A Puritan family of seven, along with their livestock—includng a goat named Black Phillip—are sent out into the wilds of 17th century New England from the walled plantation they called home. The father has been accused of breaking some unspecified rule of theological discussion. Forced to homstead, they do poorly and the parents discuss giving up their daughter as a servant, even as terrible things begin to happen.
The acting in this movie was ecellent, with period dialect, and evokative of Increase Mather’s candlelit world, particularly the nighttime scenes. The Canada setting failed to—it had to—evoke the massive forests wherein the Devil and his children lurked in the Puritan mind. One such line is quoted below.
“My corrupt nature is ignrant of grace.”
The storyline itself is oppressive and coud possibly serve as an important adjunct to assisted suicide. Overall, I am fascinated that legitamate research was done to support such a film.
