Robert Eggers on 'The Witch', Familial Trauma, and the Supernatural
For the latest episode of VICE Talks Film, we sit down with Sundance award-winning director Robert Eggers to discuss his debut arthouse-horror film 'The Witch.' Self described as a 'puritan's nightmare,' Egger's combines unnerving familial trauma and the supernatural for one of the year's most acclaimed genre films. In the interview, we examine his dynamic influences and discuss his process of writing and casting a film set in the 16th century and his reluctance to share his own personal supernatural experiences...
WATCH NEXT:
Roger Deakins and Matthew Heineman On Depicting the Drug War in Film: bit.ly/1TwLHAq
Click here to subscribe to VICE: bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE
Check out our full video catalog: bit.ly/VICE-Videos
Videos, daily editorial and more: vice.com
More videos from the VICE network: www.fb.com/vicevideos
Like VICE on Facebook: fb.com/vice
Follow VICE on Twitter: / vice
Read our Tumblr: / vicemag
Follow us on Instagram: / vice
Check out our Pinterest: / vicemag
The voice of the father is glorious, he should do voice acting.
Agreed. He played Brent's douchey friend in the UK version of The Office. He was great in that too!
Agreed!
I know this was a year ago, but all I could see was Finchy
I think he did Ludvig from Dark Souls 3's DLC. The guy with the very deep voice? Has the same intonation
Wish come true he’s in the new assassins creed game
if Eggers can continue to make films like this he's going to change the genre, ppl won't settle for less.
I doubt it. The Witch was a surprise success along with It Follows as two examples, where Indi Directors has a breakthrough. This doesn't change Hollywoods Mentality on financing projects. We already had a similar Hype with Pascal Laugier of Martyrs fame, who then continued with "The Tall Man", a snooze fest.
He sure is. The Lighthouse was a masterpiece!
We need to protect this man at any cost.
crewmate you were wrong you dumb fuck HAHAHAHAHA
This comment aged well
Robert Eggers, thank you. For a decade I had thought horror genres were lacking originality, in terms of cinematic techniques of course. Enough with the jump scares, shitty cgi creatures, and clichè endings. Mr. Eggers did an amazing job!! The dialogue was well perfomed, especially by the father and daughter. Loved the cinematography and the score! Robert Eggers is a director to look out for in the years to come.
+Clarke Wolf I agree, made me want to research more into New England's history, mostly because of the final notes on this being a story based on folk tales. If I'd had to pick a kind of 'horror film' I like, I'd say 'the witch' is my kind, makes me ponder how things really were when this kind of phenomena appeared and people could have nothing to turn to understand.
Mainstream Horror has lost it's spark. But there is so much under the surface. Shit you sadly don't find in cinemas, but Netflix and small festivals. Baskin, Stung, Last Shift, Goodnight Mommy, Matyrs... Mainstream Horror will continue to suck with the same Ghost/Zombie/People in the Walls Bullshit. It has been this way for quite some time.
You were right, The lighthouse was an absolute masterpiece!
Oh my this coment it’s gonna aged very well
Milklatte I could help but laugh at this film after doing my own post viewing research. Yes, the story is successfully framed as horror tragedy in the colonial era. But, if you step back from that perspective and consider how ridiculous the lunacy of the Salem witch trials is. It’s impossible not to laugh at so much human stupidity. For instance, people would make the claim that they saw other names in the book of Satan to absolve themselves of the same accusation and pass on the judgement to the next suspect with no scrutiny behind the allegation.
God I love this movie. The dialogue is beautiful. The cinematic features are dark intense and if it's like you're actually breathing the scene.
+Sylvie Blu you explained that very well.
I LOVE the dialogue used in the film, for those who don't know, they're speaking Early Modern English (it evolved into modern English in the 18th century)
+elsa1942 - Finally - good dialogue in a movie.... can't wait to see it!
Best movie I have seen so far this year. Haunted me for days. The breakdown of the family was the saddest and scariest part because you knew they loved each other, The cruelty of the situation was gut wrenching. Plus the film is just gorgeous-the visuals, sound, and dialogue just totally drew me in. Hope people can make time to see this movie. A24 is having a great year. Room was a masterpiece as well.
So fucking awesome! I wasn't even aware of it. I just happened to stumble across it in the Redbox at Kroger the other night and WOW, such an artistically masterful horror experience.
weak minded i see. Movie was all about film and specific scenery, the story along with the progression of the plot was slow and ultimately boring, leaving out numerous questions surrounding "the witch". Was Not Scary..
