The Witch : Best Horror Film in the last 15 years

It just simply had to be said.

We haven't had a film so filled with dread, tension and pure HORROR this good in years.

It Follows & The Babadook are a close second and third for sure, also great horror films.

Here Here a classic in my eyes. Along with The Babadook and It Follows.

I thought it follows was overrated. It was good, but I'd give it like. 7.5 out of 10. I'd give the dook 8.5. I am partial to movies that actually hit you mentally and move you spiritually. I'm also partial to supernatural horror.

It Follows is admittedly much scarier than this but insanely overrated, though my issues with it aren't about its horror potential, so thats neither here nor there. As a horror this isn't the scariest ive seen, but it certainly feels more like a strong, consistent and well made film that i enjoyed. Unlike It Follows.

One of my favorite horrors is session 9. It's deep and disturbing on a spiritual and psychological level. I think I'll probably like the witch more because it seems more powerful in those ways.

Ill say its the best in how thorough it was done. It didnt have a big budget but that didnt stop it from looking so well crafted in every aspect.

Yes, Session 9 scared this crap out of me. Very similar in tone to The Witch in terms of that sense of underlying dread. Love it.

What got to me about session 9 was the reveal and resolution (lack of). Completely devastating.

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Best Horror Film in the last 15 years

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What are you smoking & where can I score some? Take me to your dealer!

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We haven't had a film so filled with dread, tension and pure HORROR this good in years.

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Alright, at 1st I thought you got hold of some high % THC mary jane, but that last comment makes me think: put down that meth/crack/pcp pipe, son! Sh!t will kill you


Say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos.

hilarious

What are your picks for great horrors in the past 15 years?

Let's hear your list of the best horror films from the past 15 years then, moron?
If you aren't insecure with your taste in film, you will reply.

I think it may stand the test of time. Of course, it's been a fantastic 15 years in horror films. just a few (there might be some films from 2000 on here):

Let The Right One In
The Babadook
The Descent
The Ring
Cabin In The Woods
The Devil's Backbone
The Host
The Others

Horror has been good but lately theyve been the best movies period. I think it started with Let the Right One In. Its the best genre to use metaphor for.

If you liked this, watch Ben Wheatley's Kill List. I felt like there were a few overlaps.

Seconding this recommendation. I feel like most people who enjoyed The Witch would enjoy Kill List. They have a very similar feel to them.

Will do!

I don't think it quite reaches the heights of It Follows, but I haven't stopped thinking about The Witch since I saw it. It's really stuck with me, which is the sign of a powerful horror movie. Its genius is in the fact that it works first as a character drama, regardless of any of the 'supernatural' elements. It's a carefully written and meticulously researched work of art.

I may have benefitted from a very disciplined audience: everyone was silent and engrossed throughout; although I can imagine a Friday night crowd expecting a horror with standard dialogue and scares might be restless.


My movie reviews: www.rocknreelreviews.com/reviewed_by/rupert

Definitely up there with the like of 28 Days Later, Kill List, The Descent, The Babadook

Personally, I didn't really get the sense of dread or tension that I've gotten with some other films but still a damn fine piece of work all the same. I've found many of the favored horror films of the last decade to be overrated drivel (The Descent, Inside, etc.), so it's nice when something like this or It Follows actually manages to live up to the hype.

what ? the descent is a very good genre movie. Inside, yeah it was just another trashy french gore flick (I'm french btw)

I think the genre you're referring to is "suspense".

You'd feel cocky too if you were full of myself.

I agree, the Best Worst Film in the last 15 years.

I agree, yet to see it follows but will check that out soon. more of the same for the future I say!

it most likely is.
Since The Others and the Ring, this is probably the best made psychological horror in years. Babadook was very good as well and I liked spooky Sinister as well (just not the crappy sequel). Shock and gore horror genre doesn't do much for me, although there have been a few good apples mentioning here, like obviously the Saw series and some decent remakes of old classics like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Hills Have Eyes

It wasn't the best for me, but it's on my list of greats.
I really liked It Follows, and I'm warming up on Babadook (although Samuel's behavior problems are the point, it used to be just too much for me).

