The Witch
The Witch

The Witch

2016Movie92 minEnglish

In 1630, a farmer relocates his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of a forest where strange, unsettling things happen. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, each family member's faith, loyalty and love are tested in shocking ways.

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Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Metacritic83/100
Google Users82%
Director: Robert EggersGenres: Horror, Drama, Period

Plot Summary

In 1630s New England, a Puritan family is banished from their plantation and forced to settle on the edge of an ominous forest. As they struggle to survive, paranoia and supernatural forces begin to tear them apart. Their youngest child, Samuel, vanishes mysteriously, leading to accusations and a descent into religious hysteria and terrifying witchcraft.

Critical Reception

The Witch received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its atmospheric dread, period detail, and unsettling performances. Critics lauded its slow-burn horror approach and its exploration of themes like religious extremism and isolation, though some found its pacing deliberate. It has since become a celebrated entry in the folk horror subgenre.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its masterful build-up of dread and unsettling atmosphere.
  • Commended for authentic period detail and strong performances, especially Anya Taylor-Joy.
  • Noted for its effective use of folk horror elements and psychological terror.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's intense atmosphere, historical accuracy, and chilling horror elements. Many found it to be a genuinely frightening and thought-provoking film that stands out from typical genre fare, though some found it slow-paced.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the SXSW Film Festival. Nominated for numerous genre awards.

Fun Fact

Director Robert Eggers based the film's dialogue on historical documents, including diaries and court records, to ensure authenticity in the language spoken by the characters.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

5 reviews
DogsLoveMe

DogsLoveMe

One of the best movies I've ever seen. The acting, the lighting, the writing were all divine. Also, even though this is a horror movie, I liked it because I'm a bit of a scaredy cat. I don't like horrors that have a bunch of gore or jum...
r96sk

r96sk

<em>'The Witch'</em>, Robert Eggers' feature directorial debut, is very good! I enjoyed all of these 90 minutes, I could've watched it go on for a little longer in truth. I really liked the atmosphere throughout, as well as the look of the ...
Sheldon Nylander

Sheldon Nylander

Talk about old school! “The Witch” is a painstaking recreation of Puritan life in New England. The lifestyle is mimicked. The clothes are period-accurate. The dialogue is actually based off of documents and speeches from that time. It’s ...
mattwilde123

mattwilde123

This was a really good horror film. The direction was very interesting and Robert Egger plays with darkness and shadows in a really horrifying way. The tension is unbearable at times. The dialogue is a bit hard to follow as it is very "o...
Reno

Reno

> While an evil force slowly possessing them, the family bond is put on a test. The film was based on the collection of a series of the real events that takes place in the 17th century New England. The story of a farmer family who came a...