Textual Analysis

1. The Witch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIfjcHn9JYw

2. Background information
• ‘The Witch’ was directed and written by Robert Eggers.
• The budget was $3 million and the box office was $40.4 million.
• It was distributed by A24 and Universal Pictures.
Plot
• In 17th century New England, a man named William is threatened with
banishment from a Puritan plantation alongside his wife Katherine; daughter
Thomasin; son Caleb; and fraternal twins Mercy and Jonas, due to a difference in
interpretation of the New Testament. The family decides to leave the church and
the plantation it controls and builds a farm by the edge of a large, secluded forest
far from the Puritan settlement.
• Katherine soon gives birth to her fifth child, Samuel. While being closely watched
by Thomasin, Samuel mysteriously vanishes from her presence. It is then revealed
that Samuel was kidnapped by a witch living in the woods, who kills and uses him
to make a flying ointment for her body.

3. Background information about the
director
• Robert Eggers was born in 1983.
• He is a Production Designer; Costume Designer; Art
Director.
• Eggers is also a production designer and costume
designer, known for The Witch (2015), The Tell-Tale Heart
(2008) and Hansel and Gretel (2007).
• In 2015, Eggers made his directorial debut with horror
film The Witch, based on his own script. The film
premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January
27, 2015. A24 Films acquired the film, and released it
theatrically on February 19, 2016. The film earned over
$30 million against a budget of $1 million.
• In July 2015, it was reported that Eggers would write and
direct a remake of the 1922 silent film Nosferatu, based
on the Dracula mythology. The film is scheduled to be
produced by Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen for Studio 8.

4. Film opening
• The Witch inspires the horror genre by the use of dim lighting and the use of blood,
which she has on her hands. This connotes that the witch is an antagonist due to her
being a violent character and stereotypically an antagonist is usually the eldest
character.
• The dim lighting in the forest and the cabin, that contrasts with the eerie ambience,
which fears the audience watching due to them expecting something horrid to happen
unexpectedly. The dim lighting is used appropriately due to the horror genre being dull
and creates that horrid ambience.
• Also the use of blood connotes danger due to the colour red, as well as it connoting
anger and lust.
• The verisimilitude wasn't exactly maintained throughout the trailer as some scenes
were not relating to others, which then confuses the audience as nothing is
making sense and therefore they loose interest.

5. Editing
• With the editing, a slow zoom in into the woods and the use of pan (when in the woods) has
been used to create an enigma and confuse the audience of what's going on and make them
fear.
• The pan is used to follow the female into the woods on the hunt for the baby, which also
makes the audience fear for the character and expect her to get lost (as that’s a stereotypical
scene in a horror movie).
• The use of blackouts and cuts throughout the opening scene indicates that the audience are
going to be taken to another scene, which makes the audience want to watch more as this
also creates an eerie enigma, which links well with the horror genre. This is used when the
audience enter the witches cabin and the kidnapping of the baby.
• In addition, dim lighting is used at the end of the trailer when the witch is walking towards
the moonlight, which creates a silhouette of the character. This links to Barthes theory with
the symbolic code being used as the silhouette discuses the witch, and keeps her image
hidden.

6. Editing
• The scenes were shown in a slow pace to build the enigma. This relates to Barthes Enigma
Theory due to the use of the Hermeneutic (enigma) code.
• The Hermeneutic Code refers to any element of the story that is not fully explained and
hence becomes a mystery to the reader.
• The purpose of the author in this is typically to keep the audience guessing, arresting the
enigma, until the final scenes when all is revealed and all loose ends are tied off and closure
is achieved.
• Furthermore, fast cuts were used. As these cuts are quick, it makes the reader question what
it is that they have just seen. This encourages an audience to go and watch the film whilst also
creating a sense of fear.

7. Mise-en-scene
• The mise-en-scene used in The Witch has a location of the woods and the witches cabin. In
addition, the main props used in the opening were the babies basket; blanket and the
witches stick, which are stereotypical props for the specific characters.
• The forest is also used as a setting which is another typical convention of horror films. The
trees surround the main character and this emphasizes her entrapment.
• In addition, the costume worn by the characters are every old fashioned. For example, the
white gowns and rags, which connotes that this film is based on a historical time period
(which is also shown by the use of the witch).
• The colour of the character’s costumes are often quite pale which could suggest how the
mother and child are becoming distant.
• The colours used are very dark, particularly black has been used throughout and this portrays
a sense of danger and is often associated with death, with is appropriate for the films
storyline.

8. Mise-en-scene
• This film shows the stereotypical role of a witch, due to them being the
antagonists and killing children. Also, hiding in the woods with a use of magic.
• Furthermore, the use of lighting was limited due to the scenes being very
dark, which indicates the horror genre due to the dull atmosphere and
increasing tension. This is used appropriately, which makes it a successful
horror film due to the audience still being able to see each character and the
scenes although the dim lighting is used. The setting always appears quite dark
and isolated. This creates a sense of fear as the baby is then kidnapped,
meaning that the mother has now lost something which has a large impact in
her life.

9. Sound
Diegetic:
• The mother calling out for the baby connotes the fear that she has as her child is
missing, this also makes the audience sympathize for her as she has lost her child.
• Footsteps of the mother as she rushes into the woods.
Non-diegetic:
• None.

10. Cinematography
• The cinematography used were camera shots such as a medium shot of the woods to show
the scenery and the female character running into the woods.
• Close up shot of the baby's face to connote the innocence of the child and make the
audience fear of what happens to him next.
• Also, a high angle shot was used from the females perspective looking down on the baby,
which connotes the relationship between the mother and child and their strong
bond. Todorov’s narrative structure can be applied to the trailer as the opening scenes are
calm and balanced where the mother and son are having a day out in the fields. However, the
disruption increases as the trailer progresses and the audience does not see the new
equilibrium as this will make them curious to know what happens.

11. Cinematography
• Also whilst using the high and low angle shots, shot reverse shot was being used at the
same time due to the camera going back on each character. This makes the scene
successful due to the audience understanding on what’s occurring and therefore have
an interest of watching more of the movie.
• The trailer introduces the setting through the use of long shots. The audience can see
that from the greyness of the picture that the atmosphere is dull and gloomy, and that
something eerie is about to occur.