4 stars)
13. Capsules, guest reviews, list candidates... (366weirdmovies) (collaborative: moderated by sesito71 - 4 stars)
14. edkrak films to see (public: edkrak - 4 stars)
15. dark religion: occultism, evil priests, sects, demons, exorcism, satan (collaborative: moderated by livelove - 3 stars)
16. Top 1000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 3 stars)
17. The Next Picture Show Podcast (collaborative: moderated by trippingly - 2 stars)
18. Cinema Sins (collaborative: moderated by Phantom Nook - 2 stars)
19. Vulture's 13 Best Horror Movies of 2016 (collaborative: moderated by jeff_h - 2 stars)
20. Setting: isolated cabins or houses. (collaborative: moderated by tipar - 2 stars)
21. Unravelling the Narrative (public: lillakniven - 2 stars)
22. The AV Club's 100 Best Movies of the 2010s (public: TychoCelchuu - 2 stars)
23. Top 2000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 2 stars)
24. filmekimi 2015 (collaborative: moderated by ceseth - 1 star)
25. 89th Academy Reminder List (2016) (collaborative: moderated by cowfrappe - 1 star)
26. Indy (collaborative: moderated by MaryPlayfair - 1 star)
27. Netflix Sverige (collaborative: moderated by Jakobostgren - 1 star)
28. Top Film of Each Year (public: Judge Holden - 1 star)
29. 2016, Best of (public: Matthew Parkinson - 1 star)
30. 2016 Films to Watch (public: kendell - 1 star)
31. AV Club 20 Best Films of 2016 (public: TychoCelchuu - 1 star)
32. Best of 2016 (public: kendell - 1 star)
33. toucé (public: rnest - 1 star)
34. Nuns, witches, heretics, victims (public: djross - 1 star)
35. Sundance 2015 - U.S. Dramatic Competition (collaborative: moderated by chemical404)
36. Fantastic Fest 2015 (collaborative)
37. Dreadit's Top 20 Films of 2016 (collaborative: moderated by justineann)
38. Witch (collaborative: moderated by AzulA)
39. Dead Meat: Kill Count (collaborative: moderated by delollio)
40. Watched in 2020 (collaborative)
41. Incorrect criticker release dates (collaborative: moderated by JooJoo)
42. Movies I've Seen In Theaters (public: SirStuckey)
43. Owned (BD) (public: bizarre_eye)
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58. Challenge: The 100 (public: tomwalsh)
Browse the full list of collections
| Stars | User | Rating | |
| 47 |  |
BillyShears | 90 92nd |
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Nothing really sets a movie's tone faster than a baby in a mortar and pestle.
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| 17 | theficionado | 100 97th |
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On one side, nature: obscene, murderous, insensate to pain & suffering. On the other, civilization as an attempt to master & control nature (human reproduction included): hopelessly compromised by hypocrisy, arrogance, & weakness. The Witch paints the founding of America as a war between an ascetic ideology of domination & a disinterested, godless reality, a war that gives rise (um... literally) to wholesale slaughter in the name of self-interest. "Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?"
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| 17 |  |
Barthalen | 87 94th |
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Incredibly atmospheric and continually immersing us in a sense of dread, The Witch is the type of horror film that draws me in effortlessly and gets under my skin more easily than a buttered-up tick. The commitment to making the movie look and sound realistic deserves praise, not unlike my new hooved master from the Third Netherhell.
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| 14 |  |
Suture Self | 8 81st |
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THE WITCH is a treat for American horror fans because it's ambitious, with an enormous attention to detail and an intimate, actor-driven approach. It's a chamber drama in line with Bergman's "Silence of God" trilogy. At least, that's the high mark it aims for (it misses). Horror isn't its raison d'etre, horror is the byproduct of a uniquely American convergence: New World anxieties intersecting with Christian fanaticism. It falters here and there, but this is an impressive debut from Eggers.
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| 12 |  |
Kojiless | 97 98th |
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Every generation sodomizes the English language, sloppily pleasuring itself in short-lived rapture then leaving its stinking seed to fester and rot in barren fields that will one day be paved over--stained with leaking oil from a tricked-out pickup blaring Kid Rock and navigated by the next generation of mirthless sodomites. I fucking loved this movie.
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| 12 |  |
Leonardis | 92 71st |
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There is some fairly chilling imagery (e.i., the rabbit) and it does a great job building up tension for it's 92 minute run-time, and if you're a patient viewer, you'll be just as invested as I was. It's short and it's not so in-your-face and jumpy like a lot of modern horror films are. Acting is all really good, even the younger stars, and it's also beautifully filmed. It gets better each viewing as well. If you're patient with your movies, I definitely recommend it.
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| 11 |  |
omgfridge | 9 92nd |
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Didn't at any stage let me feel at ease. Among each unnerved situation are incredible shots and sublime performances. Any film that has me thinking and talking about it weeks after I watched it, is definitely something that has ticked a lot of boxes. That cut to the crow, wow.
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| 10 |  |
eCitizen | 60 59th |
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This came so close to being something really special, but they just had to throw in the supernatural nonsense. It could have been a quite exceptional tale, but apparently the writers are just not clever enough to write something great. I loved the performances from Anya Taylor-Joy. Ralph Ineson was also exceptional as the father. Kate Dickie had a no-win role. What fails here is the story. Take the garbage about the Devil out and make it about superstition and you would have a wonderful classic.
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| 8 |  |
Alex Watkins | 5 91st |
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Eggers' influences and touchstones share in common a grim, deeply serious worldview meant to convey the uneasy fact of existence in a world in which God may or may not be present. (Think McCarthy, or Bergman, or Current 93.) Less a horror film than a study of existential crisis, man grappling with the cruel indifference of nature. Needless to say, that's not for everybody, but there's a purity to The Witch that makes it, at the very least, an admirably serious work of art.
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| 8 |  |
KasperL | 95 98th |
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This masterfully directed art-film-like horror movie features picture perfect shots and a wonderful use of old language. It's thematically rich and refreshingly different.