+Obama BinLyin if you know nothing about religion, puritanical beliefs, 17th century new england, folk lore, character development, or actual horror, then you won't like this movie. stick to shit like Annabelle or Ouija
Obama BinLyin You're just a douche, but it's okay, man. It takes all kinds! xD
+Obama BinLyin You got no taste. Go watch Paranormal Activity ya loser.
As someone who lives in New England, I am amazed at how well this director understands the emotions that can be felt in regards to its history. Its a place that has rock walls, gravestones and relics from early settlers. These emotions are especially noticeable when the colors of the leaves change and halloween comes along. New England can be a very spooky place during the fall, but is also inexplicably exciting and enticing. And let me tell you watching this movie, I felt that this director completely encompassed these emotions and captured them so beautifully. There's a claustrophobia to this picture that makes me think of hiking in the New Hampshire woods and wondering who was here a few hundred years ago. This film is absolutely a work of art because I experienced every single emotion Eggers was trying to portray and it frightened me and also excited me. In my opinion the movie is partly about the family's struggle, but even more so about the setting and mood. 10/10 wonderful job, pumped for the next film he makes. I also live close to that museum in Lee, NH he talked about. I'm gonna check it out since he mentioned it!!
Great comment, totally agree
Yeah, that's part of why I liked it so much. I like the aesthetics of horror, the atmosphere and setting.
Have you read Changes in The Land? It's about ecological changes the settlers brought and it's fascinating.
Yea it's not unsettling at all here to me but I've lived here my whole life lol
I am rather late to the party, only watched the movie last month but cannot stop thinking about it. Absolutely beautiful and masterful storytelling. What Eggers says in this interview regarding writing the dialogue really distinguishes the movie for me, as well as the way it does not utilise horror cliches, but rather tells its story in such a wonderful folk-tale way. I’m German, so grew up with Grimm’s Fairytales and this movie gave me exactly the vibe I have been craving in such a regard. Just, so good.
Seems like everyone can be a reporter for horror art movies. His passion for what he does saved the interview.
Benjamin Roman definitely
This isn't reporting, she isn't a "reporter" dumbass.
why did you say that?
So whats the problem? What should she wear?
I think she did good. Also not here to hear her talk....wow thats many hearherhear 😂
This movie was reminiscent of The Crucible, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The exorcist and ....something original! I wish more movies were like this gem. 10/10
Chelle Law - Eyes of Fire. find it.
I did not realize this was his first full length film. Impressive. Another young promising director is always a good thing!
These questions really REALLY didn't segway at all... "Satan gives me that power-" "Let's talk about casting" Good god.
Holographic Marlon Brando she should’ve let him explain the thinking behind the mindset & atmosphere
Agreed, terrible interview. Couldn’t figure out if she was in over her head or had a crush on him distracting her from her job...
What I respect most about of him, like few filmmakers/storytellers, is the fact that he creates movies for himself. Like Bong Joon-Ho said at the 92nd Academy Awards, "The most personal is the most creative." - Martin Scorsese
I am a hardcore horror movie lover and find it extremely difficult to find anything that genuinely scares me today. Jump scares are not scary, slash and gore is not scary. When I saw this in the theatre, my heart was pounding and full of dread and I was so stressed out by the movie's end. Lots of people said it was boring and the only explanation for that is they are used to those stupid lazy jump scares that offer little and fleeting gratification. So if you want the sense of doom and sliw creeping dread kind of scare, this will def work. The Babadook is also pretty good.
Scariest film of all time: Hereditary One of the best films of all time: Midsommar Both made by the greatest director of all time. *DO NOT* miss these films. You will shit your pants.
@@kygodragon4782 i completely agree, people say "boring", i say that we all have adhd symptoms due to todays environment.... when i first saw Midsommer the overall emotion of the movie gave a new perspective on a typical horror plot. It was really great
Robert Eggers is my hope for the new generation of horror films. Loved what he did with The Witch and I love his dark twist. Can’t wait for his other projects.
Eggers and Ari Aster as well.
I absolutely cannot wait for his upcoming Viking film
His Viking film blows
Some people say this movie is slow, but honestly I lost track of time. This movie is captivating. I'm not at all a film snob, I hardly ever watch arthouse movies, but I know a good movie when I see one. This is one. This obviously stands well above regular movies.
