Fantasia "18 Film Review - The Witch in The Window

Beverley (Arija Bareikis) is at her wits end with her son Finn (Chris Tackle). His latest stunt involves poking around the internet where he shouldn't. As punishment, she is sending him off with her ex- husband Simon (Alex Draper)  into the country to work on one of his fixer upper houses. Andy is happy to have his 12-year-old son along hoping to reconnect.

Finn is unhappy to be in the country at first but soon warms to spending quality time with his dad in an old house that creaks, bangs, needs work but is full of character. The local electrician comes by to fix the wiring telling the pair of the history of the place. The old woman Lydia (Carol Stanzione)   that never left the place and was found dead sitting by the upstairs window. As father and son continue their work they begin to notice strange occurrences in the house.

Writer-Director Andy Mitton's story is more on the paranormal, psychological scale rather than the physical violent side of horror. The production relies more on practical effects, music and camera work to build suspense and anxiety. One particularly well written sequence stands out where Andy receives a phone call from Beverley near the midpoint of the film. He expect the conversation to go one way but instead heads in a different one. As the dialogue continues realization builds in Andy until he has reached a new level of entanglement with the house.

Alex Draper and Chris Tackle have solid chemistry as father and son. It begins with their banter on the way up peaking with a wonderful line from father to son hoping that he would catch Finn on the 12 side of 12 and not the 13 side. Once at the house Finn is eager to explore seeing quickly through his dad's stated goal to flip the property.

The Witch in The Window is a psychological thriller that is at its core the relationship between a dad and his son. In Simon's mind, his son is perfect but knowing his nature its better for him to step back and do something for him and his mom then being around to mess things up. Its a warm family tale hidden in a haunted house frame that I can recommend.

*** Out of 4.

The Witch In The Window | Andy Mitton | U.S.A. | 2018 | 77 Minutes.

Tags: Internet, Country House, Old Woman, Haunted House, Stereogram, Sleepwalking, Circular Saw, Barn, Pizza.