The Witch

Good acting and interesting concept, but for me falls short of being a really good film. It was as if the writer, director wasn't sure of whether he wanted to create a film of a family going stir crazy, or if something else was dictating events in this family disaster film.
Special Features does provide a look at the accuracy of the film, clothing, cabin and way of life, followed by a Q&A with the director/writer, Robert Eggers, and actress, Anya Taylor-Joy (2016's Morgan, Split, and Barry).

I am particularly intrigued by an intent of this film to show the belief in witches prevalent in the 16th century, even among deeply religious people...
Today we still have a fascination with witch stories, particularly those penned by billionaire authors like J.K. Rollins.
Interestingly, before copyright protection, 'books' like the bible had another key utility i.e. the mass control of society, something they have lost considerably in the last half century... at least in western society.
It is absolutely amazing that myth and superstition has still gripped large swaths of unquestioning folk - even today. The film VVitches holds out some hope to questioning, thinking modern folk that others will shed their final archaic beliefs in entities that they cannot prove, still insist exist based on 'faith', and still wield control over their lives.
Fear of religion promoted punishment or banishment should not and is not a requirement for decent people to behave properly to one another.
VVitches gives hope that a final shedding of all religions is possible, particularly those that promote distrust and judgement towards others.
Forgiveness and understanding, towards all men on earth is possible without ANY religion.

Lame movie- it doesn't succeed as an art movie, nor does it succeed as a horror film. In the end you're left with a boring ( though historically accurate ) pretentious vacuum.

pretty interesting movie I enjoyed it very much I watch in with very little color on my TV . much better movie with that type of imaging.

The VVitch thrusts the viewer into an isolated Puritan world where madness manifests itself in the form of paranoia and religious zealotry. The wits of the subject family are pulled taught and struck repeatedly, eventually culminating into a claustrophobic nightmare of isolationism and mental instability, with all fingers pointing to one of their own as The Witch. The tension in this film is unrelenting and spellbinding as the family slips further and further into hysteria. Mark Korven bolsters the film's sense of madness with an imaginative, eerie, dissonant score. The dialogue of the film is entirely in period correct Old English. Closed captions may help somewhat, but I think not understanding some of the family's language adds to the sense of isolationism for the viewer. One of the best psychological horror thrillers of recent memory - bound to be an instant classic.

OMG!
Watch this movie!

A fantastic horror film with excellent performances, writing, and directing. Mr. Eggers is one to watch going forward. This is a remarkable debut feature film. I also enjoyed the bonus material on this DVD and loved hearing the history consultant describe this as one of the most accurate depictions of the Puritan era in America he had seen. A film I will gladly watch again and again.

Warped Christian fundamentalism, patriarchy, & fear of budding female sexuality brew a boring horror film. (In contrast, the classic "Carrie" covers these themes excellently). Some interesting scenes as the effects of being isolated takes its toll on the family. Several times someone mentions "Hey, we should goest into town & seeketh help!" and you think "Yeah, yeah, great idea!" but it doesn't happen. It's true that evil manifests itself in many forms. Two very different appearances of The Evil One are sad and predatory, involving underage children. However, perhaps pridefully isolating family and making their lives much, much harder than it needs to be, is one of these manifestations. Lots of screaming, bad sound effects, and an awkward ending that pulls in pretend authority by referencing the New England witch trials and court records. Because if it's in a court record, it's true....For a more upbeat New England story and use of court records, see "American Jezebel". The author adds humor to old-fashioned court records and old-fashioned worlds.

I'm a huge horror fan. My favorite niche genre is definitely historical horror, but I find it near impossible to find a decent variety. The Witch has that eerie feeling that is so innate and unsettling. The music is incredible. I don't think I've ever encountered a 1600's horror movie before. This isn't a jump-scare movie, but the spooks are definitely there.

An excellent film that really gets the early New England setting right (though filmed in Ontario, the trees and other natural features are nearly the same as in New England) , and the characters look, act and talk in a way that seems very believable for the 17th-Century. Indeed, after awhile I turned on the English subtitles, which were quite helpful for this film. If you are interested in seeing a "witch film" that is much more honest and true-to-life than almost any other, see this one. It's not a traditional "horror" film at all, and the writer/director said he lifted many of the characters' lines straight from actual historical texts, and it works quite well. The eeriness begins slowly, and tension among the family members builds and builds, and there are some wonderful-and creepy scenes of imagination. And it's the kind of movie that will stir lively debate among those who see it.