Fantasia 2022: ‘Where the Witch Lives’ Review

Stars: Catherine Bérubé, Lake Delisle, Alex Rice, Margaux Vaillancourt | Written and Directed by Mariel Sharp

At just fifteen minutes, short movie Where the Witch Lives manages to pack a lot into what seems like just the start of a story. A mother and her two young daughters move into old, worn-down and isolated house next to a river. The twelve-year-old and eldest daughter believes that a witch that lives there is starting to torment them.

It’s a perfect short story, in that it fills the run time perfectly and runs well as a short but leaves you wanting more. And it’s easy to see how this could be made into a full-length feature either by continuing the story that is told here or by stretching out the story told here.

You’re quickly thrown into the short and everything is explained right away. It’s a dark story, you feel the stakes immediately and are worried for the family. They believe they have to do certain things to keep the witch at bay, to make sure she doesn’t harm them. But this is hard for the youngest sibling to understand and soon she is making mistakes that could cost them all.

Where the Witch Lives looks great, after all a small budget does not mean your short should look it nowadays. The house and its surroundings look dark and dingy, perfect for the tale they are trying to tell. The piano score that haunts proceedings is near-perfect too, while the cast, including the young sisters, all put in really strong performances.

Where the Witch Lives concludes with a great final moment (or is it the beginning of much more?) and writer/director Mariel Sharp will be someone to look out for when they make their first full feature.

Where the Witch Lives screened as part of this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.