Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin in The Witch, a film about the paranormal forces that might be stalking a small group living on the outskirts of society.
A feature debut of startling confidence, Robert Eggers's The Witch is not only an excellent horror film, but also a captivating study in extreme paranoia and the fragile bonds of family.
Set in 17th-century New England (and filmed just a few hours outside of Toronto), the film follows the travails of a small God-fearing clan living on the outskirts of society – and the paranormal forces that might be stalking them.
The tension all leads up to a dark confrontation between the stoic patriach William (Ralph Ineson) and his teenage daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), which will redefine the concept of familial strife.
Disturbing and taut, Eggers's direction is almost without fault. His only mistake lies in the film's final 30 seconds, where all the implied horror of the family's plight becomes just a shade too explicit.
Barry Hertz