- "'Twas I what stole him. I'm the witch of the wood."
"Liar! Liar!!"
"I am."
"List not to her, Mercy."
"I am that very witch. When I sleep my spirit slips away from my body and dances naked with The Devil. That's how I signed his book."
"No!"
"He bade me bring him an unbaptized babe, and I stole Sam, and I gave him to my master. And I'll make any man or thing else vanish I like." - ―Thomasin, Mercy and Caleb[src]
The Witch, also known as The VVitch: A New England Folktale, is a 2015 folk horror film writter and directed by Robert Eggers in his feature film debut.
Synopsis[]
A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession.
Plot[]
Prologue[]
William's family leave the Plantation
In New England in the 1630s, a family of Puritans - William, his wife Katherine and their children Thomasin, Caleb, Jonas and Mercy - are brought before the governor of the plantation they live on over a religious dispute. William tells the governor that they left their family behind in England for the pure and faithful dispensations of the Gospels and the Kingdom of God. He declares the elders of the plantation to be false Christians and disputes their right to judge him. The governor accuses him of dishonoring the laws of the Commonwealth and the Church with his prideful conceit. William refuses to admit fault and the governor banishes him and his family from the plantation. William gladly accepts it and chastises the elders one more time. The family leave, with only Thomasin being reluctant to do so.
William's family find fertile land to set up a farm
The family leave the plantation in a horse-drawn cart. Some time later, they find fertile land at the edge of a forest where they can set up a farm. They happily join hands in prayer, unaware that an ominous presence lurks within the woods.
Disappearance[]
Samuel immediately before he disappears
Several months later, the family have settled into their new home, acquired several livestock and welcomed a new baby boy, Samuel. One morning, Thomasin prays and confesses she has lived in sin; ignoring her work, disobeying her parents, neglecting prayer and following her own desires rather than those of the Holy Spirit. She begs God's forgiveness and mercy, while accepting the she deserves eternal suffering and hellfire. She later takes care of Samuel while Katherine rests. She takes him out close to the woods and plays peek-a-boo with him. One moment, she covers her face with her hands and when she removes them she finds him gone. She panics, and seeing twigs and small trees swaying as if something has just moved past them at great speed, she runs towards the forest and derperately calls his name.
The Witch flies among the treetops
In the forest, a cloaked figure takes Samuel deep into the woods. That night, the figure lays him down on a tree stump and kills him with a knife. She then grinds his body into a flying ointment and smears it all over her skin. Taking hold of a long branch, she floats high among the treetops.
The Hunt[]
Katherine is so devastated by the loss of Samuel that she does not sleep for several nights and lies in bed sobbing. Early one morning, Caleb dresses early and prepares to go outside. He stares at Thomasin's cleavage while she sleeps, but when she begins to stir, he wakes her tells her to sleep, assuring her that all will be well. As Katherine tearfully prays, he sneaks out of the house and joins William. His father tells him that they can no longer search for Samuel, who will have surely died of hunger by now if he was not taken by a wolf. The crops a rotten with ergot and William tells him that they shall head into the woods to see if anything has been caught in the traps he has set. Caleb is reluctant, as William and Katherine have always forbade him from entering the forest, but William insists that they must do it, as with the crops failing they will need to catch their food.
In the woods, William has Caleb recite the concept of original sin to him. They find one of the traps empty and set it again. Caleb worries that Samuel is in Hell due to the fact that he was not baptized and worries that the same will happen to him due to his unconfessed sins. Williams tells him that he wishes he could reassure him, but cannot, as only God knows who is a sinner and who is not. Caleb asks where he got the traps and William replies that he sold Katherine's silver cup, an heirloom from her father, to Indian Thom and Old Slater when last they passed through. He asks Caleb not to tell Katherine this, as she is burdened enough already. The family dog, Fowler, spots a hare with an unusally sharp stare.William and Caleb fumble to load the shotgun and as William attempts to shoot the hare, the gun backfires and sprays gunpowder into his eye. The hare escapes.
