A GLIMPSE INTO THE LOVE WITCH
March 2, 2024
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Samantha Robinson's eye makeup in this movie deserves its own award, in our humble opinion. The 2016 ‘The Love Witch’ is about a modern-day witch, yearning for love, who turns to dark magic.
Released in 2016 and written, directed, edited and produced by Anna Biller (who also handled the film’s soundtrack, production design and costume design), and starring Samantha Robinson, the film follows Elaine Parks, a beautiful and enigmatic woman obsessed with finding love. Armed with her knowledge of herbalism and the occult, Elaine concocts love potions and casts spells to ensnare men, leading to increasingly desperate and dangerous situations.
Set in a coastal Californian town, our protagonist arrives burdened by the haunting memory of her husband's murder and a deep longing for a new companion. Armed with her dark arts and a healthy dose of self-absorption (just like all of us… if we were crazed witches, that is), she embarks on a quest to find her perfect match, leaving a trail of hapless victims in her wake.
As the story unfolds, the film is a visual feast, drenched in vibrant colors and inspired by the aesthetics of 1960s horror movies and Technicolor films. This stylistic tribute complements the film's exploration of femininity, desire, and the price of manipulating others' emotions.
The film has garnered a cult following, praised for its unique blend of humor, horror, and social commentary. Robinson's captivating performance and the film's distinctive visual style have ensured its place as a modern classic for fans of the offbeat and unconventional. ‘The Love Witch’ isn't just a visually-stunning throwback, it's also a boldly feminist exploration of sex, death, and social commentary.
We also have to give a nod to the film’s fashion. Elaine's sartorial style defies the conventional portrayal of witches in cinema, embracing a kaleidoscope of psychedelic and mystical colors. Beneath the surface of impeccable costume design and darkly comedic moments, Biller sheds light on the true costs of patriarchy and societal pressures.
Here's what sets "The Love Witch" apart: a love letter to vintage aesthetics, a disturbingly committed performance by Robinson, stunning production design, and a playful yet thought-provoking exploration of female desire, societal expectations, and the power dynamics within relationships.
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Also if TOV, there’s this quote i liked by the director: “Most movies kind of present female characters in such a simple way without all the complexities. I wanted to put all those complexities in even if it might seem that it isn’t a typical Hollywood script where you have one message and one goal and it’s about one thing. It’s a little bit more complicated, more conflicted than that. It’s about more presenting all of these issues and problems and not necessarily about finding a solution.”