Witches have long been a staple of storytelling. Their depiction is wide-ranging, from Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Charmed to historical explorations of The Witch. But seldom has a motion picture that portrays witchcraft had technical advisors who actually are coven members and use occult prop consultants to produce an “authentic’ experience. Writer-director-star Cradeaux Alexander’s Inherit the Witch attempts to use props and artifacts from real practitioners to weave a story of family evil and regeneration. Evocative locations with a history of real witches are used as the settings, so everything has a true-life feel. Does all this accuracy translate to a fulfilling watch?
In 1984, a family throws a birthday party for twins Cory and Jessie. Thirty years later, what’s left of the family reunites for the father’s funeral at two isolated houses in the New Forest, England. The now-adult twins, Cory (Cradeux Alexander) and his estranged sister Fiona (Heather Carins), are going at it over her moving out. Fiona leaving would leave Cory to face the looming specter of their disapproving, cruel father who has just passed away. As they attempt to put the pieces back together, Fiona and Cory uncover horrific truths about the family’s occult pact with an ancient evil that has secretly been at the core of their wealth and power.
Nothing can disguise the fact that the story of Inherit the Witch is simply a case of family bickering, recriminations, and relationships severed. It’s a domestic “kitchen sink drama” that fails to use the accurate and extraordinary occult accouterments and sets provided. Rest assured, there are isolated moments that approach chilling, such as the discovery of mutilated bodies in coven locations. So much of the dialogue tends to be about family squabbles and troubles, meaning the witchy elements feel like an afterthought. But the subplot of murdering to resurrect “mother” so she’ll run the coven adds depth. It attaches the horror of conversion therapy, generational trauma, and the price of privilege to the sibling squabbles. Hence, the film comes close to being a lovely two-hander in some moments when the speeches become long and emotional. Though a few characters, such as Rex (Rohan Quine), could be developed more, most of the roles have a satisfying arc.
“…Fiona and Cory uncover horrific truths about the family’s occult pact with an ancient evil that has secretly been at the core of their wealth and power.”
The occult rituals are a treat even if they’re reminiscent of Hammer Films’ To The Devil A Daughter and even the British exploitation title Virgin Witch. One well-managed sequence is the sacrifice of a 14-year-old on an altar while her parents eagerly watch. The rituals are not like those in most occult-themed films, but one must remember that this is still for entertainment, so not everything is 100% accurate.
Inherit the Witch has odd framing, especially in the night sequences. Perhaps Alexander is trying to go for a giallo feel, but it never quite gets there. The picture is more at home with the two actors in a tense manner of revelation or exposing emotion about the past than in promoting chills and atmosphere. The coven scenes seem stilted at first glance. But this is film, not theatre, where you must reach the back row, so the restraint feels internalized and natural to what happens.
Inherit the Witch is an interesting drama about a family with occult secrets in its closet. It feels much like an episode of the original classic series Dark Shadows. The acting, particularly from Christopher Sherwood as Lars and Alexander as lovers and fighters, stands out. Honorable mention goes to Cairns, who gives her performance her all. I’m not quite sure if this is a battle of relationships or a dark story of an evil generation, though there are intriguing hints at what could have been a true melding of both.
"…the acting...stands out."
