The Witch (2016)
Robert Eggers' acclaimed folk horror film follows a Puritan family torn apart by paranoia, faith, and genuine evil lurking at the forest's edge.
The Witch - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Witch
- Release Year: 2016
- Directed by: Robert Eggers
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 19, 2016 (Canada - 14A), February 19, 2016 (United States - R), March 11, 2016 (United Kingdom - 15), May 19, 2016 (Germany - 16), June 15, 2016 (France - 12), March 3, 2016 (Brazil - 16), March 4, 2016 (Mexico - C), August 18, 2016 (Italy), May 13, 2016 (Spain - 16)
- Alternative Titles: ウィッチ (JP), Ведьма: Сказка Новой-Англии (RU), La sorcière: Une légende de la Nouvelle-Angleterre (CA), The Witch: A New England Folk Tale (AU), Վhukը (AM), La bruja: Una leyenda de Nueva Inglaterra (ES), A Bruxa: A Lenda de New-England (PT), อาถรรพ์แม่มดโบราณ (TH)
- Production Companies: Very Special Projects, Parts & Labor, RT Features, Rooks Nest Entertainment, Maiden Voyage Pictures, Pulse Films, Scythia Films, Code Red Productions, Mott Street Pictures
- Production Countries: Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America
The Witch - Plot
In 1630, a farmer relocates his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of a forest where strange, unsettling things happen. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, each family member's faith, loyalty and love are tested in shocking ways.
The Witch - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the dread unfold:
Evil takes many forms.
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The Witch - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Robert Eggers
Main Cast
- Anya Taylor-Joy
- Ralph Ineson
- Kate Dickie
- Harvey Scrimshaw
- Ellie Grainger
- Lucas Dawson
- Julian Richings
- Bathsheba Garnett
- Sarah Stephens
- Daniel Malik
Writers
- Robert Eggers
Producers
- Daniel Bekerman
- Jodi Redmond
- Lars Knudsen
- Rodrigo Teixeira
- Jay Van Hoy
The Witch - FAQs
Where can you stream The Witch (2016)?
The Witch (2016) is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max). It can also be rented or purchased digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Availability may vary by region, so check JustWatch for current options in your area.
Is The Witch based on a true story?
The Witch is not based on a single true story, but it draws heavily from documented accounts of 17th-century Puritan life, actual witch trial testimonies, and New England folklore. Writer-director Robert Eggers conducted extensive historical research, grounding the film's dialogue and imagery in period-accurate sources.
What is The Witch (2016) about?
Set in 1630s New England, The Witch follows a devout Puritan family banished from their plantation who settle near a foreboding forest. After their infant son vanishes, paranoia and religious hysteria consume the household. Critics praise it as a slow-burn psychological horror rooted in genuine period dread and folk mythology.
What does the ending of The Witch mean?
At the film's end, Thomasin signs the Devil's book and joins a witches' coven, rising naked into the night sky in a state of ecstatic liberation. The ending can be read as either literal supernatural corruption or as a young woman's radical escape from oppressive Puritan patriarchy — or both simultaneously.
Who are the main actors in The Witch?
The Witch stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin, Ralph Ineson as the patriarch William, and Kate Dickie as the tormented mother Katherine. Harvey Scrimshaw plays the eldest son Caleb, while Ellie Grainger and Lucas Dawson portray the unsettling twins Mercy and Jonas. The film marked Taylor-Joy's breakout performance.
Is Black Phillip really the Devil in The Witch?
Yes, within the film's narrative, Black Phillip — the family's black goat — is presented as a manifestation of the Devil himself. He speaks to Thomasin at the film's climax, inviting her to sign his book and live deliciously. The character became one of horror cinema's most iconic and unsettling figures.
What is the age rating for The Witch?
The Witch is rated R in the United States for disturbing violent content and graphic nudity. In the UK it carries a 15 certificate, while Canada rated it 14A. The film contains intense scenes of psychological horror, infant peril, and occult imagery that make it unsuitable for younger audiences.
Did The Witch win any awards?
Robert Eggers won the Directing Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival for The Witch. The film also earned numerous critics' circle nominations and wins, and is widely regarded as one of the finest horror films of the 2010s, appearing on many best-of-decade lists.
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