For everyone dissapointed in The Babadook(like me). THIS is the film that The Badabook was praised as being. It was dark, unnerving, sad, and yet you will walk out of the theater on cloud nine because of how great of a film it was. I've never even thought of giving a standing ovation before, but this movie made me want to.
I hated the babadook.
@@mr.porkchop6377 you’re wrong
I actually got to check out the film and I'm just going to say that a lot of people will HATE the film. This is not a film that a mainstream audience can really appreciate. It isn't for someone that has a very restricted understanding of what "horror" is. Luckily I caught a screening of it with an audience that was supportive of what was going on on the screen. The film was pretty wicked and I found it to be highly disturbing.
i can spot anyone deep into the occult, and i can definitely tell this guy is a practicing witch. that was the entire reason he said no comment to supernatural experiences, and how he takes it more seriously than directing.
Yup
Now that you mention this, i can totally see him being a satanist lol
Well that adds a whole new unnerving layer to an already frightening film
It was awesome.
nice to see she put her best Adidas jumper on for the interview.
Hahahaha!!!
+Sean Marrinan Seems to be totally out of her league. Oh well. Great film.
How do you know it's her best? Jerk
+Sean Marrinan who is she?
+mixterz she looks awesome
I don't see why everyone's hating on the reporter in the comments? She's giving him room to speak and she's asking pertinent questions that I am interested in knowing the answers to. I don't think people have a real reason to dislike her beyond her appearance/mannerisms (which aren't even an issue) and are searching for excuses. Good interview.
Awesome interview. This guy is going to do great things. Can't wait for his remake of Nosferatu. I just watched The Witch the other night, and wow, what an excellent film! I've been raving about it for two days straight. The scene with the pecking raven was one of my favorites, such an unsettling, dreamy sequence.
My favorite scene is when black Philip asks Thomasina "would thou likes to live deliciously?"
Both of those scenes and the witches transformation after baby and the death scene are my 4 favorites oh and the kids skipping singing with Black Phillip and also when William the dad asks “didst though make an unholy bond with the goat?” I love ALL of this
Does vice have any adults on their staff?
They have to keep up with the millennial hipster brand.
did they purposely use an asian american , dressed to go to wal-mart to further an agenda?
can I get an adult here? I need a grown-up!
Mostly just millennial cunts
Well piss off and watch bbc with your meals on wheels ya dope
This is by far one of my favorite movies of all time. I still rewatch it to this day.
I absolutely loved this interview. Thanks for sharing
I'm so looking forward to see what movies are to come from Robert Eggers in the future. So good.
This was a really insightful interview!
Just watched it! Finished watching all 3 of his films! Safe to say this man is a generational talent! Can’t wait to see what he does next!
She's staring at him the whole time like, "Wow, he's really smart..."
+Sean Billington Idk to me she just looks kind of uninterested like it's not her cup of tea. He does seem really smart and cool though.
sgad fly She looked completely in awe of him. Look at her smile. She stared the whole time. She was into him.
Late to the party and saw this last night after watching the lighthouse, was glued to the screen absloutly amazing dialogue and nails the atmosphere TREMENDOUS
I just saw The Witch on Netflix. Such a FANTASTIC movie, and I am so glad that I was able to watch it with closed captioning!
Robert Eggers is truly an inspiration to me! it's just so nice and refreshing and impeccably relieving to see someone working in film who's genuinely passionate about his craft and film as an art form overall and how it's a great excuse to delve into the endless realms of creativity, imagination and expression. He also understands the genre perfectly and that what we don't see is scarier because it's much more unique and haunting for it to be left to our imaginations because 1. it means the film actually trusts it's audience and leaves it for us to think in our head and 2. because our imaginations can be scarier than anything a filmmaker could put to screen. He's my favourite director working today just beside Mike Flanagan. A true inspiration!
I remember I saw this movie with my brother and we were fraked out, we really felt the symbolic wheight that the movie expreses... then we showed it to our friends and they seemed very disappointed, we aren't friends with them anymore.
Robert Eggers, thank you so much for making such a good movie. You inspire me!
Great Interview! I love 'The VVitch" and it deserves attention. Thanks for the post.
Such a great piece of cinema! Love every second of it!
i like the "no comment" part, bet he has got a lot to talk about on that subject
The main actress could never be a puritan? Wtf. I was in awe of her beauty in the form of her purity the whole film.
