A New-England Folktale.

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger, Lucas Dawson, Julian Richings, Bathsheba Garnett, Sara Stephens, Daniel Malik

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Black Phillip, Black Phillip, a crown grows out his head. Black Phillip, Black Phillip, to nanny queen is wed. Jump to the fence post. Running in the stall. Black Phillip, Black Phillip, king of all." – Jonas and Mercy, twins, singing to their black billygoat

Why watch this? This folk horror film oozes early American superstition and dread.

Plot Summary: Banished from their Puritan plantation in 1630s New England, a devout family relocates to a remote farm on the edge of an ominous forest. Following the mysterious disappearance of their infant son, Samuel, escalating misfortunes and paranoia cause the family to turn on one another, accusing the eldest daughter, Thomasin, of witchcraft.

Dad's Preview: There has always been something primal regarding witches that terrifies us. This film took the time to research the phenomenon as it applied to our early, Bible-centered, Purtians. The dark forest is a place of terror. The language used by the actors is true poetry. As we watch this poor family slowly sink into paranoia and eventual madness, we are kept off kilter by the other images, those that hint of an influencer, one who darkly profits from the family's corruption. Taylor-Joy is amazing here, and I enjoyed the strong performances by Kate Dickie and Ralph Ineson, her over-whelmed parents. This film IS disturbing and will be hailed as a horror classic.  

Parts and Labor, RT Features, Rooks Nest Ent., Maiden Voyage Pics,
Mott Street Pics, Code Red Prod., Scythia Films; A24