Directed by Cradeaux Alexander, Inherit The Witch is a dark psychological horror that explores inherited trauma through a supernatural occultist lens.
Opening on a birthday party from 1984 and shot through retro camera footage, the film introduces twins Cory (Max Dimitrov) and Jessie (Maddie Crofts). A seemingly normal 14 year olds birthday party soon turns to the mystical as rumoured witch Pamela (Elizabeth Arends) gifts a spell to young Corey as well as to his older half brother Rex (Hugo Wilkinson). Cut to thirty years later and the family have reunited due to the death of the patriarch. A now grown up Corey (played by the directed Cradeaux Alexander) attends with his boyfriend Lars (Christopher Sherwood) as well as an elderly Pamela (Imogen Smith) and Rex (Rohan Quine) who has also turned to the occult. Much to everyone’s surprise, Corey’s estranged sister Fiona (Heather Cairns) makes an appearance, causing long forgotten memories to rear their ugly heads.
Splitting its runtime between the present day and the past events that followed during the twins 14th birthday party, Inherit The Witch firmly focuses on the occult aspect, with a strong priority on depicting an authentic portrayal of English witchcraft, especially with its setting of the New Forest, which was apparently the birthplace of English occultism. Unfortunately this aspect of commendable authenticity in the film is overshadowed by a predictable plot line which is littered by too much dialogue about how terribly dysfunctional the family at the centre of the film was.
Whilst Inherit The Witch does have a kitschy BBC made-for-tv feel about it, and antagonists Rex and Pamela play their parts as despicably Hammer-esque, but there is no likeable protagonist to counter their villainy. Unfortunately Inherit The Witch misses out on creating a solid folk horror centred around its setting and the New Forest history of witchcraft, and instead transforms into a family soap drama.
1.5 Screams out of 5
Inherit The Witch will be available in the US on Digital from 24th September.
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