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| 7 |  |
frederic_g54 | 9 90th |
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(2nd viewing) One of those films where when it ended, I had to see it again ASAP as repeat viewings allow for a stronger appreciation and an even better understanding of the film's technical merits and expertly-woven themes, respectively. In that regard, Eggers' directorial debut stands as a thought-provoking, genuinely haunting entry into the horror canon, one that doesn't resort to cheap tricks or tacky jump scares to paralyse its audience. People bored by this need to STFU.
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| 7 |  |
Luna6ix | 52 9th |
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There's a lot to like about "The VVitch" the camerawork is good, it's unsettling, the sets are fantastic. It's the nontechnical stuff that makes me score it so poorly. For some reason, that double "V" thing irritates me beyond explanation, I feel like it's some hipster-esque statement, one that makes me want to punch the director about as much as the retarded-ly puritanical characters. The mother in this is terrible, the ending made me want to shit on the floor in the theater. Fuck this movie.
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| 7 |  |
INDYATMN | 59 9th |
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Reviews rave about the "atmosphere" and tone of dread the film allegedly creates. Like Blair Witch, it seems watching people fret for most of a film's running time qualifies as compelling horror. Sure the cinematography and acting are far better than most horror films, but so what? I don't expect scares any longer but the film is sparse in creepiness as well: no more than 5 minutes of scenes qualify as genuinely unsettling imagery. What's next? A film interlaced with a few creepy photos?
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| 7 |  |
SirStuckey | 85 87th |
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You are constantly sitting in dread and suspense the entire movie. I generally like these atmospheric horror movies more than the jump scares and ultra-gore movies that seem to dominate the genre. My only complaint is that at times it was hard to understand the dialogue, both because they tried to make it as historically accurate as possible, and at times the audio wasn't clear enough and I couldn't make out all the words. Last thing was potentially a theater problem.
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| 7 |  |
karamazov. | 29 35th |
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Ultimately insubstantial chamber drama, but w/ two things going for it: 1) the period dialogue and research are wonderful, and 2) by not going completely nuts-- as much as there's a place for that [cf. "The Devils"]-- with the religious aspect, the family's faith, and by extension their dialogue and their -fear- is -completely- believable. Also, seeing this in a nearly empty theatre, I enjoyed hearing this elderly woman in the back interjecting w/ the occasional "SHIT!" or "CHRIST!"
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| 6 |  |
Moribunny | 75 84th |
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Wouldst thou like to live deliciously? Refreshingly nice horror costume drama, well made with high production values (you can really tell that the director had worked as a production and costume designer) and excellent acting. It has a rare degree of sincerity, and its effort toward authenticity shows. While all the themes are familiar, The Witch does sidestep the corniest cliches and tropes, delivering a worthy, straightforwardly creepy resolution.
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| 6 |  |
terrymac | 80 84th |
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I can see that this will rub a few folk up the wrong way. The "ye olde wurlde" speak doesn't always resonate, and the score verges on intrusive at points, but taken as a whole the film really works. Creepy, atmospheric, and occasionally ambiguous, a lot of the themes aren't fully explored in the short running time, but get enough attention to have an effect. This is technically very sound, and the cast, particularly the younger actors, is very good. Definitely worth a rewatch.
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| 6 |  |
MadMan | 54 10th |
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Black Phillip is the film's MVP.
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| 6 |  |
Ytadel | 5 57th |
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Yeah I guess I'm kind of the dumbass/contrarian on the outside looking in with this one. I could respect its authentic historical vibe and slow-burn dread and moody visuals and convincing performances and of course Black Phillip, but honestly I found it such a staid, somnambulant experience. Like, I was perfectly well-rested going in and I found myself fighting back yawns and my eyelids getting heavy by the end. I'm not much of a Kubrick nut so I'm not surprised by people's Kubrick comparisons.
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| 6 |  |
Judge Holden | 8 94th |
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[TIFF Experience] Maybe my impression is clouded by the thrill of seeing the midnight premiere, but it's hard to deny just how fresh and even frightening this chiller is. As much a descendant of Kubrick as it is of Bergman, The Witch inherits an interest in exploring an unfathomable but very human kind of "evil" and does so with the same slow-burn intensity and meticulousness of its ancestors. The cinematography and music are especially eerie. It is a beautiful, ominous, and serious debut.
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| 6 |  |
FrederikA | 85 92nd |
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Ambient horror tale (of the best kind) that takes 17th century tall tales, folklore and religion, adds a dash of evil nature metafors (and milk and butter), grinds it all up and delivers a more or less perfect (and deeply disturbing) horror-instant-classic.
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| 6 |  |
filmfreak88 | 85 89th |
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A supremely well-crafted and deeply satisfying horror film that drips with pervasive dread and unnerving atmosphere. Eggers confidently explores the oppressive hold that religious fanaticism can have on man's psyche and he is equally successful in his rebuke of the misogyny and patriarchal repression of ages past. The film is a wicked delight right down to its deliciously perverse and subversive ending.
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| 6 |  |
Cinema_Asia | 80 84th |
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If you view this with the perspective that it's based on new world folklore and an old wive's tale from the settler days it becomes much more intriguing. Only "flaw" is the cacophonic sound is jarring and a bit overcooked at times to the point of distraction. The child actors in this are simply amazing and without their stellar acting this would have fallen apart quickly. The wooded atmosphere and creepy biblical fanaticism all add to the weird aura of this film right to the eerie conclusion.
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| 6 |  |
Hawkins | 86 82nd |
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Humble family enjoys seasonal retreat as part of their Game of Thrones consolation prize but unfortunately forget to check themselves before they VVriggity VVreck themselves. Soon the poor bastards are up to their hat buckles in bedevilment with no Jesus in sight and the only upwards mobility involves a freaky pimp/ho contract with a Skyrim NPC. As the Daygo kids say, "Haggard, brah".
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| 5 |  |
djross | 55 52nd |
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Good idea, generally well done, but it seemed to this viewer that the conventionally "natural" acting style, while probably meant as a concession to audiences, detracted somewhat from the ability to conjure a nightmare world: something a little more alien, or perhaps almost trancelike, was called for, if the filmmakers were hoping to transport audiences to a radically other, horrifically frightening, dark world of yore.