What a great interview
This man's way of making movies is giving me hope in cinema again! Hes like Von trier but slightly less forbidden...
Just went and watched this earlier today. Go see it!!
A film about a clown hiding in a sewer? No thanks, I'd rather watch a real horror like Hereditary or the VVITCH.
this movie was one of the best movies ive seen in 2 years
One of the earliest fears I had was of a witch that I could swear would stare at me from the corner of my bedroom... even thinking about it now gives me chills.
I want him to make another movie like The Witch ...but not a sequel
His new movie,The Lighthouse is coming out soon ;)
The only people in my opinion that do this is Robert Eggers and Ari Aster who did Hereditary and Midsommar
The light house isTOTALY different than the VVitch, good movie but I want another WITCHtype movie.
I'd go for a sequel! Thomasin and Black Phillip take Manhattan!
Y’all check the Northman. It’s what you’ve been wanting
loved this film. cheers.
What an amazing film ! Actually scary and not jump scares the story and dialogue are outstanding
so excited about this :)
At first, I was actually all like...but then like, I was literally all like...but actually, I was literally like...you know...um...actually like...literally or whatever. But actually I was literally like...you know, like....actually?
+Aaron Byers whats your point ?
+maxjiro25 whats your IQ?
ulkem The fact you didn't seem to notice my sarcasm makes me believe it’s higher than yours
Like lol!!
+Aaron Byers I'll give Eggers a pass considering he developed the most succinct 17th century American script that I've ever seen displayed on film.
this was a really great interview and the host ask some really good questions. I also like the directors body language when he was answering those questions... like the question about the witch for example. You can tell that The Wicked Witch of the East really made an impression on him as a kid.
With the Lighthouse, Robert has easily become my Favourite newcomer director ... Two consecutive masterpieces, such Consistency is Tough to Expect these days...his films are pure class.
Terrible film. The Lighthouse had no meaning was a comedy.
This movie was a masterpiece, and until I'm convinced otherwise, I will consider Eggers a genius.
You sir, made one of my favorite films. Thank you!
He's fascinating
7:49 Interesting. Please elaborate, Robert. Interviewer: CASTING! Me: 🙃 10:10 Interesting. Please elaborate, Robert. Interview: SUPERNATURAL! Me: 🙃
Robert is a genius director. Love this movie. Truly inspires me as far as my own films. :)
This movie looks incredible and the vice interviewer is beautiful
This movie is wonderful!! The director is methodical and obsessive with details, photography and sequences are superb, the lighting is just right, the acting is also wonderful! This a suspenseful family drama, suspense more than horror although it gets really spooky, this movie is wickedly fantastic!
He is sooooo handsome omg
simp
I knew this guys had a dark side bc this movie is WAYYYYYY too unsettling. I felt like I was watching actual witch ceremonies. Very palpable.
Indeed
Just saw this in theatres, brilliant movie
can't wait to see it, an intelligent horror movie is gold to my eyes, never cared about teenage horror crap, plus this director looks very sincere, good stuff
Robert eggers is living proof that originality is not dead best horror movie director in years there's no debate.
What is the interviewer's previous experience high school yearbook?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
My favourite movie of the year so far
I saw it with a friend few nights ago, cinematography was fantastic, I was drawn in.. the voices of the devil did the job of creeping me the fuck out and the ending was worth the wait
I absolutely can't wait to see what he does next. The VVitch was so fucking brilliant!
Sauron Merciful The "W" in "Witch" is stylistically written as "\/\/"
holy shit, either that film is awesome or that trailer is very well done
The film was awesome as well as scarring
+Tony Tng Both. It was truly one of the best trailers I've ever seen. The movie will be among my favorites as well, no doubt.
+Tony Tng Best horror film I have seen since It Follows.
+johnnyutah1001 The Witch It Follows the Babadok ..wow that is a epic sentence of 3 great indie horror films !
+Camila Hunter Hardly a scarring film
I'm assuming it's the dad in the trailer, his voice is AMAZING oh my god
Robert Eggers is a great filmmaker. Hoping to see more of his movies in the future. Way better than Christopher Nolan.
