The Witch had no movie lights. Robert Eggers and cinematographer Jarin Blaschke shot the entire film using only beeswax candles and natural daylight. Blaschke said adding a Kino Flo would be "a betrayal." The farmhouse windows were built one-third larger than historically accurate just to admit enough light to shoot.
Eggers spent four years writing the script from 17th-century court documents, Puritan diaries, and Cotton Mather's writings on witchcraft. The dialogue was drawn directly from the period.
It was Eggers' first feature. It was also Anya Taylor-Joy's breakout performance. She was 18 at the premiere. The film grossed over $40 million against a $4 million budget.
A24 acquired it at Sundance for $1.5 million. That deal helped define what A24 would become.
People on Backlot are watching it this week.
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