"WITCHES' WELL" Delivers Something Wicked To Found Footage Horror
Witchcraft can be terrifying on its own, but adding found footage can intensify the realism and terror. The incorporation of witchcraft lore adds a historical depth that enhances the sense of authenticity, making the horror all the more frightening for viewers. This blend of ancient practices, cursed items, and eerie legends transforms ordinary settings into haunted terrains where danger feels menacingly plausible. By intertwining historical folklore with the gritty realism of found footage, these films evoke primal fears, making the supernatural elements disturbingly real and creating a heart-racing experience for any horror fan.
Macabre Daily felt the need to cast a protection spell after experiencing the frightening new Terror Films Releasing movie 'Witches’ Well'. Written, directed, and starring the talented Amanda K. Morales (star of 'Hell House LLC 2: The Abaddon Hotel'). The movie's synopsis is as follows:
“This film follows a best-selling horror writer who, while traveling in Edinburgh to research her book on the Scottish Witch Trials, becomes hounded by both a stalker and a potentially paranormal threat, challenging her skepticism of the otherworldly.”
“Witches' Well” is a chilling addition to the found footage horror genre. One of the elements that will keep you on edge is the unsettling POV of the stalker following best-selling horror writer Leona Chantraine (portrayed by Amanda K. Morales). The stalker's increasing proximity while filming Leona is terrifying, making you ponder how easily someone could follow and harm you—a fear particularly resonant for women. There are moments when the stalker is so close that you hold your breath, fearing he will be seen and possibly cause her harm. The tension escalates when the stalker enters Leona’s home and films her while she sleeps, amplifying the vulnerability and fear of invasion. After watching this movie, you may double-check your deadbolts. Writer/Director/Star Amanda K. Morales shared her experience about making this movie:
“I'd been traveling for several years and was on the point of returning to the U.S. when I found myself quarantined in Edinburgh early in the Covid Pandemic, and like Leona, going ‘a little mad.’ I wanted to tell a story about it. Combine these rare circumstances with my long and abiding love of both found footage and a good cinematic chamber piece, and you have a film in which mine is largely the only mug you see. Sorry about that. I passed The Witches’ Well, a memorial fountain with a plaque lamenting the accusations and executions of the past, on my nearly daily walks to the castle, and it made me a bit sad to think of what a heavy load such a small memorial had to carry.
I’ve long been a skeptic of the Paranormal myself and long lamented that fact. I am one of those who wants to believe; my childhood room was plastered in 'X-Files' posters, and I tried to talk my friends into blood rituals a la movies like 'The Craft'. Yet, alas, I stubbornly remain a non-believer; but movies are the place where we get to pretend to believe. I can think of no more real magic.”
Amanda K. Morales’s talent truly shines as she turns a one-woman show into a found footage fright fest. Her range of emotions, from happiness to terror, commands attention with each scene and she is the main focal point. This ensures you won’t miss a single moment of this spooky story, since you are glued to the screen because of her dazzling performance. Her talents are evident both in front of the camera acting as well as behind the camera, with perfectly framed shots and seamless transitions between scenes. The fact that as you are watching this movie, the camera transfers from the POV stalker's camera to Leona's home security camera more seamlessly is pretty impressive. This shows us that she has put a lot of hard work into making sure that this movie looked as good as any competing cult-found footage horror movie.
The film's third act delivers unexpected twists that make you question who the true antagonist is as the anxiety of our main character gets cranked to 11 when the true intention of her antagonist is revealed. Is it possibly the stalker, the paranormal presence, or both? This ambiguity, combined with a slow burn and a great story, creates a lot of terror that will truly creep you out. Much like any enjoyable found footage horror movie, ‘Witches’ Well’ is worth a rewatch, just to catch what you might have missed the first time, whether it’s a glimpse of the stalker or the malevolent entity in the background. It gives off that fill of what ‘Misery’ would be like if the author Paul Sheldon was not only plagued by Annie Wilkes but an element of the paranormal that might have been causing him just as much psychological suffering.
Taking the risk of found footage horror when it is slowly becoming a saturated market is hard, but this movie can stand proudly next to some of the greats. It doesn’t have the overly used troupes of too many emotional close-ups to the camera, shaky camera framing, and artistically grainy footage that many of our favorites have had over the years. This movie takes a unique concept, a vulnerable main character, and more than one terrifying thing coming at her in a way that stands out more than you would expect. It is one of those found-footage horror movies that make you think and wonder just how easy it would be to have your world turned upside down in the most terrifying of ways.
TFR will premiere the film on their YouTube Terror Channel on June 28th, 2024, including a live chat with the filmmaker. The film will then roll out across multiple platforms on July 5th, 2024, including Amazon, Tubi TV, PlayNow Media, UDU TV, Kings of Horror, and many more. For more horror movie reviews and spooky news, stay tuned to Macabre Daily!
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