THE WITCH IN THE WINDOW is released on DVD 8th July 2019.
THE WITCH IN THE WINDOW is written and directed by Andy Mitton
It takes a lot of craft and imagination to create something refreshing out of the ghost in the house story. Andy Mitton’s third feature script achieves it in spades. Before he begins to scare you, he gives you central characters you can believe their relationship is embedded and existed long before the camera was switched on.
The fast growing, rebellious son, Finn, and his arrogant father, Simon, who figures an intense time spent together fixing up an old house will somehow mend the years of being the absent parent. An early disagreement about escaping to the countryside sees Simon tell Finn: “I was hoping to catch you on the 12 side of 12 instead of the 13 side of 12 because 12 year old you would love this place.” It’s a succinct and witty summation of their state of play. It’s a moment that is heightened by cinematographer Justin Kane’s willingness to enjoy the emerald hues and blue skies of rural Vermont - a sharp aesthetic contrast to the natural sunlight ambers illuminating the more claustrophobic interior shots.
The ghostly past is simple – the original owner Lydia stays dead while the house falls into rack and ruin. As Simon and Finn breath new life into the building, they do the same for her mind, body and soul. When she is physically revealed both Finn and Simon see her. This inescapable shared incident is a delightfully surprising left turn from the cynic vs witness trope most supernatural tales take you through. From here on in Mitton uses a stuttering story rhythm coupled with clever dissociative tricks to melt your mind and keep the film’s eventual destination one step ahead of the audience.