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| 5 |  |
Anomaly | 75 59th |
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The Witch is about an hour's worth of solid paranoid family drama surrounded by weaker bookends. In other words, it's at its weakest when it's at its weirdest. The soundtrack is a blatant imitation of Ligeti, which is fine, but it's often way too loud. Amateur mistake? But the acting is solid, so it still has that going for it.
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| 5 |  |
Icarus | 84 75th |
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Well done psychological horror. The director wisely leaves the supernatural elements with some measure of mystery, makes ample use of close ups to increase our sense of disorientation, and creates an interesting theological and sociological portrait of this family in crisis. The Calvinist emphasis on personal sin and the corresponding pursuit of holiness combined with a belief that believers have to perceive God's judgment through circumstances leads to a disturbing and unsustainable environment
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| 5 |  |
Dean Franz | 90 89th |
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FUCK YEAH *smears self in butter* WOOOOOO *climaxes* *smears self in even more butter*
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| 5 |  |
mwgerb | 75 91st |
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This is more supernatural thriller than it is horror. Regardless, it's one of the most masterful entries of either genre in recent memory. For my money, the most successful (both technically and in the creepiness it evokes) of the recent spat of art house genre films.
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| 5 |  |
DavidBlast | 100 98th |
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Wheeeere's the BABY?! THERE HE.. Oh. Oh! OH NO YOU DIDN'T!
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| 5 |  |
Matthew Parkinson (CineMarter) | 80 89th |
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More creepy than outright scary, The VVitch succeeds based on its desire to soak us in atmosphere and ideas rather than jump startles or blood - although we get small tastes of both of those, too. Thanks to a great cast and a penchant for period authenticity, the film immerses us to the point that we feel like a member of the family - and then proceeds to ruin it all. It's a slow burn, and if you are expecting a splatterfest you'll leave disappointed, but this is a rare breed of horror movie. [Full Review]
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| 5 |  |
Darren | 89 90th |
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Pride goeth before destruction. I thought I'd cooled on brute austere film like this but maybe I just hate Haneke. Wrapped in religious symbolism/belief and light touches of tarkovsky/Bergman is a movie about a woman's liberation "Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?"
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| 5 | damil | 85 95th |
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If you're the sort of horror fan who can't stand anything 'artsy', and wants a jump scare every 5 minutes - this is not your movie. The cinematography is beautiful, yet natural. The score is amazing, creating such atmosphere and dread. In terms of the story, it's fairly simplistic, but explores fascinating themes. The language is wonderful, and the actors speak it very convincingly. The performances in general are fantastic from all involved. It's an extremely impressive debut.
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| 5 |  |
ratedargh | 85 75th |
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Excellent in tone, performances, feel, and horror. It doesn't give too much away and leaves a lot up to interpretation. This does not hold the audience's hand. One of the better recent horror films.
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| 5 |  |
bakcheia | 84 76th |
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I'm a sucker for anything witch themed, and while I think this could have been better in some ways, I was so totally enthralled by it. Granted, a great majority of the actual horror occurs in the final 20 minutes of the film (but then again, what else should I expect?). The tension, acting, and the awesome effects totally push this film forward, but I felt like it could have taken a more creative route. I like how it questions what's more evil or evil at all: fanaticism or living deliciously?
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| 5 |  |
backwardsuit | 77 72nd |
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Beyond the mysticized style of setting the period, there's not really a whole lot of fresh story in there. Not to say it lacks interesting drama or compelling themes, it just seems more interested in experimenting with atmosphere & tension than working the story. To its significant credit though, it does succeed wonderfully as a horror experience although some of the setups & stylistics seemed slightly conflicting or hokey to me. Feels a lot like a directorial debut. A promising one at that.
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| 4 |  |
Nathan S | 6 99th |
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Often drawn in the lineage of Bergman, and of course it's true that the Swede is cinema's godfather of Christian malaise, but I think The Witch, in its folklore lyricism and aesthetic purity, also bares strong resemblance to Mizoguchi. In any case, it is singular among modern American horror films, made with a sophistication sorely missing from its contemporaries, opting for discretion and meticulousness, and remarkable for its insistence on visual and linguistic authenticity.
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| 4 |  |
twincinema | 75 64th |
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Great atmospheric horror. The tension between an established (or an attempt to establish) a household protected by religion, with the large (evil) wooded area, creates the film's dread. The natural lighting is wonderful and helps create the mood.
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| 4 |  |
Obdurate | 75 52nd |
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I thought I'd love it but I only liked it. You can't fault the foreboding atmosphere and the cinematography, along with the wonderful performances. The dialogue is hard to understand at times, but there was a lot of research here. My issue is that for as creepy as it is--not allowing us to feel any sanctuary from the tone--it doesn't have enough moments in it that impacted me. There were a couple, but I wasn't terrified (and I thought I would be). Works more as a drama than a horror.
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| 4 | sellis | 85 75th |
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The White Ribbon meets Blair Witch with some Antichrist imagery. Excellent performances and dialogue. The themes are rich and explored every scene. Surprisingly entertaining and doesn't overstay its welcome. The very ending is a bit over the top but still appropriate. As good as It Follows from last year, except more authentically human.
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| 4 |  |
letskillrobots | 24 70th |
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they misspelled witch
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| 4 |  |
JacoIII | 43 73rd |
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Extremely disturbing. Uses 2001-style discordant choir pieces to amp up the tension and terror. I was legitimately terrified through most of this (that being said, I don't have a particularly strong stomach for horror). What I loved was that this was a horror film based entirely around empathy. The things that these characters fear (God, the Devil, Heaven, Hell) are things that I barely think about on a day-to-day basis. Transferring their fear to me is an impressive feat.
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| 4 |  |
Sweekoden | 73 70th |
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I was invested from start to finish, which is a rarity for me regardless of quality. Great cast -- the oldest son's performance was awesome and daring for someone his age; the father with the bass in place of a voice box could not have been more convincing in his role -- and characterization; always enough tension, never so much that I turned on any of the characters. Low-key cool score, too. Glad I knew almost nothing about it, though what little I knew was already too much. 22nd film of 2018.
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| 4 |  |
misterlizard | 95 98th |
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Unbelievably good. I was amazed to find this was Eggers' first big film as it feels like something Kubrick would have directed at the top of his game. The atmosphere and authenticity of its 17th century New England setting delivers a constant feeling of terror and isolation. The cast do an amazing job with the great script, all in authentic dialect of the time and the child actors are the best I've seen for a long time. Probably my best film of 2016.
