So many horror films these days are by-the-numbers garbage that I don’t get paid enough to sit through. No so with ”The Witch,” written and directed by Robert Eggers, who is largely known as a production and costume designer.

No matter. He knows his stuff. So say I and The Satanic Temple, which has endorsed “The Witch” and hosted screenings of the film. The group’s spokesperson, Jex Blackmore, called the film “an impressive presentation of Satanic insight that will inform contemporary discussion of religious experience.”

I don’t know about any of that, but just as ”The Martian” was sci-fi done right, “The Witch” is horror done right. And yes, these many accolades and critical praises may get butts in seats, but I don’t think the film is going to satisfy the usual crowd that thinks 90 minutes of jump-scares is terrifying. No, this is a lot more clever than that.

Set in the early 1600s, decades before the infamous Salem witch trials, “The Witch” centers around a Puritan family from old England trying to make a go of it in New England.

Their troubles may have begun long before the commando-Puritanism of family patriarch William (Ralph Ineson) gets the whole family booted from a small village, a veritable oasis in an unyielding new frontier. They eventually try their hand at settling a small patch of land near a dense wood, but sadly, as bad as William is at fitting in with his own ilk, he’s even worse at hunting and farming. Crops dry up, his traps are usually empty, and his family is getting on each other’s nerves.

Which is easy to do, considering the conditions under which they live. Eggers went to a tremendous amount of trouble to realistically depict how dreary life must have been back then. This attention to detail even informs the accents used by the actors, which admittedly make for a studied listen. I really, really had to pay attention to what these folks were saying to catch it all, and even then I’m convinced I missed some.

Thankfully, much of what you need to know is presented through the amazing atmosphere of repressiveness that bathes the movie. Eggers must have spent some time and money on the soundtrack alone, often building to a climax that pulls you to the edge of your seat and takes full advantage of discordant wails and other-worldly sounds. Nebulous imagery largely allows your imagination fill in the blanks, but sometimes only a truly disturbing image will drive a point home.

Combine the film’s attention to every dreary detail with the repressive nature of early Puritanical faith, and you’ve got yourself a simmering stew set to boil over. Much like the foreshadowed witch trials, this creates an atmosphere in which any accusation is taken seriously. Whenever a crop fails, it’s seen as celestial payback for someone’s sin.

And sadly, everyone believes they are so deserving of punishment. William’s long-suffering wife Katherine (Kate Dickie) aches to pack it in and just go back to old England. The eldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), envisions a joyless life ahead of herself, as cold and grey as the New England skies. The youngest brother, Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw), is in on the verge of manhood, but with limited options around, he can’t help but notice the curves of his older sister, who is already a young woman. This is just more fuel for the fire of guilt and shame that scalds him with every daily prayer. And young twins Mercy (Ellie Grainger) and Jonas (Lucas Dawson) are just plain annoying — too young and coddled to be of any real use on the farm. And they’re creepy too, which doesn’t help.

Making matters worse, of course, is the very real witch who lives in the nearby wood. Even here, the everyday life of these folks matters, allowing one to understand why someone — especially a woman — would choose a life of witchcraft over the never-ending uphill slog. But here too, Eggers succeeds in bringing witchcraft back to its basics, eschewing most over-the-top Hollywood depictions.

Other than some unfortunate (and I’m betting unintentional) Monty Python references that lighten the mood at just the wrong times, “The Witch” earns its various endorsements.

DETAILS

Review: ***1/2 stars

Duration: 90 minutes

Rating: Rated R for disturbing violent content and graphic nudity

BEHIND THE SCENES

Director: Robert Eggers

Writer: Robert Eggers

Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie

TRIVIA FROM IMDB

Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie both appeared in Game of Thrones, although they never shared any scenes together.