The Witch

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2:31

The Witch

R

Released Feb 19, 2016

1h 32m

Horror

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

337 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In 1630 New England, panic and despair envelops a farmer, his wife and their children when youngest son Samuel suddenly vanishes. The family blames Thomasin, the oldest daughter who was watching the boy at the time of his disappearance. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, twin siblings Mercy and Jonas suspect Thomasin of witchcraft, testing the clan's faith, loyalty and love to one another.

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Britt Ashley

Bitch Media

Like any good horror film, The Witch is rife with opportunity for allegorical interpretation, and one of the most compelling narratives bubbling beneath surface is the origin story of America itself.

Feb 10, 2021

Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Catholic Digest

The stakes are real. The Devil is real. All roads do not lead up the mountain. Some lead to the heart of darkness, to the depths of a witch-haunted wood.

Rated: A

Apr 28, 2017

Full Review

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

The film starts with wordy wittering and ends by trying to woo our shrieks -- from Arthur Miller to Dennis Wheatley in the shortest time possible between two blunt points.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 27, 2016

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Elevated symbolically with Eggers’ commentary on how fanatical faith is impossible to live up to, and how that churns out something evil, despite its good intentions. All of that is delicately crystallized in the final moments of The Witch...

Aug 8, 2024

Full Review

Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

The Witch has been aesthetically compared to that of The Shining and The Crucible, and it is easy to see why. But that fails to give enough credit where credit is due: Eggers has a unique direction style...

Rated: A-

Jun 17, 2024

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…finishes on a few memorable flourishes, even if it ends roughly where one might have hoped that it would start. Nevertheless, the slow burn is effective, and Eggers deserves credit for ploughing a fresh furrow in the annals of witchcraft film-making…

Rated: 3/5

Feb 10, 2024

Full Review

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peter r

“The Witch” is one of those rare films that makes you think, “They don’t make ’em like this anymore.” This is a true masterpiece, an atmospheric, deeply unsettling tale that lingers long after the credits roll. For any horror fan, it’s an absolute must-watch. The performances are flawless, with each actor fully embodying their role and grounding the terror in reality. The dialogue, crafted with chilling authenticity, draws you into the world of 17th-century New England, heightening the film’s tension and mystery. The film’s slow-burn pace and eerie visuals build an atmosphere that’s both hypnotic and horrifying.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

Tiisetso M

The movie was something.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

Gilles V

It was a weird movie, but I quite liked it. However, the ending was a bit stupid in my opinion.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

Full Review

Peter L

The paranoia and claustrophobia are palatable. I should have figured, but it was more depressing than anything in my opinion. I just was hoping for a little more.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/24

Full Review

Erik B

Very similar in feel and vibe to Eggers other works, notably The Lighthouse and The Northman. Creepy, folksy, auditorily terrifying, this film is a masterpiece in period horror.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/24

Full Review

Julian S

Despite the impressive setting, costumes, and competent cast, it still comes up empty.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/02/24

Full Review

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Robert Eggers

Director

Anya Taylor-Joy

Thomasin

Ralph Ineson

William

Kate Dickie

Katherine

Harvey Scrimshaw

Caleb

Ellie Grainger

Mercy

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The Witch: Official Clip - I Will Guide Thy Hand

2:49

The Witch: Official Clip - Witch's Lair

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The Witch: Official Clip - Witch of the Wood

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The Witch: Official Clip - Take Me To Thy Lap

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The Witch: Official Clip - Black Phillip

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The Witch: Official Clip - Peek-A-Boo

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The Witch: Official Clip - The Apple

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The Witch: Official Clip - Black Magic Madness

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The Witch: Official Clip - Black Magic Madness

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The Witch: Official Clip - Take Me to Thy Lap

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The Witch: Blu-Ray Trailer 1

2:31

The Witch: Re-Release Trailer

1:17

The Witch: 'Peek-A-Boo' Trailer

1:28

The Witch: Trailer 2

1:22

The Witch: Trailer 1

2:30

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Synopsis

In 1630 New England, panic and despair envelops a farmer, his wife and their children when youngest son Samuel suddenly vanishes. The family blames Thomasin, the oldest daughter who was watching the boy at the time of his disappearance. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, twin siblings Mercy and Jonas suspect Thomasin of witchcraft, testing the clan's faith, loyalty and love to one another.

Director: Robert Eggers
Producer: Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Daniel Bekerman, Rodrigo Teixeira
Screenwriter: Robert Eggers
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Parts and Labor
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Disturbing Violent Content)
Genre: Horror, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 19, 2016, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 1, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): May 17, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.1M
Runtime: 1h 32m

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