The Witch (2015)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The Witch (2015) – R. Eggers

Set in New England around 1630 at the desolate homestead of a Puritan family exiled from the local plantation for adhering to a variant stream of religious thinking (it seems), The Witch never hides the fact that Satan (and his titular minion) exists. Yet, viewers are still kept off guard, not knowing who will prevail as one torment after another befalls the family of six.  As desperation sets in, even the parents become unsure of themselves and their own children, believing that any one of them could have pledged allegiance to the dark one – or his incarnation as a goat named Black Phillip.  Although the film is intentionally drab and autumnal, the soundtrack is full of spooky musical highlights that heighten the suspense.  It is a credit to the filmmakers (first-time director Robert Eggers) that this really could be the 17^th century -- and the wide expanse of uncivilized nature is frightening (but should it be?). We do know that the eldest daughter Thomasin (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) is not a witch but after all of her tribulations and the hostility she receives in error, who would blame her if she followed the left hand path?  Genuinely unsettling.