The Witch comes to 4k and with it an even more haunting look at a film so simple yet so effective it will leave you reeling long after the credits roll.
“New England, 1630: William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life with their five children, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another. The Witch is a chilling portrait of a family unraveling within their own fears and anxieties, leaving them prey to an unspeakable evil.”
The Witch, Director Robert Eggers first theatrical debut took the genre by storm in this period piece from the not-so-visited period of the 1600’s. Delivering a powerful film with the unique take on the subject matter, with old English dialogue that will not only make you feel as though you’re in that time period, but will also confuse the hell out of you at times.
The setting was what drew me in the most about the film. Set in 1630, before America claimed their independence and only a scattering of colonies existed, this was truly unknown territory, with the wilderness offering a mysterious barrier between basic civilization and that unknown. It’s the fear of this that becomes most prevalent in the film, sending this family into chaos, turning on one another as strange things begin to happen all around them. This mystery is brilliantly laid out as we’re given very little information on what’s going on and find out with the characters some of the most frightening aspects of what’s in the woods. The build up of tension is subtle at first but really starts to pick up speed as the film progresses and the paranoia sets in. You don’t know what’s happening, what’s real, or who to trust, but the journey you take to the end will be one you soon won’t forget.
From a production standpoint this had to have been a very straightforward film to shoot, basically in one location for the large majority of the film. It never relies on grandiose special effects, instead, letting the actors sell the story with their writhing and contorted bodies when they’re under the influence of some kind of evil. Because of this reliance, it’s vital the actors are able to provide an excellent performance, and do they ever. Ralph Ineson as William delivers a very strong and commanding performance, and with his deep and striking voice delivers the old-English dialogue perfectly. His stubbornness which ultimately gets them kicked out of the colony and forced to live off the land has put them in this position, and his helplessness to not be able to provide for his family has defeated him, putting a strain on his relationship with his wife and his religion. Kate Dickie plays Katherine equally as impressive, with her staunch and unwavering faith blinding her to the realities around her, blaming her oldest daughter for the disappearance of her newborn son which plants the seed for resentment as the film progresses. The younger children, Caleb, Mercy and Jonas are all played very well by child actors, giving very believable performances that compliment the film. One of the most surprising performances comes from Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin. Making her film debut, she is absolutely fantastic in this role, having to defend herself on all fronts while dealing with the guilt of losing her baby brother and not knowing what took him. Facing resentment from her parents, ridicule from her younger siblings, and lust from her coming of age brother, Thomasin is the real victim who is pushed to do unimaginable things and forced into a role everyone projected onto her.
The Witch throws out all traditional Hollywood stereotypes of horror films and brings us something so simple yet so terrifying, it assaults you on multiple levels. This style, which is becoming more popular in the genre as we see in films like Hereditary and the upcoming film Midsommar, present stories that are horrific not because of cheap jump scares or gore, but because they hit so close to home you think this could easily happen to you.
Video
The Witch is presented in 2160p 4k Ultra High Definition Widescreen 1.66.1 featuring Dolby Vision. The use of a 1.66.1 aspect ratio offers a different look than we’re used to, providing a sense of claustrophobia throughout the film as sequences are shot very tightly to adhere to the smaller aspect. Mostly natural light was used to light the sets as well, giving the film a very organic look. The 4k transfer looks exceptional with very clear and detailed picture, giving added depth to the film. For example, I don’t think I ever noticed the sheer amount of flies in any given exterior scene, but they are easily seen with this level of detail. The Dolby Vision provides a great look, and although this film is void of bright colors for the most part, the contrast between the light and dark is exceptional.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds great, and although you aren’t getting a lot of use from the surrounds on the main track, they are utilized very well for the haunting music that accompanies the film in some of the most chilling sequences, as well as some atmospheric effects such as the buzzing of bugs. The center channel presents the dialogue in a clear and concise way, and no issues of any kind were noted.
Special Features
The extras are the same from the blu-ray release, so nothing new here.
- Audio Commentary with Director Robert Eggers
- Salem Panel Q&A
- Design Gallery
- The Witch: A Primal Folklore
The Witch is such a haunting film on so many levels, and is given a great treatment on 4k. With the inclusion of Dolby Vision, this release is a must for fans of the film wanting to upgrade to the best quality possible.