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| 4 |  |
Jerky | 50 46th |
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Zero chills, zero scares....people who call this horror are wimps! You need an old English dictionary to keep up with the dialogue and adding in obnoxious, screeching music is just as much a movie sin as jump scares are. Just because something is different, doesn't make it automatically good. The one good thing that can come out of this being a critical success is that, maybe studios will make less Paranormal Activity films and take more risks.
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| 4 |  |
guy piranha | 80 90th |
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i'd say it's a great movie, it's just not a great horror movie. granted, some of the superb imagery might be unsettling if you are not completely numb yet. but what worked best for me was the conflict at its core. if you want to make a movie set hundreds of years ago compelling, you have to give it contemporary relevance. man's attempt to hide, but strangely also legitimize, his animal nature behind a mask of faith will carry that relevance for some time to come. and watch out for taylor-joy!
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| 4 | xacviant | 77 44th |
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In Puritan New England, a family living in religious exile is beset by witchcraft, but is torn apart by their own paranoia. The story is really a framework for the striking camerawork and staging, and at times the film feels more like a calling card for writer/director Robert Eggers than a fully formed narrative. But his skills and the generally strong acting keep one watching, even considering the sometimes-poky pace and unsatisfactory denouement. Black Philip, by the by, is badly underused.
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| 4 |  |
Paxton | 77 82nd |
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Not to rip off MadMan but Black Phillip is the G.O.A.T.
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| 4 |  |
juntakinte99 | 50 9th |
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I don't know who to scapegoat (pun intended) for this film being such a mess. It looks murky & has an overly stylized dialogue that kept me at arm's length. Most of all, The Witch misses an opportunity to tell an impactful story. Its big themes--evangelical Christianity, fear of others, & family secrets--are worth exploring given our current cultural and political landscape. But the script fails by not having a good take on them. I literally forgot that I'd seen this movie--on my walk home.
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| 4 |  |
JaiGuy | 50 4th |
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The atmosphere was great, but the tension was lost on me. Did not find a bit of this tense. I would rather have watched a high school rendition of The Crucible.
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| 4 |  |
Jasongirl67 | 5 1st |
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I'd Rather Slam My Head Into A Wall Repeatedly Before Watching This Crap Again
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| 4 |  |
Quintonjamin | 70 66th |
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Robert Eggers makes some weird movies. It's similar to Hereditary for me in that the supernatural scares don't hit me as hard, but it's very unsettling throughout and made extremely well.
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| 3 |  |
Cowman | 85 96th |
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I was hoping for a little bit more in the finale (especially after that baby-crushing start!), but then again, If Satan would talk sweet to me like that I would also sign his book in an instant.
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| 3 |  |
caiman | 90 92nd |
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Rich with thematic details, this is a brilliant movie about man's struggle to understand god's intentions in the face of insurmountable evil. It's also about our tendency to jump to paranoid conclusions when we're presented with stuff we can't explain. But like most good horror, just because the characters are paranoid doesn't mean the world isn't out to get them. Beautifully shot, perfectly acted, and pretty damn scary.
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| 3 |  |
Mentaculus | 95 95th |
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Easily one of the best debut films of the last decade. Eggers' craft is immediately evident in a complex narrative so tight and so unnerving, you cannot add or take anything away from what is an inspirational, consummate horror experience - one easily compared to Day of Wrath in tone, quality, and moral. (Of that, as a former Jesuit once tried explaining to me, Satan is never really after those easily seduced - he's stealing souls from the Kingdom. ...)
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| 3 |  |
Calexico | 80 66th |
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Overall great premise, direction, writing, acting setting, etc. Pretty incredible in a lot of ways. My one big problem is with the long shots of the woods paired with super dramatic soundtracking -- it was trying to do way too much and ended up being extremely melodramatic and almost comical, especially in the eyes of a New Englander who can't help recognizing his own backyard in the images.
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| 3 |  |
VinegarBob | 80 79th |
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Literate and quite restrained horror tale that could have been even more effective had the supernatural elements been more ambiguous, as the film shines when focusing on the religious fervour, paranoia and self doubt of the characters. The last ten minutes or so let the film down somewhat but overall it's atmospheric, beautifully shot and features good performances all round - especially Anya Taylor-Joy.
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| 3 |  |
TrixRabbi | 88 95th |
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Powerful tension between the very real presence of black magic and the complete absence of God or Christ.
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| 3 |  |
NothingsGood | 5 3rd |
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Like every A24 movie, an exercise in how to create atmosphere for 90 minutes with absolutely nothing else happening at all. Film students will LOVE it. If you're looking for tension, horror, thrills or anything other than people talking in "historically accurate dialect" then it's probably best to avoid this. Best actor is the black goat. The movie's as stupid as the VV instead of W in the poster. Calling this the Drive of horror movies is somehow an insult to Drive. 5 points for lighting.
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| 3 |  |
bof | 79 80th |
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Best horror period piece I've seen since "Sauna". Layered, atmospheric, genuinely and consistently unnerving, The Witch knows when to play the expected beats and when not to. #relationshipgoats
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| 3 |  |
Barraoc | 90 95th |
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The Witch is unnerving as all hell. It places you right into the wilds of New England with the unfortunate family and doesn't let you leave until the credits roll. I'll take this over jump scares any time. A rarity for sure.
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| 3 |  |
Dakota99 | 7 77th |
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The Witch lends itself into the type of horror that is based on how much can it draw you into its actual story. Few and far between is it truly scary, but it does a great job of demonstrating emotional toll and study of ideals/beliefs. It's a pretty steady, slow burn of a film that I'd say would take multiple viewing to fully understand it 100%. Robert Eggers has a lot of interesting ideas, and Taylor-Joy really did well too. It goes to without say, it's pretty solid and effective.
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| 3 |  |
sludgefeast | 60 45th |
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Why did they reveal that the witch was real and that she had kidnapped the baby right at the beginning? What a stupid, stupid decision. It undermines the tension the movie is trying to create, and the otherwise amazing ending. It was so well-made too, and it's exactly the kind of movie I should love. But that 2 minute scene ruined it.
