The Witch is a 2015 American-Canadian historical period supernatural horror film directed by Robert Eggers in his directorial debut. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, and Lucas Dawson. It follows a Puritan family encountering forces of evil in the woods beyond their New England farm, forces that may be either real or imagined. The Witch premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2015, and was widely praised by critics. It was also a commercial success, grossing over $40 million worldwide on a budget of $3.5 million.
In the John Wayne movie, The Green Berets, there is a scene that features Puff the Magic Dragon. As the VC and NVA over run the Green Beret fort Puff appears over head. The pilot asks Wayne where does he want the firestorm. Wayne replies, “right on the camp, those people have it, not us” or something to that effect.
My girlfriend, who would become my wife in 1974, played that famous song by Peter, Paul and Mary over and over till we both were in tears the night before I shipped out for basic training. My girlfriend, who would become my wife in 1974, played that famous song by Peter, Paul and Mary over and over till we both were in tears the night before I shipped out for basic training.
5 million. The film has been hailed as a modern horror classic and praised for its atmosphere, performances, and meticulous attention to historical detail. It won several awards, including Best Director at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
History and Hobbies
My pastor friend is heading out to Brazil today to teach a two-week seminary course on The Pentateuch. He has a sense of humor and while waiting at the Milwaukee airport he messaged on FB, “I’m leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again.”
The line immediately took me back to 1971 as I was leaving for the Army. My girlfriend, who would become my wife in 1974, played that famous song by Peter, Paul and Mary over and over till we both were in tears the night before I shipped out for basic training. Sheesh, but heh, we were in love! I was 18, she was 16.
So, I can’t ever hear that song or Peter, Paul and Mary’s other equally famous song, Puff the Magic Dragon without thinking of my wife, the Army and the Vietnam War.
The jet plane connection to the Vietnam War is obvious (no, I was not there, thank God) for that’s how our soldiers got there and how they got home. The Vietnam connection with Puff the Magic Dragon is a little less obvious.
Back in the day, that is the days of the Vietnam War, Puff the Magic Dragon was an airplane gunship used for ground support. The first ones were converted DC3s and they were called “Puff the Magic Dragon’s because they brought down fire from the skies like a dragon. These early “Puffs” were the predecessors to the AC-130 gunships used today in Afghanistan.
They were feared by the enemy much like a real fire-breathing dragon would be. The early model “Puffs” featured 3 Gatling Machine Guns. As the plane rolled to its side to lay down fire all three Gatlings would fire at once putting out roughly 6000 rounds per minute as I recall. Some early “Puffs” also featured a 105mm howitzer designed for rapid fire to add to the firestorm.
In the John Wayne movie, The Green Berets, there is a scene that features Puff the Magic Dragon. As the VC and NVA over run the Green Beret fort Puff appears over head. The pilot asks Wayne where does he want the firestorm. Wayne replies, “right on the camp, those people have it, not us” or something to that effect.
The Puff responds and any and everybody in the camp is wiped out. Here’s the scene:
Like the Huey Helicopter, Puff became part and parcel of the Vietnam War just as certain contemporary songs like Peter, Paul and Mary’s, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Steppenwolf’s, Magic Carpet Ride, the Stones, Paint it Black, and everybody’s favorite, the Animals, We Gotta Get Out of This Place (if it’s the last thing we ever do.
Here’s some great footage by a guy who flew one of the first “Puffs.”
Here’s Peter, Paul and Mary doing Puff the Magic Dragon in 1966, the period I’d remember it from. It is ironic that such a peaceful gentle song about a dragon would come to represent the destruction an AC-47 Gunship could work. I doubt Peter, Paul and Mary were happy about it.
This last one is representative of my time in the Army. Although I did not go to Vietnam the issue was on every soldier’s mind during my basic training. No one, and I mean no one, wanted to be the last one killed in that war that really was not a war (because winning is not what we had in mind).
Anyway, the images in this video were familiar with us raw recruits (draftees really, since if you had a low lottery number you were better off enlisting) because they were on the nightly news. The song was popular, even in basic training.
The line immediately took me back to 1971 as I was leaving for the Army. My girlfriend, who would become my wife in 1974, played that famous song by Peter, Paul and Mary over and over till we both were in tears the night before I shipped out for basic training. Sheesh, but heh, we were in love! I was 18, she was 16.
The Witch takes place in 17th century New England and follows a family of Puritan settlers who are banished from their community due to a religious disagreement. They set up a farm near a secluded forest and attempt to build a new life. However, strange and unsettling occurrences begin to happen, particularly surrounding their youngest child, a baby named Samuel. The family's crops fail, animals become possessed, and suspicion and paranoia grow among family members. The mother, Katherine, becomes increasingly convinced that an evil presence is responsible for their misfortunes and blames her teenage daughter, Thomasin, for consorting with the devil. As tensions rise, Thomasin is accused of being a witch and the family's faith is tested. The film explores themes of religious fanaticism, isolation, and the supernatural. The Witch is known for its slow-burning tension and eerie atmosphere. The film is shot in a naturalistic style, with a focus on the harsh realities of life in the 17th century. The dialogue is delivered in an authentic dialect of Early Modern English, which adds to the sense of realism and historical accuracy. The performances in The Witch have been praised for their authenticity and intensity. Anya Taylor-Joy, in her first major role, delivers a captivating performance as Thomasin, conveying the character's inner turmoil and desperation. Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie also give powerful performances as the parents struggling with their faith and the increasing threat to their family. Overall, The Witch is a haunting and thought-provoking film that explores the dark side of human nature and the power of fear and belief. It is a masterful blend of historical drama and supernatural horror and has solidified Robert Eggers as a director to watch in the genre..
Reviews for "The Witch (2015) Cast: Exploring the Film's Impact on their Careers"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Witch" (2015). The movie was slow-paced and lacked a coherent plot. I felt like nothing was happening for the majority of the film, and when things did start to pick up, it was too little, too late. The ending left me feeling unsatisfied and confused. Overall, I found the movie to be pretentious and more interested in style than substance.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high expectations for "The Witch" (2015) after hearing all the praise, but I found it to be a major letdown. The dialogue was incredibly difficult to understand due to the heavy use of Old English, and the story felt disjointed and hard to follow. The scares were minimal, and the tension that was built up throughout the film didn't pay off in a satisfying way. I appreciate the atmospheric cinematography, but it wasn't enough to save the movie for me.
3. Mike - 1/5 - "The Witch" (2015) was an absolute bore. I found it to be overly pretentious and devoid of any real scares. The slow pace dragged on, and I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, but it never did. The characters were unlikable and the plot felt flat. I was constantly checking the time while watching this film, hoping it would end soon. I regret wasting my time on it.