Berserk Recollections of the Witch: Berserk is a dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura. The story follows the journey of Guts, a lone mercenary, as he battles against demons and seeks revenge for the horrors he has endured. In his quest, Guts encounters the enigmatic and powerful Witch, Schierke. Schierke plays a crucial role in Guts' journey, providing him with invaluable knowledge and assistance. She is a young witch-in-training who possesses formidable magical abilities. With her help, Guts is able to tap into his own hidden potential and confront the supernatural threats he faces.
With her help, Guts is able to tap into his own hidden potential and confront the supernatural threats he faces. One of the most striking aspects of Schierke is her connection to nature and the spiritual realm. She can communicate with spirits and draws her power from the elements.
“The Witch” movie review: Horror at its most sinister
Anya Taylor-Joy and Harvey Scrimshaw star in “The Witch,” a chillingly atmospheric story of Calvinist zealotry and creeping hysteria.
PUBLISHED: February 18, 2016 at 5:36 a.m. | UPDATED: April 17, 2016 at 11:15 p.m.* * * Stars | Horror. R. 92 minutes.
A grim, uneasy sense of doom pervades “The Witch,” writer-director Robert Eggers’ audacious and assured feature debut.
An avatar of a sub-genre that might be called Colonial gothic, this chillingly atmospheric story of Calvinist zealotry and creeping hysteria joins the ranks of such landmark horror films as “The Omen,” “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Exorcist.” That “The Witch” comports itself less like an imitator of those classics than their progenitor is a tribute to a filmmaker who, despite his newcomer status, seems to have arrived in the full throes of maturity, in full control of his prodigious powers.
“The Witch” begins in 1630, as an English settler named William (Ralph Ineson) is being banished from his New England plantation of Puritan colonists, forcing him to move with his wife, Katherine (Kate Dickie), and their four children to a hardscrabble farm on the outskirts of a forbidding forest.
When their oldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), takes her infant brother for a walk one day, she ventures too close to the woods, which are strangely charged with palpable but invisible forces. A series of bizarre events begins to unfold, each more terrifying than the last, calling into question whether the farm’s blighted crops, strangely behaving animals and apparent descent into madness are a function of William and Katherine’s religious paranoia or the handiwork of Satan.
Until now, Eggers has worked as a production designer and art director for independent films and TV shows, his visual depth and fluency giving “The Witch” a look that is both austere and improbably rich. Aided by Jarin Blaschke’s cinematography and a slashing, dissonant score by Mark Korven, Eggers plunges viewers into a world of icy severity and harsh deprivation, putting the lie to the cozy American myth of resourceful, poor-but-happy settlers. (Viewers could profitably debate the far more novel and sophisticated critique of Manifest Destiny in “The Witch,” as compared with the overwrought theatrics of “The Revenant.”)
Eggers reportedly based his script on actual diaries and accounts from a time that predated the Salem witch trials by several decades, giving “The Witch” the mannered cadences and rhythms of something written on parchment rather than celluloid (or, in this case, the data-capture chip of an Arri Alexa digital camera). It isn’t until the film’s graphic, gory denouement that Eggers’s command begins to slip, and “The Witch” enters into conventional body-horror territory, its increasingly graphic imagery and keening pitch supplanting the more effective restraint and misdirection that have gone before.
For fans of horror at its most sinister, “The Witch” is not to be missed. It casts a spell that lingers long after its most disquieting mists have cleared.
Eggers reportedly based his script on actual diaries and accounts from a time that predated the Salem witch trials by several decades, giving “The Witch” the mannered cadences and rhythms of something written on parchment rather than celluloid (or, in this case, the data-capture chip of an Arri Alexa digital camera). It isn’t until the film’s graphic, gory denouement that Eggers’s command begins to slip, and “The Witch” enters into conventional body-horror territory, its increasingly graphic imagery and keening pitch supplanting the more effective restraint and misdirection that have gone before.
Through her recollections, we learn about the origins of witches in the Berserk universe and their role in maintaining balance between the physical world and the astral plane. Schierke's recollections reveal the complexities and challenges faced by witches in their pursuit of knowledge and power. We learn about the witches' strong bond with nature and their desire to protect the natural order. They serve as the guardians of the astral realm, fighting against evil entities and keeping the balance intact. Furthermore, Schierke's recollections shed light on the internal struggle she faces as a young witch. She must grapple with the ethical implications of her magical abilities and the responsibility that comes with wielding such power. Through her interactions with Guts, she learns about the human condition and the importance of empathy and perseverance. Overall, Schierke's recollections in Berserk provide a deepening of the series' lore and introduce readers to the intricate world of witches and the astral realm. Through her character, Kentaro Miura explores themes of power, responsibility, and the inherent darkness within humanity. Schierke's presence adds another layer of depth to the already rich and complex narrative, making Berserk a truly exceptional work of dark fantasy..
Reviews for "The Evolution of Berserk: How the Series Has Transformed Over Time"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I found "Berserk recollections of the wotch" to be quite disappointing. The storyline was convoluted and hard to follow, with seemingly random events happening without any explanation. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to invest in their journey. Additionally, the writing style was overly descriptive and dragged on unnecessarily. Overall, I was left feeling confused and unsatisfied after reading this book.
2. Mark - 1 star
I can't say I enjoyed "Berserk recollections of the wotch" at all. The plot was all over the place, jumping from one event to another without any coherence or logic. The author seemed more interested in shocking the reader with explicit and gratuitous violence rather than creating a compelling story. The lack of character development made it impossible to connect with any of the protagonists, leaving me feeling detached from the narrative. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written and cohesive story.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Berserk recollections of the wotch" had a promising premise, but unfortunately, the execution fell flat. The writing style was overly verbose and filled with unnecessary details, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. The plot lacked clarity and purpose, with hasty resolutions to conflicts that were introduced without any real build-up. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, which made it difficult to care about their journey. Overall, I was left unimpressed and would not recommend this book to others.