Katherine chastises William for leaving the farm without telling her
Back at the farm, Thomasin collects water in a bucket, but struggles to balance it on her head and spills some of it. She goes to collect eggs from the chicked coop, but accidentally drops one and finds blood within. Jonas and Mercy chase the billy goat, Black Phillip, around the farm as they sing a song in his honor. Thomasin orders them to come and help her, but they ignore her. She sits at the edge of the forest, overwhelmed with guilt over the loss of Samuel. William and Caleb return to the farm and discover that the twins have riled up Black Phillip. As Katherine comes out and holds the twins still, Williams grabs the goat by his horns and wrestles him back into his pen. He then falls backwards onto a pile of excrement, prompting laughter from the twins. Thomasin returns and Katherine chides her for not keeping watch of the twins. Thomasin replies that she was and that they would not help her and Katherine orders her to take William's clothes and wash them. Katherine is angry with them for leaving without informing her and Caleb tells her that they were looking for an apple tree. She tells him not to leave the farm again.
Thomasin sits by the brook and scrubs William's clothes when Caleb arrives to collect water. He sneaks another glance at her cleavage and when she notices him dallying, she tells him to sit with her and comforts him, wondering what is the matter. They hear a twig snap and are alarmed, but it is Mercy pretending to be a witch. Thomasin chastises her for playing while she works like a slaves. Mercy tells Thomasin that Katherine hates her and that Black Phillip says that she can do what she likes. Mercy accuses Thomasin of letting a witch take Samuel, claiming she has seen the witch herself. Thomasin claims that she was the witch and that she stole Samuel. Thomasin frightens Mercy by telling her that she will eat her and Caleb tells her to stop, insisting that a wolf stole Samuel.
Later that night, William leads the family in prayer before they eat supper. Katherine asks Thomasin what she has done with the silver cup. Thomasin replies that she has not touched it, but Katherine does not believe her, even asking if a wolf took it like it did Samuel. The goats bleat outside and Katherine chides Thomasin for not penning them down before supper. Thomasin goes out to the pen and finds the hare in among the goats.
Thomasin overhears her parents' plan to give her to another family
In their bedroom, William implores Katherine to get some sleep that night. Katherine believes that God has cursed them by taking Samuel and William replies that He has taken them into a very low condition and show them more of his grace. She expresses regret over leaving the plantation and he replies that they do not need luxuries such as silver chalices. She is angered by this, proclaiming that she does not miss it due to vanity. She tells him that Thomasin he begun to mature and must leave to serve another family. She expresses fear that Samuel is in Hell and that the family will starve due to the failing crops. William tells her that he will take Thomasin to a nearby village in the morning and give her to the Tildens or the Whytings. Unknown to them, the children are awake and listening.
Searching for Food[]
Later that night, Caleb goes into the stable and saddles up Burt, the family's horse. Thomasin comes out and demands to know what he is doing. He tells her to go back to sleep, but she refuses. He tells her that if he is successful, she will not need to leave to serve another family. She insists on coming with him, threatening to wake William and Katherine if he refuses.
As the morning comes, they set out with Fowler and find a dead rabbit in one of the traps. They continue onwards and Thomasin reminisces of their time in England. She insists that they had glass windows, but Caleb does not remember this. She tells him that Fowler would lie on the floor and warm himself in the sunlight, and that one day he lays upon the table and William joked that they would eat him. Fowler then spots the hare and chases it deeper into the woods. Caleb chases after them, but Burt gets spooked runs off, causing Thomasin and fall from his back and lose consciousness.
Later that evening, Jonas and Mercy are roped to a fence to prevent them from entering the woods. They call out for Thomasin and Caleb, as do William and Katherine at the edge of forest. Armed with the shotgun, Caleb calls out for Thomasin and unsuccessfully tries to whistles for Fowler. Panicking, he prays as he makes her way through the forest. He hears Fowler crying out in pain and runs towards the sound, only to find that the dog has been disembowled. Thomasin wakes and hears William crying out. She runs towards the sound and finds him. Caleb follows the hare through a thicket and reaches a hovel, where a beautiful, voluptuous young woman emerges. Caleb is terrified as she advances on him with a predatory look in her eyes. She kisses forcefully him and grabs the back of his head with a clawed, withered hand.
