The Witch is a horror film directed by Robert Eggers and released in 2015. It follows the story of a family living in 17th century New England, who are banished from their Puritan plantation and forced to live on the outskirts of a forbidding forest. The film explores themes of religious fanaticism, paranoia, and the supernatural. The Witch received critical acclaim for its atmospheric tension, historical accuracy, and unsettling imagery. It is a slow-burn horror film that relies on psychological terror rather than jump scares or gore. The film's meticulous attention to detail, from the historically accurate sets and costumes to the authentic 17th century dialogue, helps to create a sense of immersion and realism.
The film's meticulous attention to detail, from the historically accurate sets and costumes to the authentic 17th century dialogue, helps to create a sense of immersion and realism. One of the standout aspects of The Witch is its cinematography, which uses a combination of natural lighting and wide-angle lenses to capture the vastness and isolation of the New England wilderness. The film's score also plays a crucial role in building tension, with its eerie chanting and dissonant strings creating a sense of unease.
What Do Witches and Brewers Have in Common?
Grand Teton Brewing in Victor, Idaho, recently sent me a few samples of their Black Cauldron Imperial Stout and shared a bit of history that inspired the beer. The beer’s name does a great job of conjuring up scenes of witches and Halloween—which will be here before we know it—but there’s much more to it than just a catchy name! Black Cauldron was inspired by the often neglected role of women in the the history of beer.
For much of history, women were responsible for the majority of beer brewing, as it fell in with other responsibilities around the home. The current male-dominated brewing industry would likely be considered very odd by many cultures of the past and some cultures that still hold these traditions.
Women’s connection to the history of beer is especially evident in the correlations seen between medieval female brewers (brewsters) and the modern-day witch. Here are a few examples:
- Black cauldron: brew kettle filled with boiling wort.
- Cat: brewers often kept a cat to keep rampant rodents out of their grain storage.
- Broom: an ale stake was displayed above the door of a brewer with ale for sale. It consisted of a rod with many smaller sticks tied onto one end and happened to double as a broom for cleaning the shop.
- Pointy hat: When brewers took their ale to market, they would wear tall pointed hats in order to stand out from the crowd and be easily visible.
Pretty spot on, right?
As the demand for beer grew, brewing was moved out of the home. Since laws in those times prevented women from owning property and starting businesses, the industry became dominated by men as they opened larger-scale brewing operations. Over time, the imagery associated with the brewster became morphed into our modern day Halloween costume.
Thanks to the folks at Grand Teton for shedding some light onto the role that women have played throughout brewing history—and thanks for the beer! As the craft beer industry continues to grow, we need to embrace women’s important role in the history and future of craft beer.
Dan started his journey in craft beer on the east coast exploring homebrewing and pale ales. Since then he's spent time in Colorado, working at both the Brewers Association and Upslope Brewing Co. and is now living in the San Francisco Bay area. His go-to beer styles are American IPAs and pilsners. Apart from beer, he can also talk your ear off about cars and tech. He enjoys hiking and biking with his wife and their dog.
CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.
Sensory Analysis Pink Boots Hop Blend 2022 (from Yakima Chief Hops).
At the heart of The Witch is a deeply unsettling exploration of religious hysteria and fanaticism. The family's patriarch, William, is portrayed as a strict and devout Puritan who believes that his family's misfortunes are a result of their sins. This leads to a spiral of paranoia and accusation as each family member begins to suspect the others of being witches. The film's climax is a surreal and unsettling sequence that combines elements of folklore and mythology with a sense of dread. It is a testament to Eggers' skill as a director that he is able to evoke such a visceral reaction from the audience without relying on traditional horror tropes. Overall, The Witch is a unique and chilling horror film that stands apart from the typical Hollywood fare. Its attention to detail, atmospheric tension, and exploration of religious fanaticism make it a standout entry in the genre. Whether you are a fan of horror films or not, The Witch is a must-see for its artistry and ability to unsettle..
Reviews for "The Art of Film Reviews on Letterboxd: Tips and Tricks"
- Emily - 2/5 stars - "I was really disappointed with 'The Witch'. The atmosphere was great and the performances were solid, but the story felt so slow and unsatisfying. I was expecting more scares and tension, but instead it just dragged on without much happening. The ending left me feeling confused and underwhelmed. Overall, I found 'The Witch' to be a forgettable and frustrating watch."
- Jason - 2/5 stars - "I don't understand the hype around 'The Witch'. The film seemed to be more focused on historical accuracy and period details rather than delivering genuine scares. The pacing was incredibly slow and I found myself losing interest early on. The characters lacked depth and the plot lacked any real substance. I was left feeling bored and unfulfilled by the end. Definitely not a horror film I would recommend."
- Sarah - 3/5 stars - "While 'The Witch' had its moments of tension and some visually striking scenes, I ultimately found it to be a bit overhyped. The slow burn approach can work for some horror films, but in this case, it felt like the film was dragging on without much payoff. The ambiguity of the ending left me unsatisfied and questioning what the point of it all was. I appreciate the atmospheric cinematography and the performances, but overall, 'The Witch' fell short of my expectations."