The Witch (2015)

Director: Robert Eggers
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Runtime: 92 minutes

Synopsis: A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic, and possession.

Performances: 5/5
Screenplay: 5/5
Costumes/Makeup: 5/5
Editing: 4/5
Cinematography: 5/5
Score/Soundtrack: 4/5

Verdict: "The Witch" (or "The VVitch") is possibly my favorite horror movie of the decade, surpassing by a hair "Hereditary". The similarities between the two are evident, as both of them were distributed by A24 and act as the directorial debuts of extremely talented filmmakers (Robert Eggers for the first and Ari Aster for the second).

The film follows a New-England family who, after being exiled to the woods over a religious dispute, start experiencing forces of evil initiated by a neighboring witch. What set "The Witch" apart from other similarly themed movies is how immersive and atmospheric it was. The 1630s setting is on point and enhanced by natural lighting, meticulously handled cinematography, extremely convincing set and costume designs, and lines of dialogue that make the characters feel like they truly come from this era. I wasn't surprised to learn later on that director Robert Eggers thoroughly researched the period in which the film takes place in, even basing some of the dialogue and events on real folklores, journals, and diaries he stumbled upon. All of this made the story a terrifying one that kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire runtime, only occasionally taking me out of it due to a couple of weird and rough cuts. I sincerely felt like I was part of this damaged family, and felt that I was experiencing everything that was happening to them. Every single performance was phenomenal, with first-timer Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, and Kate Dickie being the stand-outs of a cast that delivered their intricate lines flawlessly.

"The Witch" doesn't rely on cheap jump scares to scare you, but rather focuses on transporting you to that age, with that family, and experience what they're experiencing. Robert Eggers crafted something that will be remembered for a very, very long time, maybe even gaining the status of "classic" at some point in the future. His follow-up project, "The Lighthouse", hits theaters later this year and I for one cannot contain my excitement for it.    

FINAL GRADE: 9/10