Wicked Watch – The Witch in the Window 2018

Hello Coven,

We are now in August and I feel like the year is just flying by. Please use this a reminder to take some time for yourself, even if it’s just 5 minutes, remember to take a breath and be kind to yourself.

I’m here to bore you with another Wicked Watch review. This time round I’ll be talking about 2018 film “The Witch in the Window”

This follows the story of a father and a son who are “flipping” a farmhouse in Vermont. Despite warnings from a local man, the pair live in the house whilst they do their work. Pretty soon, things start happening in the house, and it seems as if the pair are being haunted by the previous tenant Lydia. 

Lydia was rumoured to be a witch who was responsible for the death of her husband and son. And the more they renovate the house, the stronger her spirit seems to grow. The chemistry between the actors is great and the relationship is well written and believable to watch. In terms of horror elements, there is a good sense of suspense built, but other than a couple of jump scares and one scene involving a phone call (which actually made me hold my breath) there’s not much here that makes it stand out as a great horror film.

Whilst well acted and presented, there just wasn’t enough “horror” for me. So I have to give this one 3 out of 5 skulls.

Has anyone else watched this? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay Spooky!
👻LWG👻

The Ghost of Rebecca

Hello my savoury dumplings,

It seems that Spring has well and truly sprung! We are being greeted by days with clear blue skies, warmth in the air and vivid green leaves sprouting from the trees. I’m settling into life in Scotland with ease and enjoyment, relishing in the slower pace of life and the sounds of seagulls singing each morning.

I’ve been falling back in love with reading and finding myself getting through books easier, which after something of dry spell, feels great. The first book I’m going to give you my feelings on is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

Weirdly, when I was younger, I was given this book on Cassette Tape by my dad. Basically it was an early version of the audiobook! However, over time, the story had become vague to me. So I was excited to read it and do so with a fresh pair of eyes and adult perspective. As a young girl I often thought this was a ghost story, and it kind of is, but not in the traditional sense. 

The Cassette Tape I was given…Looking at this gives me pure nostalgia.

This classic Gothic novel, follows the story of an unnamed narrator who marries an older, charismatic widower named Maxim de Winter. Moving into his stately home of Manderley, his new wife instantly feels smothered by the presence of his first wide, Rebecca. An ethereal, charismatic woman who seemed to captivate everyone she met.

Maxim’s new wife feels plain in comparison, and spends alot of time pondering why Maxim is with her when Rebecca seemed like the perfect woman. This feeling is compounded by Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper of Manderley, who seems to hold her former mistress in high respect, even maintaining her room like a shrine. She’s often dropping little stories around the new Mrs de Winter, about her greatness, beauty etc. You can see why it would wear you down!

As the novel progresses we learn more about the infamous Rebecca and Maxim’s feelings about her. Needless to say there are twists and turns and it turns out Rebecca wasn’t as pure and innocent as people were led to believe. 

I did enjoy this book, but at times I felt myself growing frustrated with the narrator. I realise the time setting of the story has alot to do with this, but I just wanted her to be more outspoken and just ask the burning questions, instead of being coy or afraid of doing so. 

All in all this is a great piece of classic gothic literature, and feel it’s the perfect kind of book to read at the start of Autumn. It turns out my impression of it being ghost story, as a young girl, wasn’t too wrong. It is a ghost story, but not in the aspect of rattling chains or ghostly spectres. But more about the ghost of memories and people and the inability to move past them.

If you’ve read this, I’d love to know your thoughts below.

“Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again.”

Stay Spooky!
👻LWG👻