The last 15 years? That would be quite a list. Off the top of my head some of the scariest horror movies I've seen have been from Korea & Japan (great serial killer movies like I saw the Devil, the Chaser). Guillermo del Toro's The Orphanage, the Devil's Backbone. I also loved 28 Days/Weeks Later (reinvigorated the Zombie genre). There's also Martyrs and High Tension from France. I also enjoyed mainstream horror like Sinister, The Conjuring, Cabin in the Woods, The Others, The Descent. So a long list indeed.

Frankly, critic scores don't necessarily reflect the quality of the movie (especially horror movies), sometimes all it takes is time and a niche audience to make a horror flick one of the most influential (in hindsight, of course). That's why I think horror movies are hard to judge as being objectively "good", because one person's idea of scary may not be another person's.

So considering that, I wouldn't quite put this movie at the top, because I feel that other movies have been more effective in giving the true sense of horror. That's not to say this movie is bad though. I enjoyed it and it stayed with me. Great atmosphere, full of dread and tension. It was well acted; definite thanks to the cast & their dialect coach because their dialogue flowed naturally. It's a period piece with a side of suspense thriller, and there's some great disturbing imagery. I liked that the screenplay is very reflective of the time they are portraying. I love that it explored religion and piousness in a meaningful way, exposing the hypocrisy, uselessness of it all in the face of overwhelming circumstances. It was not treated as just another plot device, it was actually integral to the story and how the characters devolved.

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Guillermo del Toro's The Orphanage

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It's not his movie though, he's just the producer.

Oh that's right sorry Juan Antonio Bayona. Good movie though.

Do you like Let the Right One In (original, not remake)?

lol not even close, bud. You must not watch many horror movies if you think this.

That's my problem with open opinions. Everyone has one, but very few people are actually horror buffs and know what the hell they're talking about. lol

So, you think your opinion is better, more correct?

Wow! You literally can't be THIS stupid?

Maybe I misread your post but it seems like you agree with that other poster.

Also, why insult all of a sudden? I could've easily written that you're stupid for thinking that Guillermo Del Toro made The Orphanage but I corrected your mistake like a normal human being.

Name some better ones.
I have been a huge fan of horror films for a long time and I agree with the OP.
It's called a difference of opinion.

God, you are so ****ing stupid, it genuinely hurts to know that you exist.

Babadook sucked, but It Follows was pretty good.

This was on a completely different level than both of those films.

You're either hitting rocks or you havn't seen very many horror flicks over the past 15 years.

I'd put the Conjuring.. hell, even The Visit above all 3 of those movies.


It Follows, Babadook, The Witch, etc.

These indy/artsy horror flicks have good directing and heavy tense, creepy atmosphere going for them but they arn't really scary past that. They also tend to go overboard with the metaphorical sh-t. The Babadook beats you over the head that it's really about grief. It Follows about promiscuity/sex and The Witch about female empowerment being a threat to a male dominated society, etc

They are all solid movies but they arn't touching a good number of "pure' horror movies that have come out.

Loove The Bottle like Tyson loves Cus D'Amatoooo"

So, it's a bad thing that those movies try to do more than just be about some thing attacking people? Why is that a bad thing?

Because of this kind of thinking we're getting movies like The Gallows.

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They also tend to go overboard with the metaphorical sh-t.

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Why is that bad? A lot of movies have subtext, symblism etc., like The Exorcist, Alien, The Fly, Cat People etc.

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It Follows about promiscuity/sex

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Actually, a lot more people think it symbolizes death etc.

Besides, it's all subjective. Some people don't find The Conjuring scary at all and hate the jump scares it uses.

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So, it's a bad thing that those movies try to do more than just be about some thing attacking people? Why is that a bad thing?

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Where did I say it was bad thing? I stated this was a good/solid movie (along with It Follows, and Babadook) I'm just saying they arn't really as good as the so called "dumb" horror movies that have come out the ones the critics have "dissed" for lacking substance.

