Mr. Movie: Even by horror standards, ‘The Witch’ is disgusting
Taking language of the day, and old wives’ tales of the era, writer/director Robert Eggers tells the story of a family in Puritan New England in 1630. Disagreements with religious leaders caused them to leave the confines of their settlement and move out on their own.
After settling in a remote area, crops mysteriously fail. Their baby is snatched while the eldest daughter is with her, but she has no recollection of what happened. The family bickers and begins accusing each other of witchcraft.
Eggers infuses this movie with nonstop tension. It’s nail-chewing from start to finish. Every second you’re expecting something awful to happen, and often aren’t disappointed. It’s what happens and how Eggers does this that makes it one of the ickiest movies ever.
The Witch got raves at Sundance in 2015. It landed best director of the festival for writer/director Eggers and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Maybe those judging at Sundance saw a different movie. This one is awful. Even those who love good horror films — and I do — will leave the theater and want to go home and take a shower.
The Witch
Director: Robert Eggers
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Mr. Movie rating: 1 star
Rated R for graphic nudity and violence. It’s playing at Regal’s Columbia Center 8, the Fairchild Cinemas 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen.
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it’s your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 5:04 AM with the headline "Mr. Movie: Even by horror standards, ‘The Witch’ is disgusting."