The year 2015 saw the rise of the Wutch, a new trend that took over social media platforms and captivated millions of users. The Wutch, short for "What's Up Witch," was a viral challenge where participants would film themselves doing random acts of kindness or engaging in funny and entertaining activities. The Wutch started gaining popularity after a video of a young woman handing out free flowers to strangers went viral. Inspired by this act of kindness and the positive response it received, people began spreading the word and challenging their friends and followers to participate in the Wutch. Participants of the Wutch would film themselves performing acts of kindness, such as buying a meal for a homeless person or helping an elderly person cross the street. Others would showcase their talents by singing, dancing, or doing impressive stunts.
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Eggers also chose to stylize the film s title as The VVitch in its title sequence and on posters, stating that he found this spelling in a Jacobean era pamphlet on witchcraft, along with other period texts. The story follows a Puritan family that leaves its plantation and village over religious differences and goes off to build a home near the edge of the woods.
Others would showcase their talents by singing, dancing, or doing impressive stunts. The goal was to spread positivity and inspire others to do good deeds or showcase their skills. Social media platforms were flooded with Wutch videos, with people from all walks of life participating in the challenge.
Why you need to watch: The Witch (2015)
This is entry 1 in a series of blogs/reviews of what I call The Incredibles (and no, The Pixar Incredibles is not going to be on here), a list of games and movies that I think represent the very best of their medium in some way or another. These are purely personal opinions, so if you want to attack them, fine. Just know that I put a lot of thought into every one. If it is successful and people respond to them, I'll post one every week until I run out. I randomized the order, so they're not ranked or anything. First up is The Witch, by Robert Eggers. Enjoy! Or not.
More than anything else, Robert Eggers' horror masterpiece The Witch is a film of nouns. A trial. A baby. A forest. A broomstick. A woman. An apple. A rabbit. A raven. And a goat.
More so than even The Blair Witch Project, The Witch represents the stereotypical evil old hag of legend as a force of pure malevolence, as something to be feared, able to effortlessly turn everything the unfortunate group has against them. Traces of distrust are amplified a hundredfold. Guns misfire. Crops refuse to grow. Long-forgotten grudges boil to the surface. Religious beliefs are used as weapons instead of shields. From the instant Thomasin (played with exemplary restraint by the beautiful Anya Taylor-Joy) and her kin are banished from the plantation, the spectre of misfortune and corruption hangs over the film, as thick as a fog, assuredly palpable in its existence. What might have otherwise been a quaint, idyllic piece of land is transformed into a foreboding hellscape by a carefully muted color palette, extraordinary use of space, and Mark Korven's delightfully unhinged score. The acts and speech of the once-close-knit family graduate from merely tense, past irrational to borderline indescribable at an alarming rate.
The performances are uniformly excellent, sometimes to an unsettling degree. Watch for any scenes in the cabin's attic to find the clearest evidence; what these actors manage to do is harrowing in its effectiveness. Aside from the aforementioned Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson as the father William is truly marvelous. The range of emotions he has to portray in the script encompasses pretty much the full negative spectrum (often switching gears at a moment's notice), and he never falters. But this isn't to downplay the skill of all of these performers, since every character gets their turn in the spotlight at one point or another. It really is quite something.
Unfortunately, to go into too much more detail about the actual plot is difficult, since nearly every event, major and minor, has a significant impact on the characters that are the center of the narrative. To reveal that there is, in fact, a real witch cursing the family is not a spoiler (it's revealed in the first fifteen minutes). And suffice it to say that if you are knowledgeable in eastern United States folklore then a good amount of what transpires will seem familiar. But as usual, what's important is not the story that's told. What matters is how the author tells it, and The Witch was blessed with a wonderful one.
Period pieces don't often serve as the backdrops for horror, which is actually a real shame. Consider The Witch, a story about a banished Puritan family trying to sustain itself on the edge of an ominous forest inhabited by a gruesome witch. The faithful representation of one of the most creepy time periods in American history makes all the difference here. The family's dealings with the supernatural terror in the woods push their spiritual and physical endurance to the breaking point. Robert Eggers pulls no punches and makes no apologies in this film. The Witch's scenes are steeped in primal dread, and each actor makes the audience feel the seams come apart as paranoia and mistrust begin to take their toll. While Game of Thrones alumni Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie offer brilliantly raw performances as the family's mother and father, it's the film's younger actors—Harvey Scrimshaw and Anya Taylor-Joy—who really shine. Scrimshaw captures the nuanced turmoil of being an adolescent male in a strictly religious family. As the oldest daughter who is blamed for the witch's malevolent deeds against the family, Anya Taylor-Joy shows a surprising amount of risk and range in her performance. The film swings for the fences on all fronts. The performances are explosive, the tension is gut-wrenching, and the settings are nightmarish. To the horror films of 2015, the gauntlet has officially been thrown down. –Alex Springer
The Wutch was not limited to any specific age group or location, making it a truly global phenomenon. People from different parts of the world would share their videos, with each one adding their unique touch to the challenge. As the Wutch gained momentum, it started to have a significant impact on the online community. Not only did it inspire individuals to perform acts of kindness and showcase their talents, but it also created a sense of unity and positivity. The challenge became a way for people to connect, share their stories, and support one another. The Wutch also had a ripple effect on society, with many local communities and organizations joining the movement. Charities and non-profit organizations used the Wutch as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for various causes. They encouraged their supporters to participate in the challenge and donate to their respective organizations. Overall, the Wutch was more than just a viral trend. It was a movement that sparked kindness, creativity, and unity. It showed the power of social media in spreading positivity and inspiring change. The Wutch of 2015 will always be remembered as a time when strangers came together, shared their stories, and made the world a little brighter..
Reviews for "2015: The Year of the Wutch"
1. John - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "2015 the wutch" given its promotional material and claims of it being a thrilling ride. However, I must say I was thoroughly disappointed. The plot was convoluted and poorly executed, leaving me confused and disengaged throughout the movie. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to care about their fates. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it even more difficult to connect with the story. Overall, "2015 the wutch" failed to live up to its hype and left me wanting for a more engaging and coherent film.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I regret wasting my time watching "2015 the wutch". The movie was filled with cliches and predictable twists, making it painfully boring to sit through. The acting was subpar, with wooden performances from the entire cast. The film lacked any originality, recycling tired tropes and ideas that have been done to death in the genre. The special effects were underwhelming and did little to enhance the overall experience. "2015 the wutch" is a forgettable and uninspired film that I would not recommend to anyone seeking an entertaining and well-crafted movie.
3. David - 2/5 - As a fan of the genre, I was excited to watch "2015 the wutch" based on its intriguing premise. However, the execution fell flat and left me disappointed. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of boredom interrupted by brief moments of action. The plot was convoluted and lacked cohesiveness, making it difficult to follow and invest in the storyline. The characters were poorly developed and their motivations were unclear. Ultimately, "2015 the wutch" failed to deliver on its promise of a thrilling and captivating experience, leaving me underwhelmed and unsatisfied.