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| 3 |  |
pyrosexual | 66 18th |
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How is this not boring and pretentious?
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| 3 |  |
Babycarrot | 100 85th |
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minus one point only because the atonal choir was too much like the sound in 2001 whenever you see the monolith and it took me out of the fly-on-the-wall element this movie offered; plus one point cuz it's an amazing movie
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| 2 |  |
Actionberg | 80 71st |
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Kind of a less extreme version of Antichrist, which I mean as a compliment to both films.
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| 2 |  |
DMCrimson | 87 96th |
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Amidst feeling tense and fear, how can you not also feel happily satisfied when you watch the ending, knowing that the movie perfectly stuck the landing?
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| 2 |  |
TheDenizen | 75 74th |
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A family of farmers living near a remote forest in 17th Century New England experience a series of misfortunes and begin to blame unseen supernatural forces. Generates an awesome sense of dread, mostly using the psychotic religious fervor of the family to ratchet up the tension. Really solid script, grim sound design, and bleak cinematography...it's an excellent throwback to Hammer Horror witchcraft/satanism flicks, which were more about creepy atmosphere than action and gore.
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| 2 | legstump | 75 80th |
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Wouldst thou like to live deliciously? Yes. Yes I would.
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| 2 |  |
PeaceAnarchy | 77 51st |
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I really enjoyed the paranoid thriller aspect but was less interested in the horror aspect. I really like how the film zeroes in on this family and we get to witness how their isolation makes them strong at first but leads to their downfall as mistrust and fear take over their lives. The actors do a really good job and the atmosphere strikes that balance of creepy but realistic where what you don't see creates suspicion and doubt. Then you get to see and it loses something, but it's still good.
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| 2 |  |
amerigo | 92 97th |
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Seeped in authenticity and bare-faced candor this carefully constructed period horror is tense and impactful. The tight script and masterful performances just suck you into its desolate, isolated world. Reminscent of Anti-Christ, there's a gloomy moodiness to this film that's straight out of the historical "Witch House" in Salem.
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| 2 |  |
td888 | 60 58th |
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I can see why it has some very high ratings, but it didn't just work for me. Maybe if I knew the following beforehand, I would have rated it differently. Who knows.........
..."This film was inspired by many folktales, fairy tales and written accounts of historical witchcraft, including journals, diaries and court records. Much of the dialogue comes directly from these period sources"...
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| 2 |  |
roonay3k | 40 14th |
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Unique for sure. But that doesn't matter much when the story basicly sucks. This is far from a horror movie. More like Drama with a couple of semi horror scenes. I aprreciate the attempt Robert, but you have to do way better than this. A plus for the acting. Especially the kids.
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| 2 |  |
Vandelay1 | 73 83rd |
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good movie
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| 2 |  |
dst7175 | 30 19th |
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I just couldn't get into it. Got a decent nap.
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| 2 |  |
TheRealJ-Ro | 75 55th |
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I think the best recent example I can think of that matches this movie tonally would be The Babadook. This one's a slow burn for its entire runtime, with escalating tension and dread, steeped in symbolism. Given its basis in 17th century folk tales, the characters can be forgiven for being fairly archetypal and wooden (hell, you get that in characters TODAY). If you're a tone junky like me, you'll find a lot to like here, even if it doesn't stick with you long-term. Check this one out for sure!
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| 2 |  |
Neonman | 79 60th |
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A horror film that actually makes me feel feelings of fear!? How unusual. Though maybe a bit overdone on the soundtrack side of things, as well as a wonky start when the family doesn't care too much about the mysterious disappearance of their baby, this builds up ye olde religious fanaticism amongst this family until it passes breaking point and is just left in splinters and debris. The second half contains quite a number of properly scary scenes, which I think is owed to some bizarre acting.
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| 2 |  |
WWallce4prez | 92 98th |
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The sense of dread that The Witch elicits is pretty incredible. Be it the unsettling score, the eerie vernacular, or the brooding photography, Eggers gives a solid debut. This is fresh horror like nothing else out there. Loved it.
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| 2 |  |
EmeraldGuard | 50 16th |
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Where's a priest when you need one?
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| 2 |  |
lupister | 49 51st |
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Some great sets and ambience, but no real tense or scary moments at all. You never feel 'in danger'.
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| 2 |  |
fenixdown | 84 89th |
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Super atmospheric!
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| 2 |  |
oldgoat | 60 30th |
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Well shot, well acted. I just couldn't get into it. I don't have an issue with accents really ever and I had trouble understanding things. But casting 'finchey' as the dad actually broke my immersion repeatedly somehow.
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| 2 | forehead1 | 40 26th |
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Billed as an "atmospheric horror" The Witch might have a certain claustrophobic ambience but is unlikely to scare even the most jittery audience member. If you can put up with the family speaking in a range of ye olde northern English accents the performances are decent - particularly Taylor-Joy - but the story banks too much on the viewer being terrified by the ideas presented alone. There's just about enough going on to keep you interested, but the payoff isn't worth the wait.
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| 2 | doughbaron | 80 80th |
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The Witch does a masterful job of exploiting your vulnerabilities and expectations as a horror-movie viewer without abusing them, creating profound tension while revealing little.
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| 2 |  |
hellboy76 | 73 89th |
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Fairly amazing debut, it's well directed and beautifully filmed. For the modern viewer it may seem slow or underwhelming, but its so wonderfully detailed and full of dull grim detail that you can't help but be immersed into the world at least a little. Acting is all well done, especially for there being a large amount of young actors. Good stuff.
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| 2 |  |
Aron Ericson | 80 89th |
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Going to a cabin in the woods was a recipe for horror already in the 17th century.
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| 2 | myfavchords | 55 8th |
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This movie starts slow and never really picks up. Occasionally something exciting happens but it is not worth the long waits in between. Overall this film is very disappointing.
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| 2 | DougieD | 85 68th |
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Impeccably crafted in every way, but I found it difficult to adjust to the victorian dialogue, maybe my fault more than the film's. It's reminiscent of some Bergman films, with stark natural lighting and a story that touches on religion in a way that will mean different things to each viewer. Direction, set design, costumes and score are all stunning, and it builds to a stellar third act that really delivers the intensity and stunning visuals I was hoping for. May grow on me with more viewings.
