Relationships are difficult. There is almost always something lurking in the background that has not been revealed yet. Love can be the ultimate cloaking device. It can make a person accept the unknown; after all, love can conquer anything, right? The Horror/Thriller 7 Witches from the mind of Writer/Director Brady Hall (Jerkbeast 2005, Scrapper 2013) counters this idea. Released via Indican Pictures to DVD/VOD on May 9th, 7 Witches hits audiences unrated and bound with curiosity.
The film follows Cate (Persephone Apostolou: Swallow 2003, Al’s Beef 2008), who is going for the weekend to her sister Rose’s (Danika Golombek: debut) wedding. The wedding is being held on a recently reopened, remote, former military base. The island used to belong to Rose’s soon to be wife, Aggie (Megan Hensley: The Crazies 2010, The Haunting of Alice D 2014) and her family before the military took over. Cody (Mike Jones: &@ series, The Hipster Show series), Cate’s former fiancee, brings her to the location and inserts himself back into the fold. His presence creates even more awkwardness in an already awkward situation.
It is clear that Cate and her family have many unresolved issues. Their father is a recovering alcoholic. While lovable and happy now, the sisters both agree that their childhood was difficult and unhappy. Rose is very vocal about needing to be the center of attention. She quickly snaps at anyone, especially Cate, when she does not get the results she is seeking. If Cate’s family is the picture of modern dysfunction, then Aggie’s family is the stoic old fashioned contrast. They all wear black and do not say much. It is referenced that they are Pagans. Tensions are high as this is the first time both of the families have met.
Rose expects everyone to just go along with Aggie’s family’s unusual customs and mannerisms, but Cate is the only one cannot get with the program. Cate refuses to eat the food that the family prepares, which causes an even bigger riff between the sisters. The food is all made from scratch, but is prepared and presented in a very unappetizing way. As the families get acquainted, she and her forever high aunt are the only two that can detect any nefarious intentions that are hiding just below the surface. They soon realize the wedding is not the only thing on the strange family’s agenda. The supposed happy occasion turns into a fight for survival.
The acting is not stellar, but it works with the themes of 7 Witches. It almost feels organic. Nothing is quite right and probably would not even if everything under the surface was normal. Throwing people who have nothing in common together often creates the perfect veil to hide unsavory things as the polite social response is not to ask too many questions. Apostolou and Golombek do an excellent job of showing the complicated dynamics between sisters. Love between them exists, but they do not like each other. Blood is often the only thing that barely holds certain people together.
The scenery is beautiful, yet jarring. It is isolated and quiet, yet not peaceful. There is an underlying unsettling feeling that encompasses the place. Ancient is a word that is used several times by Aggie’s family and the film does an excellent job at portraying this. Both the woods and the ocean seem to be untouched, save a few buildings and a weird maze left over from the military base. It appears almost unaffected by the unnatural world. No cell service adds to the uneasniess and trapped feelings that Cate has to struggle against.
There are several things that do happen that are not fully explained. The throwaway explanation could be that they are Pagans and it is just part of their rituals. Unlike other films, though, these unknown explanations do not take away from the story. If anything, they simply leave the viewer with an even more unsettling feeling. Not everything ancient can or should be fully explained. Ultimately, 7 Witches is a creepily enjoyable film that shows how dangerous two polar opposite families can clash together in the most evil of ways. Love can hide the most sinister of intentions. It is for these reasons, that CrypticRock gives 7 Witches 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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Great job, Sarah. You got me intrigued to see this film. 😀