HORROR MOVIE REVIEW: THE VVITCH


?

The place is New England and the year is 1636. Superstition rules the world. A family starts a farm on the edge of the forest. As a babe disappears from its cradle an adolescent girl is accused of  witchcraft. And all hell breaks loose when the members of the family turn on one another.

THE VVITCH premiered during last year’s Sundance festival and made a big splash, however this is a film better watched unprepared. Scoring raving reviews worldwide it almost reached the status of a blockbuster, but it is a very small art house film. Saying that, THE VVITCH still boasts realistic setting, great cinematography and impressive acting, particularly from the young actors. Giving enough small details, as well as vast beauty of the landscapes and the forest, THE VVITCH creates the world where God is replaced by fear and the love equals religion. This film is about damnation and religious fanatism and a very small line between them.  

If you have forgotten how to be scared at the cinema by little more than the atmosphere, this is a perfect example how it can be done. There are practically no jump scares, and all the terror masterfully achieved through the visuals and mis-en-scene.

THE VVITCH is a scary movie, but it is also an exploration of faith. When the unity of the family breaks apart the word of a prayer has very little meaning. The religion is there to support love and not to replace it. When the family becomes nothing but a combination of strict religious rules, love can be easily replaced by seduction of evil. It is a very scary thought.

The deeper meaning for a small horror film comes at a price – THE VVITCH cannot be called particularly engaging. There is also a lack of originality in the script and character development. There’s no one particularly likable in the film, so it is very hard to care for any of the characters. (the little twins were so annoying I was hoping the witch will come for them sooner than later).  I also found the ending less than satisfying.

With its interesting message and scares delivered spot on, I did not find THE VVITCH particularly entertaining, but this is an impressive directorial debut and an independent film that deserves to be seen. THE VVITCH is hard to like. But it sure is hard to forget.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Door Lock (Korean Movie Review)

Image
8/10 The life of Kyung-min is a work-home-sleep routine and rarely varies. But out of nowhere unsettling incidents start creeping in. The door handle to her apartment turns in the middle of the night as if someone is trying to enter, repeatedly dialling the passcode of her door lock. Is it possible that someone enters her apartment when she is out at work or worse, when she is fast asleep? And how all this connected to the disappearance of a girl next door? Kyung-min will not rest until she finds out, even if it may cost her her life. DOOR LOCK is loosely based on a Spanish movie SLEEP TIGHT which was rather a drama than a thriller. By changing the setting to a cold faceless suburb of Seoul the movie takes us into the heart of an urban nightmare where it’s easy to disappear and no-one will come looking for you. Kyung-min is an unlikable protagonist who is suffering from multiple phobias and is even ready to break certain rules to flirt with her clients, but she develops strength
Read more

IFF MOVIE REVIEW; PARTLY CLOUDY WITH SUNNY SPELLS (TEMPO INSTABILE COM PROBABILI SCHIARITE)

Image
2 1/5 /5 Ermanno and Giacomo are two friends and partners in a small furniture business. As their finances are running dry threatening the closure of the factory an incredible thing occurs - they discover the the oil on their backyard. To put the oil on a production rails requires a significant investment of money and effort, and the two old friends go head to head when their opinions on what to do with the grand discovery differ. What will win, the honest stubbornness or practicality? There are films that are not intended for an international market and PARTLY CLOUDY is one of those films. Oriented mainly for the family viewing it includes animation sequences that are too unoriginal to attract younger viewers while the two middle aged men arguing over the oil does not make an intensive enough experience for an older audience either. Even the charisma of the ever popular  Luca Zingsretti in the role of Giacomo is somehow inefficient in this well written, but weakly sho
Read more

We'll End Up Together - Nous Finirons Ensemble (French Movie Review)

Image
10/10 Max has a sixtieth birthday coming up. The problem is he is broke, divorced and depressed. When a group of his best friends show up at his doorstep to help him celebrate, he reluctantly agrees to spend a few days with them, but won’t explain what’s going on in his personal life. When ones darkest moments come, will friendship conquer all? Seven years after the breakout success of the film Little White Lies (Les Petits Mouchoirs) comes the long anticipated sequel and it is worth the wait. The success of WE’LL END UP TOGETHER is not in its rather predictable plot, but the chemistry on screen, the characters that we recognise ourselves and our friends in, and the amazing warm atmosphere that makes one believe there’s no problem a good dinner with friends won’t sort out.  Written and directed by much loved French actor and director  Guillaume Canet this movie feels like a welcome return home to those who have seen the original and will also welcome new viewership - the film c
Read more