Gwen

I somehow would've liked a "dark folk tale" to be something else than a finger wag at patriarchy and ruthless industrialism. Some shots and the lead are very good, though.

Creepy and atmospheric ghost story-ish horror film has so many terrific elements, and maintains such a seductive and beguiling tone, that its missteps clang so much louder - bizarre flashbacks and dream sequences, and a thuddingly literal finale, are very disappointing, almost sabotaging Peake and Worthington-Cox's terrific performances and McGregor's masterful feel for location and the oppressive forces at work. A more subtle and enigmatic finale would have put a perfect bow on this.

Marketed as a folk-horror but never really materialises into one, and ultimately fell a bit flat with me because of that. Uses some immersive sound design and eerie landscape photography of Snowdonia to inspire an evocative, visually-driven experience, but it's eventually undermined by how one-dimensionally the story unravels. Hiraeth might have buffed my score a bit...

?Can't recommend & I'm totally target: ?? IC@N & The Witch + E W-C (Gwen) = Fav in my profile just from TV (Britannia) •IS well made & shot, creepy, atmospheric, actors fine 2 great?? YET felt a chore: GF slept in 2nd half. SLOW build up to... then unsatisfying done bait & switch: ?Anticipate 1 plot, see is other, Then just grinds on 2 sad end: prob realistic but NOT entertainment. Misery porn -> depress not chill+thrill. (Q80+E32 / 2 = 56%) Watch a famine doc instead!