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Because of this kind of thinking we're getting movies like The Gallow

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No we get The Gallows because teens/young adults pay to see movies like that. The Witch is FAR from that it's an art/horror flick, these movies are NEVER going to be mainstream, no matter how much hipsters want them to be.

And what's wrong with brainless horror flicks? Not everything has to be an avant garde piece, does it???? Again.. I enjoyed this movie. I just think it's hilarious that the critics have to sh-t on traditional horror movie fans who find movies like Saw entertaining to praise this one.

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Why is that bad? A lot of movies have subtext, symblism etc., like The Exorcist, Alien, The Fly, Cat People etc.

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Nothing is wrong with that as those movies are classic but on the other end is there something wrong with classics like Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead, Fright Night, etc because they don't have deeper meanings?

[quoteActually, a lot more people think it symbolizes death etc.

right except death doesn't start following the main character until she bones a guy she liked. LOL

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Some people don't find The Conjuring scary at all and hate the jump scares it uses.

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The point is The Conjuring is just as if not more effective as a horror movie even if it's not as "artsy" as The Witch.


Loove The Bottle like Tyson loves Cus D'Amatoooo"

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Where did I say it was bad thing? I stated this was a good/solid movie (along with It Follows, and Babadook)

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I assumed you did because you said they go overboard with symbolism.

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I'm just saying they arn't really as good as the so called "dumb" horror movies that have come out the ones the critics have "dissed" for lacking substance.

And what's wrong with brainless horror flicks? Not everything has to be an avant garde piece, does it???? Again.. I enjoyed this movie. I just think it's hilarious that the critics have to sh-t on traditional horror movie fans who find movies like Saw entertaining to praise this one.

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Well, it's all subjective, I liked The Conjuring but prefered It Follows etc.

I wouldn't say the critics diss the movies which lack substance. Look at Hush, for example, it got some good reviews and the movie doesn't have deep metaphors etc.

I think the critics do also enjoy brainless horrors, they praised some of those. Critics also enjoy a well constructed, tense etc. horror movie.

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Nothing is wrong with that as those movies are classic but on the other end is there something wrong with classics like Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead, Fright Night, etc because they don't have deeper meanings?

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I never said there's anything wrong with that. However, I wouldn't say Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street etc. don't have meanings. Even critics think that way, they analyzed Halloween and Nightmare.

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right except death doesn't start following the main character until she bones a guy she liked. LOL

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The director and some other people explained it better than I could, so I'll post this:

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Director Mitchell stated: "I'm not personally that interested in where 'it' comes from. To me, it's dream logic in the sense that they're in a nightmare, and when you're in a nightmare there's no solving the nightmare. Even if you try to solve it." Mitchell said that while Jay opens herself up to danger through sex, sex is the one way in which she can free herself from that danger Were all here for a limited amount of time, and we cant escape our mortalitybut love and sex are two ways in which we can at least temporarily push death away.

Mortality is a major theme of the film; the existential dread in the face of death's inevitability, and how people try (and fail) to postpone death. There are three quotations in the film that stress this theme. When Jay is in English class, her teacher is reading from T. S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," and Yara reads two passages on the imminence of death from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Idiot.

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That's not the point in me bringing it up my point is The Conjuring is just as if not more effective as a horror movie even if it's not as "artsy" as The Witch.

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And the critics did think it was good, it got good reviews after all, the biggest complaint was the lack of originality for some critics, while some thought it used the cliches well.

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The point is The Conjuring is just as if not more effective as a horror movie even if it's not as "artsy" as The Witch.

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That's just your opinion lol. I thought The Conjuring was pretty average and not scary or effective in any way at all.
Yet I thought The Witch was the creepiest horror I'd seen in years.

This movie sucked.. it was completely pointless and boring. It had 0 atmosphere and it was hard to understand their stupid accents. It's a movie set in America yet they're using ancient accents? Cool. Just another art drama with horror elements that teenagers praise.

How old are you, fvckwit?

Older than you. I know that because only the younger crowd (10-16) are fans of this movie.

The critics who rated this film highly are also a crowd of 10-16 years old kids, right? No matter how old you are, you don't sound very bright.

I like the old dialect. It makes it feel more authentic, IMO.