I do love putting witches on trial. This particular enchantress who is using magical means to make lovesick fools out of the men she meets definitely deserves to be put in the dock.
Who:
Director: Anna Biller
Starring: Samantha Robinson, Gian Keys, Laura Waddell, Jeffrey Vincent Parise
What:
Horror/Thriller
Why:
Original story
When:
Set in modern day but with massive leanings to the 60's & 70's
Where:
Arcata, California
The first thing that grabbed my attention for The Love Witch was the beautiful hand painted movie poster (not the one included above; I went for one with more of a retro feel). It immediately brought to mind the old horror films of the 60's. Upon further investigation I discovered that this was wholly intentional as it was this very aesthetic that Anna Biller was aiming for.
Biller has created a lovingly crafted homage to 60's/70's horror films but set events in the modern day, tackling feminist themes and using the witchery as a metaphor for female empowerment.
I will admit that IMDB threw me off as I was expecting a parody film that would do for old horror what Black Dynamite did for Blaxploitation movies of the 70's. This did affect my enjoyment at first as I couldn't see any comedic moments. It didn't take long for me to realise that it was in fact a different type of film altogether and so settled in to view what it had to offer.
The most striking aspect is the colour and the way it just pops off the screen. Biller intentionally wanted the audience to feel like they were watching an old Technicolor movie and her cinematographer David Mullen certainly achieved that aim. Every scene is beautifully lit and framed; with vivid reds and creams contrasting lovely with different greens, purples and browns. The film is literally dripping with colour. It brings to mind the look and feel of the Italian giallo genre as well as horror movies like Suspiria that use colour to their advantage.
Another aspect that compliments each scene wonderfully well is the orchestral arrangements. Again giallo's like The Bird with the Crystal Plumage were the first thing that came to mind, but also some of the more folk horror films such as The Wicker Man that incorporate musical numbers so well. The tunes help immerse you into the scene without feeling your emotions are being manipulated in anyway. I wonder if some of these choices were preselected before filming. The tempo matches up so well at times I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the music was playing whilst filming took place on some scenes.
There are so many classic techniques utilised as part of the filmmaking process that you can see Biller really has an appreciation for what she is mimicking. Close ups of lips and eyes or the different camera angles used for a certain shot are all frequently seen throughout the era Biller is paying homage too.
Robinson embodies Elaine with all the deadly charm this femme fatale presents to her victims. She also displays the sweetness and fragility of someone who has feels she has been wronged before; who only really wants to find a suitable partner. You can see that she has a vulnerable side, although if you upset her then be prepared to feel the full force of her wrath.
I was left very impressed with Robinson's performance. As she appears in the majority of the scenes she has to be able to hold your attention and she does this ever so well. Considering the acting style overall is quite stilted in the delivery of dialogue and the action is a bit staged; Robinson makes it look natural and not out of place. This was obviously a style choice to keep in the spirit of the films being emulated and out of all the cast Robinson carries it off the best.
Jeffrey Vincent Parise as Wayne is another who handles the stage direction very well. His carefree teacher looking for free love in a very 60's hippie kind of way totally fits the mould. Of Elaine's conquests his interaction with her was the most enjoyable for me. His forest cabin with the open fireplace felt like the perfect setting for someone like Wayne to take a potential love interest to try and woo her.
That is another aspect that Biller gets so accurate; the set design. Everything feels like it has been lifted from an older era. It might feel a little anachronistic at times; especially when viewing some of the vehicles or the clothing on the extras, but that is only a minor distraction. Biller was responsible for the set design and she definitely has an eye for detail.
Likewise her costume choices also felt on point. Elaine goes through a number of outfit changes and each one compliments the setting or event taking place. Once more Biller chooses the colour of each costume to accentuate the beauty of the overall shot. This is a gorgeous film to look at.
I don't want to go into the messages or issues that Biller is trying to put across as there are many. Some I felt were done well, others a little heavy handed or I felt sent out some mixed signals. What it does do is provoke some interesting conversations afterwards and I expect many people will debate the rights and wrongs of what they take away from Elaine's pursuit of a perfect partner.
The conversation between Elaine and Griff about her guilt prior to the final scene is so well scripted it really makes you think just how guilty is Elaine in the end scheme of things? Sure she is indirectly responsible for what has taken place but you can see the points in her argument. It would be very easy to take the simple way out at the end of the movie but I loved the way it finished. No spoiler but the final outcome was quite satisfying indeed.
The first question that came to my mind was why set this in the modern day but spend so much energy reflecting the style of films from the 60's & 70's? If you were watching this with no knowledge of horror films from this era, particularly ones dealing with devil worship and witches, you could easily be forgiven for wondering what the hell was going on.
The problem is that it mimics those films so well at times that it could very well be an old movie. Suddenly though a modern vehicle will appear in a scene and straight away that nostalgic façade is broken. It can be a bit jarring. I imagine budget constraints had a lot to do with the decision not to go full on 60's and I can appreciate that. However would it have been easier to locate the story in a more isolated location to help avoid some of these anachronisms?
I have mentioned how Robinson nailed her performance and the tone Biller was going for. The rest of the cast certainly understood the filmmakers theme but didn't quite reach the same level. If that was down to the individual acting ability of the supporting actors I don't know. I felt some of the other performances just felt a little bit more forced when trying to hit the mark.
This would also affect the films appeal to a wider audience and again it comes down to knowing the source material. I love old movies and know what to expect from the actors performing in them. But if you are viewing a movie made now you expect a less stilted performance and the action to be a bit more dynamic. Once more the modern setting is what brings this more to your attention.
Elaine's seduction of Richard felt like a repeat of how she seduced Wayne. While the setting and her costuming are different; the scene itself is a very similar striptease that takes place after drugging her victim. Don't get me wrong I could watch both strips on repeat as Robinson is a very attractive girl! However with a bit more thought I am sure the writers could have come up with a different way for her to use her womanly wiles and magical means to ensnare one of these men.
Maybe we are supposed to believe this is Elaine's modus operandi but she doesn't use the same technique on Griff. This romance is a little rushed and not as believable without the use of a magical potion. I also wasn't keen on Gian Keys who plays Griff so that might have influenced my opinion of this particular relationship.
I did feel the film could have been a bit shorter. At two hours in length it does have moments where it sags. The visits to the bar for example feel totally unnecessary; or at the very least don't need to take so long to get to the point. The films it is emulating would generally have a running time somewhere between ninety minutes to an hour forty. It would have been more in keeping with the theme if this too was of a similar length. Some more judicious editing would have resulted in a tighter, tauter thriller.
She isn't a harmless witch but I am loath to let such an irresistible temptress burn at the stake. After all I doubt I would be able to resist having a drink if Elaine was to offer me one.
Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Love_Witch
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3908142/
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