Disclaimer: This movie is intended for mature audiences who are 17 and older or young adults who are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Witch is a psychological thriller that is frightening from the start. I had never heard of this movie until my sister persuaded me to go with her to see it.  I was certain I would not enjoy the film because it takes place in the 1630’s. However, I was reassured by my sister to see it because of all the positive reviews it had received. It has earned the “Winner of the Sundance Film Festival Best Director Award.”

This film is based on the New England witch folklore that spread through 1600 New England. The story follows a religious family who was excommunicated from their village and has resettled in an area near the edge of the woods.  Their biggest concern is producing food for the winter—until their youngest child disappears.

This movie is so scary that during certain points I had to cover my eyes in fear. The music in this movie is very unsettling and disturbing. In spite of the film’s horror, it is extremely well directed, and its cinematography has gained some recognition. There is a tactical and creative art to the film which other horror/dramatic films like Paranormal Activity don’t have.

I am not promising that you will like the movie, because it requires a mature style that some people might not enjoy. However, it is very exciting to have an award winning movie accessible to people in theaters.

The movie review site Rotten Tomatoes said, “As thought-provoking as it is visually compelling, The Witch delivers a deeply unsettling exercise in slow-building horror that suggests great things for debuting writer-director Robert Eggers.”

The acting and costume design was spot-on and the replication of the time period was flawless. There were so many details of the set and costumes that were appropriate for the time period.

If you enjoyed movies such as It Follows , Goodnight Mommy, The Babadook and The Village, you should strongly consider watching this movie. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this movie.