+4
The VVitch is (in my view at least) one of the best horror films of all time, save for the final 2 minutes or so.
My interpretation of it is this. It's definitely not about how women are evil, or about taking Christianity literally. The film is in fact partly devoted to the primordial roots of the USA, created as it was by English Puritans who thought that even Reformation England was taking the gospels too lightly. In fact, the banishment of William's family from the plantation was due to him considering the "commonwealth" as excessively lax on matters of religion (at least that is what is hinted)
This film also brilliantly makes the point that the pioneers who colonized North America and then begat the USA were not aiming at building a superstate of great wealth and power (i.e. the country we know today) but were merely looking to practice their version of Christianity as faithfully as they could, or at least the powerful ideological justification was that. In William's own words: What went we out into this wilderness to find? Leaving our country, kindred, our fathers houses? We have travailed a vast ocean. For what? For what?...Was it not for the pure and faithful dispensation of the Gospels, and the Kingdom of God?...I cannot be judged by false Christians, for I have done nothing, save preach Christ's true Gospel...
This is a world where the only theoretical-cultural reference is Christianity & the Gospels, where most people are illiterate and the struggle for survival is constant. The film conveys all of that really well. If the fantastical/horror element is removed from the equation, then this is what the film boils down to.
As for the perception of many that the film is about the inherent vice of young females, then I could not disagree more. In matter of fact, Thomasin is the heroine and central character of the film and is portrayed in a purely positive manner, whereas every other family member is portrayed as highly flawed. The father is incompetent, cannot provide for his family and is unjustifiably proud and self-righteous. The mother is hysterical and jealous of her young and far prettier daughter. The catch here is that she is well past her sexual/reproductive peak and for this reason, she is intensely envious of Thomasin and the disappearance of her child is even more unbearable. Caleb is well-meaning but cannot satisfy or control his lust, while the young twins are nothing but an annoyance and a burden for the family. The point here is one we encounter in several films, namely that the most precious member of society is the young/attractive/fertile female, everyone else is disposable and replaceable. A similar theme runs through 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Last edited by PSHPZVGS; 03-01-17 at 02:42 PM.