One of the most talked about films from last year’s Sundance Film Festival (where it won the Best Director Award) was the debut film from writer-director Robert Eggers called THE WITCH, a serene, scary New England Folktale set in 1630. In the film, William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness with five children. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another. The film is a chilling portrait of a family unraveling within their own fears and anxieties, leaving them prey for an inescapable evil.
If I remember correctly, Eggers based his film on actual transcripts from witch trials, as well as diaries, from the period in addition to folktales about witches. He has described it as a “Puritan’s nightmare,” so be ready. And after a fairly lackluster January as far as horror offerings, February is about to get a whole lot scarier. And it just so happens I have a handful of tickets to an early screening of THE WITCH for Ain’t It Cool News readers in the Chicago area. The screening takes place on Monday, February 8 at 7:00pm at a theater in downtown Chicago (the exact location will only be given to the winners). As an added bonus, there will be a post-screening Q&A with THE WITCH writer-director Robert Eggers. Here’s how to win…
To win, send me an email at WitchChicago@aintitcoolmail.com (please note the new email address) with the subject line “Witchy Woman” (exactly like that). In the body of the email, I need your full Name, if you are bringing a guest (write “Guest” or “No Guest”; each winner may bring ONE, confirmed guest—if I think you gave your extra ticket to someone trolling for free tickets at the theater, you won't get in), and the answer to the following question: “What is your favorite movie or television witch, and why?”. Keep your responses BRIEF—no more than 75 words (no matter how tempted you are to go over the limit). Best answers (as judged by me) win, and you'll hear from me very soon if you won, so check your email over the weekend.
Although this is not an exclusive Ain't It Cool News event, winners’ seats will be reserved until 30 minutes before showtime (meaning 6:30pm). The venue is deliberately overbooked to guarantee a full house for our guest. If you can't arrive by 6:30pm, don't enter this contest. If you show up at the last minute, there is no guarantee that your seats will be good or together. If there's even the slightest chance you or your guests will have to back out of attending or arrive late if you do win, don't enter. If you have a job that might make you late or unable to attend, or an ill/pregnant relative, or a temperamental significant other, or a scratchy throat, do not enter. And the 24-hour-notice-to-cancel rule is done. If you win and don't show up, the Black List is your new best friend.
Good luck, everyone! And thanks to A24 for giving us this very cool screening opportunity and bringing in this great guest.
