Anya Taylor-Joy's career took flight with her defining role in Robert Eggers' 2015 horror film, The Witch. The film, which established both Taylor-Joy as a rising star and Eggers as a distinctive director, is currently available to stream for free on Plex with ads. It is also accessible via Amazon Prime Video with a subscription.
What is The Witch about?
The Witch is set in 17th-century New England and centers on a devout Puritan family exiled from their religious community. Forced to settle on the edge of a dark, foreboding forest, the family of seven grapples with isolation, paranoia, and dwindling resources. The film meticulously recreates its historical period, featuring characters who speak in archaic English, reflecting the pervasive fear of the supernatural that permeated everyday life.
The narrative escalates when the family's youngest child, Samuel, disappears under the care of their eldest daughter, Thomasin, played by Taylor-Joy. This event triggers a cascade of accusations and descent into terror, as crops fail and tensions within the family reach a breaking point. The film is steeped in folklore and a sense of creeping dread, punctuated by the unsettling presence of a goat named Black Phillip.
Living deliciously
Thomasin becomes the family's scapegoat, bearing the brunt of their grief and suspicion. Her mother views her burgeoning womanhood with suspicion, her brother Caleb experiences a confusing attraction, and her younger twins accuse her of witchcraft. Her father, William, also fails to protect her, indirectly blaming her for selling a silver cup.
The film culminates in a powerful moment where Thomasin confronts the demonic entity within Black Phillip. Offered the chance to "live deliciously," she makes a choice that subverts the traditional