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| 2 |  |
loc42 | 70 56th |
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I come to think more & more that the more we live inrganic lives, separated from the nature conceived as a living entitiy comprised of blood and mud, the more it becomes "supernatural" to us. Because we're not familiar with its ordinary workings, funnily, it seems extraordinary (take the Black Phillip). This aside, even though it was beautifully shot with a powerful feminist subtext, it seemed too calculated and from the beginning it's clear where it was heading, could've been more complex.
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| 2 |  |
mattorama12 | 58 30th |
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Sufficiently creepy and technically impressive, but I really didn't appreciate it for more than that. There's been a lot written about the strong thematic elements, but they just didn't really work or connect for me.
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| 2 |  |
Zen Lunatic | 9 91st |
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That feeling between "I am fine" and "I am having an anxiety attack" in movie form.
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| 2 |  |
deep_green | 20 5th |
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Found it tedious, and quite uninteresting. Towards the end there were some nicely orchestrated sequences, but I don't know if it makes any difference.
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| 2 | tancan | 80 63rd |
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Good suspense & thrill. Gives lots of things to think about and talk about. Some short scenes of horror were more like not there to scare you but there to scare you in dreams.
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| 2 |  |
Groovy_Souls | 95 97th |
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A masterpiece of modern horror. The Shining of the 21st century. The Witch is a slow, slow burn, but one that never lets you get comfortable or eases you from the very beginning. With an unforgiving score and fantastic performances, The Witch is one that should be remembered. Though I know it is quite divisive, I must admit I loved this movie and its haunting, atmospheric horror.
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| 2 |  |
philamental | 84 88th |
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Such a wonderfully dark and atmospheric film. I loved the bleak cinematography, and while it was frequently difficult to follow every word, I admired the decision to use authentic dialogue. I was mesmerized (bewitched?) by Anya Taylor-Joy's performance, and loved how the story focused on the characters evolving relationships amid the supernatural influence in the background. Still processing the ending though. I'm cool with the 'outcome' but maybe something more understated would have sufficed
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| 2 |  |
mooper | 80 83rd |
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While not really a horror film, I did enjoy it for it's scenery and atmosphere.
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| 2 |  |
Boxcars | 8 71st |
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More unnerving than outright horrifying, 'The Witch' is effective because of how intimate and ambiguous it is as a picture. Intimate in how heavily character-driven (with great performances, to boot) and detailed it is, and ambiguous not in its dangers, but in its implications -- both supernatural and otherwise. Couple this with the dark and atmospheric imagery to compliment the tone, and you've got an impressionable horror film.
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| 2 | Ippei | 35 3rd |
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Probably one of the most overrated films I've seen. I just don't get the fuss. It's not at all scary (perhaps creepy at times) and the fact that they speak in "old English", whilst artistically great, just made it hard to understand at times. The use of natural light and the performances were great but I felt it failed to engage at the best of times.
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| 2 |  |
xenodork | 94 89th |
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The craft put into this minimalist, slow-burning, unnerving character drama is astonishing. The puritan period piece details and dialect are impeccable.The film is intimately composed, and nurses you into claustrophobia. The performances have to carry the film, and are especially impressive from the older children. The open landscape and the woods are a character in and of themselves, and the atmosphere set by the score and the cinematography that captures them conjures an icy, primal dread.
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| 2 | ptravers2 | 7 81st |
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Building his film on the diabolical aftershocks of Puritan repression, Eggers raises The Witch far above the horror herd. He doesn't need cheap tricks. Eggers merely directs us to look inside. Be warned: It'll scare the hell out of you.
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| 2 |  |
Mist600 | 87 77th |
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Outstanding. Eggers = a real Dir talent | AJT impressed, much as J Lawrence did in Wintersbone (hope -> similarly fine career) | All cast inc children = V strong | 1st gen Puritan life's inherent miseries, paranoia & desperation evoked superbly, thus depressing (viewing feels like It Comes @ Night). Totally immersed/suffocated me in creeping dread from start 2 end. Totally my type of horror. I 'loved' this powerful piece. Watch it then (maybe not same day!) go on 2 his The Lighthouse
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| 2 |  |
nobamba | 70 76th |
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I never felt terrified nor did this film rely on typical gore or jump scares, which makes it a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed the "New England folk story" atmosphere. Screaming was grating. Fav scene: kids overhearing parents.
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| 2 | baseballs | 81 82nd |
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Compelling period drama with supernatural overtones. Enjoyed how pro-Satan it was.
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| 1 |  |
schnofel | 87 96th |
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Looks and feels like an authentic fairy tale, and even if the characters' religiosity reverberates into modern faith, the film makes no concessions to modern cynicism or doubt. Faith is God, and like in many horror films the absence of good gives way to the true master.
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| 1 |  |
wayofthegun | 85 78th |
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Some f***ed up s**t.
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| 1 | Bricks | 53 32nd |
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It was high quality for what it is, I just don't really like what it is.
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| 1 |  |
TheDiceman | 65 73rd |
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Interesting.
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| 1 |  |
timmo | 80 45th |
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It wins bonus points for being very creative, original, unique, and brisk, but the degree to which it's really an excellent film is up for debate. I don't know if I'd watch it again, but I do admire what I saw.
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| 1 |  |
easydiff | 70 76th |
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Achieves more with mood than most can with action. That the movie has you rooting for who you end up rooting for is a great, subtle tug on the soul of the viewer.
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| 1 |  |
r.Din | 62 41st |
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Worth slogging through for the memorable final act.
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| 1 |  |
driscarpin | 99 98th |
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Bora destruir o patriarcado, bitches?
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| 1 |  |
nutcrackr | 65 24th |
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A typical 17th century life for a family, with some interpretive dance
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| 1 |  |
tenhas | 88 88th |
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The creepiest movie of the 2000s. And Eggers' images are like a canvas show from painting history.
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| 1 |  |
Snazz | 90 96th |
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Amazing sense of detail and truthfulness to the time period. A stylistic masterpiece. Note that it is more a horrifying period piece than a horror film. With a bit of insight into the Puritans' beliefs (like most Christians at that time) that unexplained phenomena might all be blamed on the devil or a witch, this movie is very effective at putting us in the minds of this poor settler family.