Witchcraft[]
Later that night, Thomasin is in a state of as Katherine demands to know what is the matter with her. Williams states that he will search for Caleb at first light and Katherine implores him to go to the village for help. William replies that it is a day's ride, he has no horse and nobody in the village will help them, but Katherine says that it is foolish to search for Caleb without a gun or a dog. Katherine demands to know why they were in the wood, but Thomasin promised Caleb that she would not. Seeing that Thomasin is heartbroken by Katherine's constant blame, William confesses that he took the silver cup and sold it and asks them for forgiveness. He also admits that he took Caleb to the woods. She is enraged at him for lying and putting the family in danger and strikes him. Thomasin cleans his wound and goes to pen down the goats, but Katherine bids her to come to her and kisses her on the forehead, finally showing her affection.
As Thomasin treats the goats, she hears a noise. Outside the pen, she finds Caleb naked and delerious in the pouring rain. He is brought inside and the family attempt to treat him, cutting her head next to his eyebrow and draining his blood into a bowl. William goes outside and chops some firewood. In the morning, Thomasin goes to milk Flora, one of the goats, and the twins tell her that Black Phillip has informed them that she is responsible for Caleb's illness. They then accuse her of being a witch. As Thomasin squeezes Flora's teat, blood squirts out instead of milk, shocking them all.
As William and Katherine watch over Caleb, she asks if he remembers John Kempe's son, who was beleived to have been tormented by Indian magic during a previous winter. She states her belief that Caleb's illness is the result of witchcraft, but he dismisses this notion. He makes plans to make for the plantation in the morning, find another family for Thomasin and take Caleb to the doctor. Katherine confesses that since Samuel disappeared, she has lost her faith in Christ.
Caleb blissfully declares his love for Jesus Christ
The family search for some unspoiled corn when they hear Caleb screaming in to house. They run inside and he cries out that he is infected with sin. His jaw seals up and Williams breaks it, after which Caleb spits out a bloody apple. Katherine declares it proof that he is bewitched and the twins accuse Thomasin. Williams orders her to kneel and demands that she declare her love for God, the Bible and prayer. Convinced, he orders the family to pray for Caleb, but the twins declare and they cannot remember the prayer and begin to convulse. Caleb cries out about a female figure who torments him and begs Jesus to save him. William, Katherine and Thomasin continue to pray. Caleb blissfully declares his love for Jesus and dies. The family are devastated and Katherine hysterically orders Thomasin to leave.
Thomasin runs outside and cries. William finds her and holds her close. William tells her of the plans he had for the farm and asks her to tell him the truth. Thomasin attests her innocence, but William is now convinced of witchcraft, citing the bloody apple and the twins' inability to pray. He begs her to confess and she informs her that she knows of his and Katherine's plan to get rid of her. She then chides him for letting her take the blame for his failures and his inability to maintain the farm, declaring him good for nothing but chopping wood. He angrily calls her a bitch and she accuses the twins of conversing with the Devil, who she claims is Black Phillip. He drags her inside and she repeats her accusation against the twins to Katherine. Katherine states her belief that Caleb is damned, as the Devil will also speak in scripture. Unsure who to believe, William locks the children in the goats' pen as they beg him to reconsider. He tells them that he will let them out at dawn and they will make for the planation, imploring them to think on their sins.
