It’s time for The Witch blu-ray review, a horror film starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Ineson. As Halloween approaches I’m always on the look out for new horror movies to add to my season of horror.
Will The Witch (2015) be added to my list? Let’s find out…
- The Witch (2015)
- Genre: Horror
- Directed By Robert Eggers
- Written By Robert Eggers
- Music By Mark Korven
- Cinematography By Jarin Blaschke
- UK Film Rating 15
- Released By Universal
- Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, Lucas Dawson
Plot
Set in New England during the 17th century, William (Ralph Ineson) finds himself threatened with exile from the plantation along with his family over a difference in interpretation with regards to the New Testament.
He decides to leave and makes a new life by settling in a remote area at the edge of a large wood. Here the family build a farm and a new life.
Both Katherine (The mother) and William (Father) tell their children never to venture into the woods.
With Katherine giving birth to Samuel all seems well. However one day when Thomasin, the eldest daughter is looking after Samuel, she loses sight of him for a split second and he disappears without a trace.
With everyone distraught a full search is carried out even venturing into the woods.
No trace is found. From here on in things go from bad to worse with failing crops meaning very little to eat. Furthermore the remoteness of their new home means they are a least a day’s ride from the nearest village.
Caleb the oldest son wants to help improve the family’s desperate plight and heads off into the woods hunting. Thomasin makes him take her with him but things go horribly wrong!
With the family seemingly imploding accusations from the two youngest children that Thomasin is a witch only add fuel to the fire.
William a devout Christian is being torn apart along with Katherine who blames Thomasin for the loss of Samuel.
Who or what lies in wait in the woods I’ll let you find out for yourself.
Style / Direction
The look of the film is pretty much perfect in capturing the period and location. It really is pleasing on the eye.
Style wise the director does a terrific job of creating a sinister eerie feel, constantly ramping up the uneasy feeling. With some nice camera work and a perfect location everything is in place to create something special. This is a slow burner, building the tension little by little until the inevitable release.
So it has all the visual style needed, all that’s required is a similarly eerie score.
Music/Sound Effects
The music and sound whilst not memorable in their own right is perfect for creating tension and that eerie feel I mentioned earlier.
Acting
For most of the film there is just the family, consisting of just six people.
Ralph Ineson plays the father William and does a really good job as we see his whole world fall apart. Plus his accent seems to really suit this kind of film. Some might remember him from the BBC television series, The Office in which he played David Brent’s mate (or not) Chris Finch. In any case he puts in a strong performance.
There are two standout performances, the first comes from Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin, the eldest daughter. I have to say I thought she was brilliant in this role. For it’s her role in which (the correct spelling) a large part of the film revolves around.
The other great acting performance comes from Harvey Scrimshaw as Caleb the oldest son. He shares some of his best scenes with Ralph Ineson but also the ones with Anya Taylor-Joy are outstanding in a uncomfortable way.
Films like these rely heavily on top acting as it’s pretty much all story driven and this one really delivers.
Conclusion: The Witch (2015) Film Review
This is not your typical horror film. Don’t expect lots of action, killings from the start. This is a tension building horror that’s story driven.
It looks and sounds fabulous creating that perfect unnerving feeling a horror film should have. Top acting makes this one film you should definitely check out this Halloween.
Looking for some more quality horror movies?
Conclusion: The Witch Blu-ray Review
The film looks amazing so Blu-ray is the only way to go for me. Unless you don’t have Blu-ray of course. There are no extras not even a trailer. It would of been nice to of had a short 20 min documentary from behind the scenes but it’s no real problem.
The Witch (2015) blu-ray is available now from Amazon.co.uk.
The Amazon links on this page are affiliate / associate links. By buying through the links we may receive a commission for the sale. This has no effect on the price you pay.
Popcorn Cinema Rating: The Witch (2015)
MOVIE RATING: WELL WORTH WATCHING
BLU-RAY RATING: EXCELLENT
POPCORN CINEMA: RECOMMENDED
The Witch (2015) Film Trailer
For those of you yet to see the film I’ll leave you with a little taster with trailer…
The Witch blu-ray review (2015) is just one of our horror reviews this October.
Summary: The Witch (2015) Blu-ray Review
Movie title: The Witch (2015)
Movie description: New England during the 17th century a family are exiled from a plantation and forced to make their home near a eerie wood.
Duration: 93 mins
Director(s): Robert Eggers
Actor(s): Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw
Genre: Horror
- Movie Rating
- Blu-ray Rating
Summary
A truly unnerving supernatural tale that will leave you shaken to the core.