Loved this movie. Can be a bit hard to understand because the whole script is in old english so you have to pay attention, but it's so worth a watch. This is on the level of the movie "Antichrist". Dealing with human fears and distinguishing good and evil and real vs what isn't. Paranoia is a big element played. You really feel like you're part of that time period while watching. I was a bit put off by the visuals in the beginning(they were amazing, but hard to watch), but honestly, I'm so glad I kept watching. This is one of the best horror films I've seen. Just really well done-none of that jump scare crap from typical horror movies today. I'd watch it again just to go back and understand it better.
Charlie won every fight on the film set. He is the GOAT
😭🤣
As a New England native, would appreciate more movies about the Puritans that are historically accurate and not based on modern stereotypes or fictional works.
He and Ari Aster are geniuses.
There was one thing that bugged me : Who did all the construction of the family's new farm? The dad by himself? The dad and the kid? Unlikely. Those were community projects.
The Witch was amazing. I can see why the average pleb going with their friends would be disappointed, but if you're disillusioned with modern horror films and cheap jump scares, you need to see it. I love the use of chiaroscuro at 0:47 and 2:03. It's used really beautifully, the shots look like actual paintings.
Fully agree, same with the image of the parents standing staring at the hole where caleb is, it's amazing how you truly get transported to that time while watching the movie. It's quite a piece of art altogether.
Best Director working today!
I'm so happy to hear that Eggers grew up more on classic Gothic Horror and supernatural stories, and was scared of the slashers. That was ME.
There is a mistake in the description, 1630 is the 17th century, not the 16th.
I don't understand why he's so reserved on answering some of the questions. Religion, the crow, the goat incident. Regardless, the dude is a genius. Can't wait to see what he graces us with next.
Brandon Daniels I'm not picking up what you're putting down
Hes right. Im not scared by movies anymore but the concepts in movies like this and hereditary are super scary. Its just unsettling and definitely emotional in ways most horror movies could never hope to be
The greatest director of these days 🤩
I absolutely loved this film!
Insightful
Insightful ,
Remember Robert Eggers name we'll be seeing him a lot now "The Witch" was incredible.
Excellent movie Robert
great movie! keep up!
Robert Eggers is such a cool director. He keeps it realistic unlike other directors.
This was a profoundly outstanding film.
Gah....this movie is SO good. Just watched it last night and can't stop thinking about it. Everything is just perfect...the cinematography, the period-accurate dialogue, every actor, the story...the whole damn thing just _works._ The tone and visual themes reminded me a lot of Lars von Trier's 'Antichrist.' Wet black twigs under an overcast sky...very gothic and elemental. Endings are always tough to pull off....but I felt a deep sense of catharsis at the very end...I was rooting for Thomasin as she levitated while laughing hysterically. This film, more than any I've ever seen, did an amazing job portraying the deadly seriousness of Puritanical scapegoating and witchcraft accusations. You really feel for Thomasin....she's utterly oppressed by the religious zealotry of her family and her time....and there's _nothing_ she can do about it. She can't reason with anyone. So at the end she basically says 'fuck it all' and finally sheds the heavy burden of the religious shroud that had suffocated her all her life...hence the hysterical laughter and sense of total liberation. This whole movie is beyond perfect. I watched it last night...and intend to watch it yet again tonight.
One of my absolute favorite movies. I have pushed this film on so many people. Some got it, some didn’t but it’s just so intense and incredibly well done.
Oh, that mother, really gets on my nerves, which is her job... Lol
This guy is a freaking genius. Love him
Sad to end in the most interesting part of the interview...
What a contrast. an interesting, intelligent director being interviewed by Ronda from the laundromat
9:22 this felt longer than in the movie. is there an extended version?
Great movie. Enjoyed it. Subdued but psychologically gripping.
The movie was so good, seriously won't forget it.
One of my favorite movies
Love the interview. Not really spoilers just my opinion: The only thing I want to add is that the trailer and marketing did not set the audience up for what to actually expect. At least for myself, the trailer led me to believe the film was going to be fast moving and action packed with terrorizing scares. It felt a lot like the family battling each other opposed to the supernatural forces of "the witch". The film more-so deals with the families turmoil and individual pit falls with one another. I felt very lead on and expecting the usual horror movie gore. I was completely wrong and am happy to admit that the film was a refreshing add to the "horror" genre and reminds viewers that it is not about the jump-scares and that psychological terror is what can be most frightening. The trailer did cause me to not like the film right after viewing the movie until I got home and actually thought about it. Completely unnerving score, beautiful cinematography and amazing actors delivering the most difficult dialogue :) Great Video!!
The goat in the film rocked incredibly hard, man.