by Jon Partridge
Many were first indoctrinated into the cult of Black Phillip when The Witch hit the festival circuit last year. A critical response that verged on worship, buoyed by the support of critics, a satanic cult and Stephen King no less, led to distributor A24 pushing the film into a wide theatrical release. Now on Blu-ray, you can experience this masterful piece of filmmaking from behind the sofa of your own home.
Set in 17th Century New England, William (Ralph Ineson) is a man who takes his piety to an extreme, leading to his ejection from the Puritan settlement along with his family. Together with wife Katherine (Kate Dickie), they lead their children to build a new homestead, out in the wilderness on the edge of a foreboding forest. After the mysterious disappearance of their newborn child, a malevolent presence begins to manifest within their lives. Crops fail, conflict begins to mount, and paranoia, fueled by their faith, begins to the tear the family apart.
The Witch is a piece of history, a work of art, and a damn effective horror film all rolled into one. It’s a remarkably dense and considered piece of filmmaking, all the more extraordinary knowing this is Egger’s first outing as director. It takes its time to build the tension, allowing the disintegration of the family unit to be all the more real and effective. Religious beliefs clash with an evil force. Faith is perverted by paranoia. The period-specific dialogue takes you a split second to decipher, and in those moments the anxiety seeps even deeper.
The film relies on a small cast, stalwarts Ineson and Dickie effortlessly slipping into their roles. More impressive is how much of the film relies on the young actors playing their children. Ellie Grainger and Lucas Dawson are suitably unsettling as the terrible twins Mercy and Jonas. Harvey Scrimshaw’s work as Caleb will stay in the memory for one startling scene but it is his more subtle work that deserves recognition. Notably his observations of and interactions with his sister Thomasin. His behavioral shifts in response to her coming of age provides the bedrock to one of the more important themes of the film.
Anya Taylor-Joy is essential to what makes the film work, the story being fundamentally about her journey. Her Thomasin is a blend of innocence, smarts and blossoming womanhood, which lend the film the added ambiguity it needs. Special mention must be made for Charlie the goat, whose work as Black Phillip creates a new horror icon, no matter how difficult he was to work with.
The direction and cast is bolstered by equally excellent production elements. Mark Korven’s score, using instruments from the time together with a choir is hauntingly effective. Costume and set design faultlessly convey a sense of time and place while Jarin Blaschke’s cinematography showcases a landscape that looks as though the very life has been drained from it, only adding to the unease. All these aspects feed into bringing to life a very tangible piece of horror that, like the greats, crawls under your skin and stays with you long after the credits have rolled.
THE PACKAGE
The Witch has a beautiful, yet bleak, aesthetic. The Blu-ray shows off the exquisite detail in the film and the authenticity of the production. A cool, desaturated palette overall, with darker scenes showing good contrast and deep blacks. The work of Eggers and cinematographer Jarin Blaschke looks as impressive on the small screen as the big.
Special features include an audio commentary with director Robert Eggers which showcases how considered every aspect of his production was. Featurette The Witch: A Primal Folktale includes an interview with director and on set interviews with the whole cast reflecting on their first impressions of the film. Eggers discusses the tales and historical accounts that informed his feature, insights into the Puritan’s psyche, set design and more, all intercut with (spoiler) footage from the film.
Salem Panel Q&A is from a special screening of the feature in Salem, MA just before the premiere. Eggers and Taylor-Joy are joined by Salem author and historian Brunonia Barry and the Dean of the Salem Witch Trial historians, Richard Trask. They comment on and respond to questions over the historical accuracy of the film, research sources, filming specific scenes and how the most expensive costume in the film is never even seen. With a runtime of 30 minutes, it has some great nuggets of information. The Design Gallery shows sketches of costumes, evolution of their design, swatches of fabrics to use and comparisons to the final product. Also there are glimpses of the design of the farmhouse, goat shed, and pictures of their construction. It’s a truncated but welcome insight into the mind of Eggers. Closing out the release are the film’s trailers and a UV digital copy.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Witch marks one of the most remarkable directorial debut’s in recent memory. Robert Eggers has crafted an instant horror classic. A film that feeds off its authenticity in a way that is equally compelling and chilling. Immaculately considered and stunningly executed.
The Witch is available via Lionsgate on Blu-ray and DVD on May 17th.