The Witch

The opening scene sets off the bases of the film as the family is exiled from their Puritan community. Thomasin seems affected by the situation whereas the family follows the father who gladly left the lot. This is shown through mise-en-scène, cinematography, and sound. Mise-en-scène is portrayed through costuming, setting, decor, makeup, and hairstyle. The setting is set in the 1600s located in a puritan community and every individual is dressed in formal attire of wide brimmed hats, aprons, long loose dresses, coats, and shoes. Every female in the community has their hair neatly tucked into their  bonnets and males had long hair and some had rugged beards along with makeup being all natural. The decor is placed in a court room where it holds masses of people with a family standing on trial. Cinematography shows close up shots, group shots, over-the-shoulder shot, medium shot, point of view shot, and a long shot. The close up shots show the worried look Thomasin has along with her brother and the confused children hugging their mother’s leg. The group shots show the puritan community looking down upon the family standing on trial and how serious they are about it. The over-the-shoulder shots look over the father and his dealing with the council of the court and a medium shot that shows the serious expressions the three councilmen have for the family they are bestowing upon which indicates a bad outcome. A point of view shot is shown through Thomasin’s view as she takes one last look of her home as she says goodbye, frightened of what is gonna happen next. Then a long shot is taken of the family slowly trailing away from the life they once had. Sound is portrayed by the use of dialogue between the father and the head of the councilmen going back and forth over they’re exile and how religion plays a big part in this community. The lighting is very low key with minimal lighting illuminating against their porcelain skin.