Rediscovering Witch Movies: The Witch Letterboxd as a Treasure Trove

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The Witch is a 2015 American-Canadian period supernatural horror film written and directed by Robert Eggers, in his feature directorial debut. The project was announced in February 2013 and much of the cast signed on a year later. The film was shot in Ontario, Canada, in early 2014. It has been described as a "New England folk tale" and a "crowning achievement"[2] in independent horror filmmaking. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, and Lucas Dawson. The Witch follows a Puritan family experiencing forces of evil in the woods beyond their New England farm, forces that may be either real or imagined.


No good can come of this, of course, particularly not in a novel by the great English writer Angela Carter, who never trusts a romantic dream. One night Melanie puts on her mother’s wedding dress and accidentally tears it. The next day, a telegram arrives. Her parents are dead, and she must go to live with relatives in London.

In the house of her uncle, a tyrannical toymaker, and his unwilling apprentice, the vulpine young orphan Finn, Melanie s sexual awakening ceases to be a romance and becomes a dark and dangerous fairy tale. Though she s a sharp-eyed observer of the condition humaine , Dutch readers tend to like their social criticism straight, or with an ironic twist, rather than the sophisticated literary cocktail Carter serves of sly comedy, eroticism, and Gothic dread, Shakespeare, Baudelaire, and Poe.

The magical toyshop story

The Witch follows a Puritan family experiencing forces of evil in the woods beyond their New England farm, forces that may be either real or imagined. The Witch was widely praised and considered one of the best films of 2016. It won the Directing Award: U.

The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter

A surreal, gothic coming-of-age story, The magic Toyshop is as unsettling as it is bewitching.

One night Melanie walks through the garden in her mother’s wedding dress. The next morning her world is shattered. Forced to leave her rural home, she is sent to London to live with relatives she has never met: gentle Aunt Margaret, mute since her wedding day; and her brothers, Francie, whose graceful music belies his clumsy nature, and the volatile Finn.

Brooding over all is Uncle Philip, who loves only the puppets he creates in his workshop, which are life-sized – and uncannily life-like.

Buy it with our matching The Magic Toyshop unlined notebook for the book-lovin' writer in your life.

About the Product

  • Format: Hardcover
  • Imprint: Virago Modern Classics
  • ISBN: 9781844085231
  • Length: 240 pages

About the Author

Angela Carter was born in 1940. She lived in Japan, the United States and Australia. Her first novel, Shadow Dance, was published in 1965. Her next book, The Magic Toyshop, won the John Llewllyn Rhys Prize and the next, Several Perceptions, the Somerset Maugham Award.

She was recongised as one of the most important writers of the 20th Century. A pioneer of British magical realism/magical feminism, her work was described by Salman Rushdie as 'without rival and without equal'.

Carter's radical, inventive novels influenced countless writers, while her dark, sensual short fiction turned traditional fables inside out, giving women the power over their desires and fates.

Angela Carter died in February 1992.

The witxh letterboxd

S. Dramatic at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards for Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay. Its international distribution rights were acquired by A24 in January 2015. Нigh revenue for low-budget film, talk about the history of movies about witches. This is not only the story of the success of the film itself, but also of its enormous influence on the film industry and pop culture. The Witch, as the name suggests, is a film about witches. But it's not your typical witchcraft story. Director Robert Eggers takes a different approach, diving into the historical and religious context of the 1630s New England setting. He meticulously researches the beliefs, customs, and fears of the time, creating a film that feels authentic and grounded in a dark reality. The film revolves around a Puritan family that is banished from their village and forced to build a new home in the isolated wilderness. As they struggle with the harsh conditions and their own religious fervor, strange and unsettling things begin to happen. Crops fail, livestock die, and the family's baby mysteriously disappears. Blame is cast on forces of evil, and suspicion falls on the family's eldest daughter, Thomasin. The Witch is not a jump-scare or gore-filled horror film. It's a slow burn that builds tension through atmosphere, imagery, and the psychological unraveling of the family members. Eggers masterfully creates a sense of dread and unease, making the audience feel as trapped and helpless as the characters on screen. Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a phenomenal performance as Thomasin, capturing the emotional turmoil and vulnerability of a young girl grappling with her own religious beliefs and the horrors unfolding around her. The rest of the cast, including Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie as the parents, also deliver strong performances, adding depth and complexity to their characters. The Witch is a thought-provoking film that explores themes of religious fanaticism, isolation, and the darker aspects of human nature. It raises questions about the nature of evil and whether it comes from external forces or from within ourselves. It's a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll, inviting discussions and interpretations. In summary, The Witch is a standout horror film that defies genre conventions and offers a fresh and unsettling take on witchcraft. It's a film that showcases the talent and vision of director Robert Eggers, and it has rightfully earned its place as a modern horror classic..

Reviews for "Exploring Witchcraft Lore through Movies on the Witch Letterboxd"

1. John - 2 stars: I was really disappointed with "The Witch" letterboxd. I had heard so many great things about it and was excited to watch it, but it just didn't live up to the hype for me. The pacing was incredibly slow and the storyline felt disjointed. I found myself constantly looking at my watch, waiting for something interesting to happen. The ending left me unsatisfied and confused. Overall, I just didn't get the appeal of this film.
2. Sarah - 2.5 stars: I had high expectations for "The Witch" letterboxd, especially with all the critical acclaim it received. However, I found it to be extremely underwhelming. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect or care about their fates. The slow pace and lack of suspense made it a challenge to stay engaged throughout the film. While the cinematography was stunning, it couldn't make up for the lackluster plot. I was left wanting more substance and substance.
3. Emily - 3 stars: "The Witch" letterboxd had its moments, but overall, I found it to be overhyped. The atmosphere and cinematography were top-notch, creating a sense of unease and tension. However, the narrative felt disjointed and left many unanswered questions. The slow pacing made it hard for me to stay invested in the story, and the ending felt abrupt and unsatisfying. While it had its merits, I don't think it lived up to the hype surrounding it.
4. David - 2 stars: I really didn't enjoy "The Witch" letterboxd. The story was incredibly confusing, and the slow pace combined with minimal dialogue made it a struggle to stay engaged. The horror elements were lackluster and failed to elicit any real fear or suspense. The few scares that were present felt predictable and cliché. I was expecting a gripping and chilling tale, but instead, I found myself bored and disinterested. Overall, "The Witch" just didn't work for me.

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