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| 1 |  |
lumpnboy | 50 53rd |
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Christians, amirite?
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| 1 |  |
Detox | 84 75th |
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The movie managed to make me believe that there is witchcraft, and that there is none at the same time. Faith is a special stage of consciousness and I can't blame the family for being just superstitious while slaughtering themselves. A lot of themes are taken up here. Man versus nature, the limits of belief, the origin of evil and so on, but it never felt overloaded.
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| 1 |  |
XakkMaster | 84 73rd |
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Driven by absolutely incredible performances set against a thick and imposing atmosphere, it's a welcome addition to the world of artistic horror. It's tense, bleak, and meticulously directed. I had high expectations going in based on reviews (both professional and those of friends), so I was a little underwhelmed by the hyped-up ending. It was still very good, but not mind-blowing like I'd been told.
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| 1 |  |
janus | 85 88th |
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A storm cloud of oppressive dread, a la Eraserhead or There Will Be Blood. Realistic domestic conflicts are exacerbated by the titular supernatural device, a horror strategy at least as old as The Birds but as usual more meaningful than just a "So what are we gonna do about this witch?" plot. You can talk about the music or the photography, but this could have died at birth anyway if the cast couldn't deliver the odd dialogue convincingly. Which they nearly always do. Arguably pro-Satan.
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| 1 |  |
walkearth | 80 94th |
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A study on faith and doubt. Man's weakness in the face of sin. A great horror film with strong performances, solid atmosphere and a gripping pace. Overall pretty enthralling. And very fucking unnerving.
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| 1 |  |
astrakhan | 80 74th |
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A slow-burning, claustrophobic tale of supernatural misery which starts out bleak and boring, but rises to a masterful and chilling crescendo via a whodunnit middle that leaves the audience guessing. The look of the film is awesome, with both beautiful cinematography and brutally spartan 17th century costumes and setting. Anya Taylor-Joy is a real find in the key role. Once you get past the indecipherable speech and confusingly directionless narrative, this one grows on you and chills you.
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| 1 |  |
doddsinator | 10 96th |
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minus the cackle, amazing.
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| 1 |  |
msneto | 30 1st |
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Beautiful, but boring as hell...
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| 1 |  |
deaddilly | 80 72nd |
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A truly mad chamber piece. The organic and jarring score put this over the top for me. It eventually goes to really dark places, and yet leaves the jet-black truths up for interpretation.
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| 1 |  |
OzGrenouille | 87 66th |
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Let's not jump on the hype train
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| 1 | timmytom | 98 97th |
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Wow.
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| 1 |  |
snallygaster | 70 78th |
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In opposition to most other "intelligent horror" films, The Witch doesn't seem to demand any deeper interpretation; nor does it rely upon plot twists. It's all atmosphere, and it's very effective. I'm leaning toward believing that not everything we see is intended to be taken literally, but based on other viewers' reactions, that may be a stretch.
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| 1 |  |
Superargo | 52 33rd |
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Take away the setting and the painstaking period detail, and this covers the exact same ground and hits the exact same beats as any of those AMITYVILLE or HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT flicks you've already seen. Overpraised, in other words.
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| 1 |  |
auhasarderik | 9 91st |
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Dead serious, timeless. One of the very best horror movies ever made.
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| 1 |  |
medikolayn | 60 31st |
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is being witch happiness?
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| 1 |  |
Lord Moe | 98 96th |
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Very creepy period piece about a family breaking down after the deaths of the children. Is it a witch? Who is the witch? It establishes pretty early on what's going on but has enough little moments where you think they might be throwing you a curve ball. The movie takes place mostly in one setting. It has great atmosphere and good acting. It's dirty and chilling; there's no comic relief here, outside of perhaps some religious zealousness that I couldn't help but snicker at. I recommend it!
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| 1 |  |
jbyn | 94 96th |
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The Witch was very intense. The soundtrack was a perfect match for the film. It reached loud dynamics at the perfect moments to keep the tension high. I liked the use of old English, because it made the film feel more authentic. However, it made the dialogue hard to follow. The script was unpredictable and compelling. It sticks the landing and concludes perfectly. This caliber horror movie only comes around every few years.
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| 1 |  |
arkadin | 62 30th |
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Last song was great.
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| 1 | RandallODim | 87 85th |
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Draws very heavily from The Shining, to great effect. It's one of those special horror films that would remain utterly horrific even if you removed any trace of the supernatural.
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| 1 | Marnau | 60 13th |
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12 Juny 2016 - Situa bé, sembla interessant, però es fa una mica lenta aviat i sembla que no anem descobrint res. Els personatges acaben no expressant gran cosa. L'argument és en general fluix.
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| 1 |  |
periboku | 83 79th |
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before watching the movie, i read all the comments. ın my past experience: most of independent scary movie = shit. witchcraft(i mean real shit) + mid-age ignorance + family. it was a really good movie.
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| 1 |  |
ribcage | 84 84th |
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atmosphere was so perfect i could smell their fireplace burning in the brisk autumn air. Getting totally enveloped early on made the ride incredible. It's not scary, but it is tense, bewildering, emotional, and unnerving. It embraces the concept of the supernatural as a bizarre "otherness" -- something that might only be known out in the darkness while we are alone. There's some wonderfully striking images. I was most terrified by how precarious basic survival used to be. I cant even chop wood
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| 1 | WulfstanLee | 70 63rd |
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Since when did Dagmer and Lysa Arryn hook up? Brilliant atmosphere, but the ending dragged this one down a bit
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| 1 |  |
Hofschneider | 82 72nd |
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I was a great movie I suppose. But I can't really say anything because I wasn't able to understand anything they were saying.
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| 1 |  |
ThereminJam | 78 45th |
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Honestly, I thought this was going to be much more subversive and fresh. Not a bad flick, but not great either. Some really interesting scenes. Black Phillip is chill though.
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| 1 |  |
chmul_cr0n | 62 33rd |
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Is barely a horror movie up until the end. More like a mystery drama with great music that becomes very forced and dumb in the last third. Had some good laughs though, intentional or not. And a nice ending.
