If you follow any of our website’s content, or the film industry at large, then I don’t think I need to explain just how impactful Roger Eggers has been to the film industry in the last decade. His internationally lauded directorial debut feature film The Witch (The VVitch) is what cemented himself as as a household name, especially amongst households who prefer the taste of blood to a romantic comedy.  Although The Witch has received the Ultra HD treatment via Lionsgate released back in 2019, Second Sight films has decided to take it upon themselves to not only re-release this film on the 4K format, but also going ahead and adding several more special features, and some truly wicked packaging.

Packaging and Art

Once again, I am completely in love with the packaging designers at Second Sight. I love the way each of these limited edition box sets look, feel and pop out on a shelf. The Witch is no exception. The discs are packed in a digicase, nestled up next to a 150 page hardback book, collectors still cards and wrapped nicely inside a rigid slipcase decorated with new art by Peter Diamond.

Bonus Features

Special Features

  • Dual format 4K UHD and Blu-ray (bonus features included on both discs)
  • 4K UHD presented in Dolby Vision HDR approved by Robert Eggers
  • Archive audio commentary by Director Robert Eggers
  • New audio commentary by film writer and broadcaster Anna Bogutskaya
  • A Puritan Nightmare: a new interview with Robert Eggers
  • Embracing Darkness: a new interview with Anya Taylor-Joy
  • Love Thy Father: a new interview Ralph Ineson
  • A Pious Wife: a new interview with Actor Kate Dickie
  • Caleb’s Lament: a new interview with Actor Harvey Scrimshaw
  • A Primal Folktale: features interviews with Robert Eggers and cast
  • BFI London Film Festival Q&A with Robert Eggers, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson and Producer Jay Van Hoy
  • Brothers: a short film by Robert Eggers
  • Optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

Limited Edition Contents

  • Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Peter Diamond
  • 150 page hardback book with new essays by Emerson Baker, Daniel Bird, Anton Bitel, Charles Bramesco, Lillian Crawford, Shelagh Rowan-Legg and Anya Stanley plus stills, costume and production design gallery.
  • 6 collectors’ art cards

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1

The score and soundtrack of this film aren’t showy affairs by any means. What makes this movie so effective is it’s very subtle touches and the slow dread that builds in the atmosphere. The 5.1 mix does that just fine, with a nice amount LFE low end in the score aiding the pace along.  Would I have liked to see a full immersive Dolby Atmos mix?  Of course. However, this movie is a rare example of a film that doesn’t need a whole lot of sound to be effective.

Video: 2K Digital Intermediate upscaled 4K HDR

No, this is not a native 4K as it is an upscale from a 2K DI, however, rest assured that I have had some Second Sight bluray transfers look just as good Native 4K discs. This is not going to be a visual demo disc for your tv panel or home theater, but a lot of the benefit that these darker films get from a 4K release is the HDR. This movie has a lot of dark scenes and moments where the shadow detail is balanced, and the blacks are deep and rich. Sounds like I am describing chocolate.  There is plenty of moments where the detail is enhanced here even from the previous 4K available.

Overall

This is a movie that the Modern Horrors family is a bit divided on ultimately, but for me personally this film is a staple for folk horror, and very expertly crafted. The dreary cinematography and desaturated palette doesn’t make this some amazing 4K HDR spectacle, but this transfer combined with the amazing packaging make the Second Sight Films limited edition of The Witch my personal definitive version, and I think it should be yours too.