Review of The Witch (2016) by K Nife C — 10 Jan 2017

I can't imagine how jealous I would be as a filmmaker if I had spent years to attain my vision, and then some no-name like Robert Eggers makes his directorial debut an absolute masterpiece. I like directors who have the audacity to meticulously do their homework but have intentions to surpass what has come before (Kubrick, anyone?).

Eggers' portrayal of puritan culture in 17th century colonial New England is based on years of historical research, journals from that time period, and just about anything he could get his hands on to accurately represent a snapshot of the world surrounding this so-called pious culture in the events leading up to the Salem witch trials.

A pervasive paranoia permeates every minute of the film, and within the first act tells you that witches are real and the wilderness has a sinister design for mankind's folly and hubris. The greatest horror films have imagery that invade your memories, and if the brief glimmers of witch-craft, Black Philip the goat, and the disturbing child actors don't stick in your mind, you just weren't paying enough attention.

Be on the lookout for Eggers' remake of Murnau's "Nosferatu" in the coming year or two.