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| 1 |  |
Calabria | 74 26th |
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I'll give it points because it's pretty smart, it's different, and it's damn near classy for horror. ...but yawwwwnnn
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| 1 |  |
Ryan Lueders (ReelRyan) | 75 40th |
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This New-England folk-tale got my goat pretty badly. The movie has a slow pace and you don't know what the heck is going on (until you turn on the subtitles to find out what they are saying in their thick accents). When you finally find out what's happening, you want more but then the movie ends and sort of just floats away one could say. I loved the character of Black Philip and Thomasin (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) was pretty breathtaking... [Full Review]
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| 1 |  |
Goldbluming | 72 44th |
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Yeah it's atmospheric in some parts and that's great but I'm left wondering - what's the point of this movie? I lost interest once the mystery ended 40 minutes in. Women are in a witch cult.. people die.. great fantastic.. never seen that before. Warning: Unexscusably sick baby violence.
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| 1 |  |
magdabag | 91 82nd |
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God I love this movie. Anya Taylor Joy is so good y'all. If you like dark, twisted horror flicks. definitely catch this movie.
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| 1 | PUNQ | 50 78th |
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Modern minimalistic. The type of movie that young film makers seem to love making. A movie wrapped in atmosphere with a handful key scenes coming off strong because not much else seems to happen. The performances are in place, but the singular tone will make you yawn no matter of the quality of the acting or how much the director gets out of the low budget. Does strike a cord a few times and the haunting feel does creep one out. While it's not my ideal horror, it's a respectable witch hunt.
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| 1 | PluggedIN | 20 12th |
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For some, the 17th century was a season of hysterical fear in the nascent British colonies regarding the threat of witches and witchcraft. Screenwriter and director Robert Eggers says he wanted to craft a horror story that captured those feelings that encompassed the sometimes dark chapter in American history. *pluggedin.com)
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| 1 |  |
QuinlanLJ | 90 99th |
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The more I think about it the more I think this is my favourite horror film I've seen so far. The atmosphere is creepy and authentic, the direction and screenwriting is perfect, the performance is stellar. The whole film is just demonic and weird and it is just extremely enjoyable, thought-provoking and it sticks with you. The pacing is slow and this might not be for everybody, but every film fan should appreciate how well this film is done, especially for a directiorial debut.
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| 1 |  |
Catnip | 70 62nd |
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It's a very atmospheric kind of horror with this one. I personally think this would have worked better if it was made as a psychological thriller/horror movie and left out the actual paranormal events though... But it was still good. But also, that ending? The hell?
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| 1 |  |
koiras | 0 0th |
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Now they're making films to make people burn women alive.
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| 1 |  |
Yiannos | 68 65th |
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The Witch suffers from the same problem that plagues most 'intelligent' horror films: it isn't scary. Like It Follows and The Babadook, it is too earnest about its 'serious' intentions, which dilutes the tension and reveals its contrivance. Eggers' dedication to creating an authentic period atmosphere on a budget is commendable, and shooting in natural light conditions lends the imagery an almost painterly quality that's unusual for the genre. It's a tad overrated, but Eggers is a name to watch.
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| 1 |  |
okayfrog | 75 89th |
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What The Witch does well is presentation. The mise-en-scène is seemingly impeccable, at times with the film feeling incredibly personal. Great performances by all (five) of the cast. Though it is definitely lacking in the scares one expects from horror films, that feeling of dread permeates throughout.
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| 1 |  |
pickypicnic | 50 99th |
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WOW!!!
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| 1 | BasedOne | 9 85th |
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A lot better the second time. Score is extremely unsettling. Final scene was also pretty chilling.
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| 1 |  |
Corbad | 70 54th |
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Backseat to general atmosphere, Thomasin's arc feels diminished despite, in theory, being the heart of the film. The atmosphere is strong, the performers skilled enough to give substance to the stilted language, but I feel it relies sometimes too much on the manipulation of music. Unique, certainly eerie, but never particularly horrifying.
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| 1 |  |
yug | 70 59th |
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The film is flooded with witch related symbolism and hence audiences unfamiliar with these might not understand the movie except for the obvious. The film depicts 2 major things: 1) A family who has unflinching trust on the ways of God. 2) The witch/Satan exploiting the lonely depraved family to it's best abilities. The interpretation of few scenes due to either 1) or 2) is slightly uncertain and best left to each viewer to decide for himself.
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| 1 | toddsalter | 86 36th |
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Might have been good if I was really into the history of witchcraft
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| 1 | callen | 90 63rd |
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Surprising. I had a bad feeling it wasn't building to anything, but it has a satisfying ending for sure.
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| 1 | davide | 45 10th |
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Shallow screenplay, poor audio equalization, banal story. Interesting story context.
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| 1 | tuerda | 80 73rd |
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A bit slow at the start, but it picks up, and the end result is actually very good. There are no jump scares, preferring to develop a slowly building sense of dread. This film is also notable for making great efforts to be authentic; usually a good thing, but this time I am ambivalent: The English is dated and sometimes hard to understand and some scenes try to recreate iconic images even when these do not really fit the narrative.
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| 1 |  |
luord | 87 95th |
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Oppresingly spooky and pain-stakingly, almost impenetrably, accurate to its period, it's a horror movie that doesn't leave the mind for hours.
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| 1 |  |
Nyctalope | 65 20th |
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Didn't get the hype for this one. Very slow, plodding film that lacked any real horror element to me.
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| 1 | vv238 | 90 95th |
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A surreal and painstakingly faithful to history horror film, The Witch is both an atmospheric horror masterpiece and a terrifying historical period drama. All of the performances are excellent and the constant theme of dread follows the entire film from the start through the finish. As far as 21st century horror goes, this is one of the best.
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| 1 |  |
offlineoz | 80 75th |
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With the Witch, Eggers joins Aster, Saulnier, Kent, & Peele as part of the "New Age" horror directors. Instead of leaning towards cheap jump scares and schlocky camerawork, they create an environment of dread by focusing more on atmosphere and characters supplanted with strong writing and performances. Let's hope he continues this with The Lighthouse.
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| Average Percentile 61.5% from 3428 Ratings |  |