In recent months, films such as The Witch and Autopsy (aka The Autopsy of Jane Doe) have breathed new life into the cinematic strand on witchcraft. These are undoubtedly joined by the recent sublime film work of Brady Hall (Scrapper) entitled 7 Witches (USA - 2017).
7 Witches is a glimpse into witchcraft, a neo-pagan tradition centered on nature worship and in which magical rituals are performed using the natural elements namely fire, air, water and earth as tools. The film features no shortage of banquets, orgiastic rituals and bloody human sacrifices that make 7 Witches A perfect horror title about witches.
This supernatural horror film about magical practices makes use from the outset of a precious frame (with ashen photography) that serves as a flashback to the protagonists' past. The focus then shifts to the present day, introducing, slowly, the characters and highlighting their problems, frustrations, desires, conflicting feelings and even their fate.
7 Witches tells the story of a wedding between two women, Rose Boyle (Danika Golombek) and Aggie Sklar (Megan Hensley). The Boyle family reaches the beaches in northwest Washington where the ghoulish Sklar family live for the wedding celebration between the two girls. Rose's family, however, will be confronted by strange individuals who appear to practice an ancient form of witchcraft. Kate (Persephone Apostolou), opposed to that union, reluctantly observes her sister Rose's wedding preparations.
The fateful day will be stripped of joy to make way for tragic events.
After the introduction, the viewer's attention is captured by the Sklar family, whose characters, with unforgettable faces, are dressed in black (the costumes are to be admired). One of the many merits of 7 Witches is indeed the care with which the cast was selected. Perfect, in this case, are the actors playing witches and warlocks (Gordon Frye and Kay LaVergne Jaz, to name a few). Also very convincing is Persephone Apostolou here as Kate Boyle.
Impressive then is the result of the cinematography work (Ryan Purcell), which plays with alternating warm colors with cold, ashen tones. These wonderfully gloomy nuances coldly embrace nefarious situations and images of disarming beauty that will delight lovers of the macabre. The perfection of some sequences and the meticulousness with which the shots were taken, capturing the darkest subjects, are capable of delivering profound emotions. Merit, this, to a commendable direction that leaves its mark.
Visually perfect, 7 Witches also enjoys a chilling and well-developed story (edited by Ed Dougherty and Brady Hall) in which there are many twists and turns. Not to be outdone is the strident and hauntingly paced music (Brady Hall) that well accompanies bloody rituals and actions.
Hall's film is, ultimately, an enchanting envelope of ferocity tightening around a dark soul.
Cast: Persephone Apostolou, Mike Jones, Danika Golombek, Megan Hensley, Macall Gordon, Nancy Frye, Bill Ritchie, Ben Van Dusen, Kris Keppeler, Rory Ross, Lorraine Montez , Rod Pilloud, Mike Jones, Kay Jaz, William Ritchie, Gordon Frye, Maureen Hawkins,Warren Roberts.
