'Witte Wieven' Review (Fantastic Fest 2024)
Set in The Middle Ages within a Dutch community, director Didier Konings explores religion and womanhood in the film, Witte Wieven, (also known as Heresay).
Konings is known for his work in the art department as a concept artist on projects such as Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Stranger Things, and numerous other projects. And that is heavily present in Witte Wieven from the setting, abstract visuals, cinematography and creature design.
In Witte Wieven, a woman is desperate to have a child of her own. She is a part of the small, Dutch community that is heavily religious and is built next to a forest that is known to be evil. After a disturbing encounter, she finds herself in the woods and is never the same from that point on.
Photo Credit: Make Way Films
I've seen some reviews compare this film to The VVitch due to similar tone, setting, and lore; and they are right. The two films are very similar but Witte Wieven dominates in story and scares where The VVitch is somewhat lacking in comparison.
We have seen this premise done quite a bit; the demonizing of women who go against religious beliefs and making them pay for their sins and that woman accepting the darkness that calls to her. But in its short runtime (61 minutes), this film is beautifully haunting and makes a heavy impact. I can appreciate a film that doesn't overstay its welcome and achieves exactly what is intended in the time we are given.
Witte Wieven dir. Didier Konings
⭐⭐⭐.5