Watch The Witch

In the year 1630, a family of devout Puritans are forced to leave their community and settle at the edge of a vast, unknown wilderness. The family consists of the father, William (Ralph Ineson), mother, Katherine (Kate Dickie), eldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), son, Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw), and young twins, Mercy and Jonas (Ellie Grainger and Lucas Dawson).

Living in isolation, they try to establish a farm on the outskirts of a dense forest. The family is very religious and tries to maintain their faith despite the harsh living conditions. Everything goes well until the youngest child, Samuel, disappears from under the watchful eye of his sister, Thomasin.

Following the disappearance of the child, the family begins to fracture. Katherine falls into despair and blames Thomasin for the loss of their son. William, struggling to provide for the family, becomes increasingly desperate and frustrated. Caleb, plagued by his lustful thoughts, ventures into the woods in search of food and encounters a mysterious entity. Meanwhile, the twins display peculiar behaviors that further unsettle the family.

As the family struggles to cope with the tragedy and the hardships they face, they begin to suspect that there is an evil presence lurking in the woods. Their deep-seated fears and religious fervor lead them to believe that the devil is at work, and they blame each other for their misfortunes. Thomasin, the eldest daughter, becomes the target of suspicion and accusations, and she must fight to prove her innocence.

The Witch is a slow-burning horror film that relies on atmosphere and tension rather than jump scares and gore. The dark and foreboding atmosphere created by the setting, the bleak cinematography, and the haunting score, all contribute to the film's unsettling nature. The film's script is rich in historical accuracy and uses Elizabethan English, which adds to its authenticity.

The film is also a commentary on religious hysteria and the dangers of fanaticism. It shows the struggle of a family trying to reconcile their faith with their worldly desires and the consequences of their extremism. The Witch portrays the Puritanical world as a terrifying place where every natural phenomenon is seen as a sign of the devil's influence.

The performances of the cast are exceptional, particularly Anya Taylor Joy's portrayal of Thomasin. She delivers a layered performance that captures both the innocence and the strength of her character. Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie also give compelling performances as the troubled parents.

The Witch received critical acclaim upon its release for its originality, atmosphere, and performances. The film was praised for its ability to capture the essence of a bygone era and its attention to historical detail. It is a thought-provoking and deeply unsettling film that will leave a lasting impression on its viewers.

The Witch is a 2016 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 84.