"The Witch" is a chilling portrayal of a family's descent into darkness within the isolated confines of a New England wilderness. The poster captures the essence of this descent, exuding an aura of the uncanny that is both unsettling and captivating.
Central to the poster is the visage of a goat, Black Phillip, a figure that has since become synonymous with the film. Its dark, coarse fur and curving horns dominate the frame, symbolizing the pervading malevolence within the film. Black Phillip’s presence is formidable and directly associated with the folklore and witchcraft that drive the narrative’s tension.
The goat's eye, yellow and eerily human, serves as a focal point. It reflects intelligence and malice, hinting at the goat's significance beyond a mere farm animal. The eye seems to follow the viewer, echoing the pervasive and insidious nature of the evil that infests the family’s life.
The use of archaic typography in the title "The VVitch" evokes the period setting, immersing the viewer in the superstitions and fears of the 17th century. It cleverly hints at the historical authenticity the film strives to maintain, both in dialogue and setting.
Underneath, the subtitle "A New-England Folktale" reinforces this authenticity and positions the film within a particular cultural narrative — one of New England's dark and storied past. The phrase "Evil takes many forms" beneath this serves as a foreboding warning of the shape-shifting nature of the film's terror, which is as psychological as it is supernatural.
The stark contrast between the dark foreground and the blank space above serves to isolate the figure of Black Phillip, making it seem as though the goat is emerging from the darkness itself. The minimalistic use of color, predominantly black and white, adds to the starkness and simplicity, allowing the viewer's imagination to fill in the shadows with their fears.
The poster for "The Witch" is a testament to the power of suggestion over explicit horror. It doesn't reveal the plot but instead invites the viewer into its world with a haunting image that is hard to shake. This artistic approach mirrors the film's slow build of dread, relying on atmosphere and tension rather than jump scares, making it a modern classic in the horror genre.