Stardate 07.23.2026.C: Latest Addition - 2018's 'The Witch In The Window' Has Been Added To The Daily Archives For June 23rd!

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On this day in 2018 (in Canada), audiences in attendance of the Fantasia Film Festival were treated to the theatrical premiere of The Witch In The Window.  Written and directed by Andy Mitton, the film starred Arija Bareikis, Alex Draper, Charlie Tacker, and others. 

​According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"When Simon brings his twelve-year-old son, Finn, to rural Vermont to help flip an old farmhouse, they encounter the malicious spirit of Lydia, a previous owner. And now with every repair they make, she's getting stronger."

For the record:
To the film's credit, The Witch In The Window earned a wee bit of praise from screenings on the film festival circuit.
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From Google.com:

The Witch in the Window (2018) is an indie supernatural horror film written and directed by Andy Mitton. You can stream or rent the movie using the Shudder or Prime Video platforms. It follows a father and son dealing with a malevolent ghost while flipping a rural Vermont farmhouse. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The film centers on Simon (played by Alex Draper) who brings his 12-year-old son Finn (Charlie Tacker) to a rural farmhouse in Vermont. Simon intends to renovate and flip the property as a fresh start, while also taking the opportunity to bond with his son away from city distractions. [1, 5, 6, 7]
Here is a breakdown of what makes the movie unique:
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• The Threat: Local electrician Louis (Greg Naughton) informs them about the home's previous owner, a woman named Lydia. Rumored to be a witch who caused the deaths of her husband and son, Lydia died in a chair while staring out of an upstairs window.
• The Mechanic: Simon soon discovers Lydia's spirit is attached to the home. A terrifying catch is introduced: every time Simon and Finn repair and improve the house, Lydia's ghost grows stronger and more tangible.
• Subtle, Psychological Horror: Instead of relying on loud jump scares, the film builds a quiet, creeping sense of dread. The ghost is often seen ominously staring at them from afar or lurking in corners, effectively forcing characters to make eye contact with her.
• The Twist: In a clever subversion of traditional ghost stories that demand the protagonists to "Get out!", Lydia's spirit actually gurgles the word "Stay!". Fearing for his son's safety, Simon sends Finn back to his estranged wife in New York, deciding to stay and battle the witch completely on his own.
• Underlying Themes: Beyond the horror elements, the film is essentially a grounded family drama. It heavily uses the haunting as a mirror for real-world anxieties about parenting, divorce, and the fear of neglecting one's children. [8, 10, 11, 12]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5936492/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witch_in_the_Window
[3] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRuFXifgYNK/
[4] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/witch_1966
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E1p0mBpLsU
[6] https://culturecrypt.com/movie-reviews/the-witch-in-the-window-2018
[7] https://screenanarchy.com/2018/07/fantasia-2018-review-the-witch-in-the-window-terrifies-and-surprises.html
[8] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_witch_in_the_window
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtc1MQQK50c
[10] https://scariesthings.com/2019/01/15/mikes-review-the-witch-in-the-window-2018/
[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33DLF7ZB-Eo
[12] https://wickergirl.com/2018/08/27/witch-in-the-window-review/