The Witch Review

31 Days of Halloween: Day 2

Going into my impromptu watch of The Witch, I knew nothing about it except for that it was an A24 film. I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least

Starting off with my positives, the score is amazing. It's super creepy and presents a lot of instruments that sound like they're straight out of the 17th century. The cinematography is also exceptional; many shots are lingered on, producing an uncomfortable viewing experience. All of the actors are great, Anya Taylor-Joy is an obvious standout. Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie are also solid in the parent's roles. Dickie's monologues are delivered well as Katherine. Harvey Scrimshaw was a surprise to me. He had a few awkward line deliveries, but his possession scene towards the end of the second act was amazingly creepy. This was probably my favorite scene in the film. The family dynamic was also great. This film is truly a family drama at its core.

On to my few negatives, my only true negative with the film is that the first act could have moved faster. It really drags for the first 20 minutes. Given that The Witch is a period piece set in the 1600s, it is quite dark color-wise. It didn't really bother me, but was lacking on the color-wise.

In conclusion, The Witch is a great horror film, as well as a period piece. It's an extremely well-made film that's worth a second watch.

8.5/10