A raven pecks at Katherine's breast
In the pen, Thomasin asks the twins if they are witches and they deny it. They ask if she is one and she shakes her head. She then asks if Black Phillip really speaks to them and the twins to not reply, while the goat simply sits there grunting to himself. William and Katherine bury Caleb and Katherine lies in the grave and holds him one last time before it is filled. That night, Williams chops wood confesses his pride is to blame for all of his family's bad fortune. He tearfully begs Christ to save his family, even if it means his own damnation. Katherine later rises from her bed, where the silver cup is back on its shelf. She sees Caleb sitting before her, holding Samuel. Overcome with joy, she hugs Caleb and announces that she will wake William, but Caleb tells her to let him sleep. He offers her a book and asks her to look at it with him. She agrees and begins to breastfeed Samuel. In the goats' pen, the children are woken by loud noises. They find a hideous, naked old woman drinking from Flora's tear, who turns and cackles at them, causing them to scream in terror. Back in the house, Katherine laughs hysterically as a raven pecks at her breast.
Living Deliciously[]
William is gored by Black Phillip
The next morning, William awakes and heads outside. Katherine wakes just after him, his nightgown stained with blood. Outside, William finds the goats' pen smashed open with Thomasin lying there, the goats slaughtered and the wins gone. Thomasin screams in horror as Black Phillip charges at William and gores him. William grabs a nearby axe to kill the goat, but after a moment he throws it down. He quotes Job, declaring "Corruption, though art my father!". Black Phillip charges at him again, knocking him into the pile of firewood and causing it to collapse on him. The goat then wanders off and a dazed Thomasin approaches her father's corpse.
Katherine emerges from the house and demands to know what Thomasin has done. She accuses her of murdering the twins and making covenant with the Devil. She then accuses her of seducing and bewiching Caleb and William. Thomasin denies her accusation and Katherine attacks her, while her daughter declares her love for her and begs her to stop. Thomasin grabs a nearby knife and slashes Katherine's forehead, but she begins strangling Thomasin. Thomasin slashes her several more times and cries as her mother's corpse falls upon her. She pushes Katherine's corpse off of her, stands up in a state of shock and stares out towards the woods. She then goes back into the house, where she rests her head on the table and falls asleep.
Black Phillip reveals his true nature to Thomasin
That night, she is woken by the sound of a bell. She goes outside and finds Black Phillip standing outside the pen. She follows him inside and asks him to speak to her as he did to Jonas and Mercy. He does not reply, so she asks if he understands her English tongue and demands that he answer her. She turns to leave and he asks her what she wants. She turns back, surprised, and asks what he can give. He asks her if she would like the taste of butter, a pretty dress and to live deliciously. She replies that she would and he asks her if she would like to see the world. She asks what he wants from her and he asks if she sees a book before her. She looks down and sees a book lying open with several signatures in it. He steps forward and transforms into a tall, darkly handsome man. As her approaches her, he order her to remove her shift. She undresses and he steps behind her, gripping her should with his gloved hand. She tells him that she cannot write her name and he replies that he will guide her hand.
Now a goat again, Black Phillip leads the naked Thomasin out into the woods. They eventually reach a clearing, where a coven of naked witches stand around a bonfire, holding long branches and chanting in Enochian. As they finish their chant, the witches cackle and begin to float into the air. Thomasin begins to float too, and laughs hysterically as she rises up to the treetops.
Cast[]
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin
- Ralph Ineson as William
- Kate Dickie as Katherine
- Harvey Scrimshaw as Caleb
- Ellie Grainger as Mercy
- Lucas Dawson as Jonas
- Bathsheba Garnett and Sarah Stephens as The Witch
- Wahab Chaudhry and Charlie as Black Phillip
- Axtun Henry Dube as Athan Conrad Dube as Samuel
- Julian Richings as The Governor
Production[]
Casting[]
Casting for the film took place in England, as Robert Eggers was seeking authentic accents to represent a family who had newly arrived in colonial Plymouth, Massachusetts.[1]
Filming[]
Robert Eggers directing a scene at the plantation
Robert Eggers intended to shoot the film on location in New England, but tax incentives forced him to shoot it in Canada instead. However, this proved problematic as he was unable to find the forest environment that he was seeking. He then began scouting unconventional locations and found a suitable one in Kiosk, Ontario.[2]
Videos[]
Trailers[]
