MovieChat Forums > The Love Witch (2017) Discussion > I Keep Coming Back To This Film

I Keep Coming Back To This Film

posted 8 years ago by naughtyneko
1 reply | jump to latest

I watched the Love Witch shortly before Christmas, and I keep coming back to it. There are so many layers at play, and so many ideas being explored. I love the vintage, dreamlike quality, and I agree with everyone who says Biller nailed the 60's-70's B movie vibe, but The Love Witch is so much more than a pretty face- just like Elaine. Just the symbolism in this movie alone keeps me up at night. Like I said in my review, I think this is less a film with symbolism, and more a symbol as a film.

One of the most intriguing parts of the film for me is the relationship between Elaine and Trish. Again, symbolism reigns- Trish is the obvious "feminist" in her pantsuits, with her ideas on equality, and her job as interior decorator. But she is such a FEMALE GENDERED feminist. Her PASTEL pantsuits. Her favorite "female only" lunch spot. Her career in a female-dominated field. And Elaine, by contrast, with all of her retro vixen finery, her "how to make a man happy" ideology, her lack of any visible means of self-support (beyond the "Witch Bottles" she sells). The film leads us to believe one is obviously superior to the other, yet in the end, the "normal", "enlightened" Trish fares no better that Elaine.

What does this mean? Is Trish not a "real" feminist? Liberal feminism is a joke? Equality is a joke? Tragedy awaits us all? It means nothing- it is just a random happening in the world of the film? This is the stuff that keeps me coming back...

[–] adde1987 8 years ago

Just a thought: I read this, and then read what you wrote in a popular thread just now, and it only made my first impression of this thread stronger. To me, you seem like a character in the movie. As the ultimate fourth wall breaker. Just like Elaine entranced men to love him to death - as well as driving women, Trish, to hate her - this movie in itself has entranced you. Well, that's the impression I got from reading what and how you write so passionately of the movie. Which means the movie (or experience if you like) will end once I finish writing and go watch some YouTube. Or will it? "so many layers"

As to actually reply to what you wrote here. Perhaps the movie just shows that love is that powerful, but that doesn't mean tragedy awaits us. We can not channel love that deep - unless you are a witch of course. Perhaps if we had not burned down all them witches before we would be heading towards the happening that later would be known as "The Great Feminist Tragedy".

As a side note I liked how Elaines charms even had an effect on me. I guess I could say I grew more and more fond of her. But I'm not sure she's not the (very) top actor/actress in my book.

Lastly I like how layered it is despite of being so simple. I mean it's even called "The Love Witch".

10/10

EDIT: As an edit I felt I liked to type is how cool I think it is that it also made me feel good about you OP. I like the part of your mind I saw (in this continuing experience). It's also funny that your name is naughtyneko as I've studied Japanese for several years.

Sorry if all of this is nonsense to you, haha. I'm done now! ^_^