The occult instrument can be described as a mystical tool used in various spiritual practices and rituals. It is believed to possess supernatural powers and abilities that can aid in connecting with the spirit world or harnessing psychic energy. These instruments are often considered sacred and are used by practitioners of occultism, witchcraft, and other esoteric traditions. One of the most well-known occult instruments is the Tarot deck. This deck of cards consists of 78 unique cards, each with its own symbolic meaning. Tarot cards are used for divination and can provide guidance, insight, and predictions about the future.

The VVitch: A New-England Folktale ( 2015 )

The movie The VVitch: A New-England Folktale, released in 2015 and directed by Robert Eggers, was shot on digital using ARRI ALEXA Plus 4:3 Camera and Bausch & Lomb Super Baltar Lenses, Cooke Speed Panchro Lenses, Panavision Super Speed Lenses with Jarin Blaschke as cinematographer and editing by Louise Ford.

Country | UK, Canada, USA
Language | English
Genres | Horror, Mystery

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Re-building the horror: Robert Eggers

A small filmography did not prevent Robert Eggers from becoming one of the pioneers of the new wave of horror. Why? Let's find out in our new blog. Warning: material may contain spoilers.

In recent years, all we hear about is the "new wave" of horror films - intelligent, arty, unconventional films that contrast themselves with the silly "horror movies" of the past. Among them, of course, are "The Witch: A New-England Folktale" and "The Lighthouse", which, together with other representatives of mid-2010s horror films, formed a new current in the genre and led it to a new level. The role of Robert Eggers in this process cannot be underestimated, because it was with his debut - "The Witch" - the term post-horror came into use. Today Filmustage will try to find out how and why Robert Eggers is one of the most ambitious young directors in Hollywood.

Disclaimer: our blog has no academic purpose behind it, because we are viewers just like you. Filmustage does not aim to educate, but to gather a close-knit film community around us. We can be wrong about certain statements - and that is fine. We are open to discussion and criticism. The main thing is to love cinema and talk about it.

Before we continue, we want to remind you that here we promote the love of art and try to inspire you to take your camera and make a short film. The real horror is manual breakdown, so leave the boring pre-production routine to the Filmustage - automatic script breakdown - and let the scary part happen only on the screen!

Also after a long time of hard work we are happy to announce the beta-testing of the new Custom categories feature in the Filmustage software. Be one of the first to test the new functionality - click here for more detailed information.

Tarot cards are used for divination and can provide guidance, insight, and predictions about the future. The occult instrument known as the Tarot is believed to have originated in the 15th century and has since become widely popular and recognized. Another occult instrument is the crystal ball.

The uncanny horror

In 2015, "The Witch" came out and proved to be an incredible success for Robert Eggers. It was with "The Witch" that the term elevated horror became massively widespread.

The most important aspect of Eggers' directorial approach is not to distract the viewer, but to tell a story. This is why his films seem very slow and meditative compared to the typical horror films of the 2000s. It's as if "nothing happens" in them: the whole film follows the lives of the colonists in 17th century America, their unsuccessful attempts to find the missing child and somehow mend the relationship in a dysfunctional family. The threat all the time is somewhere on the periphery of the frame, not showing full growth.

Nevertheless, it is the slowly unfolding plot that emphasizes the spectacular finale. This is the conceptuality of Eggers' style: he eschews traditional tools like screamers and creepy monsters. Eggers is much more interested in exploring the inner transformations of the characters through the relationships between people and psychology. That's why in his films, and especially in "The Lighthouse", the director spends a lot of time on everyday conversations, grudges, and misunderstandings - which eventually lead to an abrupt finale.

"Robert Eggers' astonishing directorial debut is the kind of horror that favors creeping dread over cheap jump scares", - Chris Hewitts' review on "The Witch," The Empire

Exercising the conventional methods of old-school horror, Eggers creates films whose central aspect is isolation. The director not only plunges the characters into a dark world of their own thoughts and traumas but also reflects the isolation in visual language. In this sense, Robert Eggers was greatly helped by his experience as a production designer: after a religious split, the family of the main character is forced to leave the community, whereupon they settle in a hovel surrounded by forests. In terms of visual language, the director already clarifies the family’s situation: they are isolated from the rest of the world by nature, which in Eggers' world is nothing but a symbolic representation of the supernatural.

The cinematographer and director of "The Witch" composed the shots so that the characters are smaller in the frame compared to the trees, and together with the 1:66:1 aspect ratio, they managed to achieve the classic timeless frame size. In this way, Eggers and Jarin Blaschke (the cinematographer of "The Witch") managed not only to achieve an old-school bow, but also to preserve the vertical perspective of the frame, emphasizing the forest looming over the characters as a symbol of a higher power.

Shot from "The Witch"

Eggers decided on principle to shoot daytime scenes on overcast days to create a gloomy feel. While in doors scenes were filmed only using candles as a source of light. It is this naturalism and drama of the final image that makes the viewer feel the genuine horror of Eggers' films: we are scared because it seems like nothing is happening.

Shot from "The Witch"

Precisely the same pattern can be found in "The Lighthouse", where two men find themselves trapped in a land surrounded by a raging sea.

This time the story consisted of only two characters. We've mentioned more than once that isolation is extremely important to Eggers' post-horror stories. Still, "The Lighthouse" was intended to be even more confined, as it tells the story of becoming insane within just two people. "You can't get much more contained than a lighthouse," - Jarin Blaschke said in an interview for MUSICBED.

Accordingly, Eggers chose the path he wanted to take back at "The Witch" - to shoot on film. However the budget didn't allow him to do that, and the young director made his debut on a digital camera. Robert Eggers managed to realize his plans as never before in "The Lighthouse", using Kodak's Eastman Double-X black-and-white 5222 35mm film with a Panavision Millennium XL2 and 1930s-'40s Baltar lenses. And the chosen 4:3 aspect ratio only emphasizes the abstraction of black-and-white film and allows the viewer to be immersed in another world.

Thus, we can formulate the following directorial techniques of Robert Eggers: first, he uses isolation as the main tool of horror. The enclosed space in which the characters function is not only emphasized on an emotional and psychological level (the religious schism in "The Witch" and the all-encompassing madness in "The Lighthouse"), but also on the visual, which, in turn, is often a major element of suspense. Secondly, Robert Eggers is a very hands-on director, carefully considering each film, and finding an approach to create a unique language: he experiments with the forms in which he frames his work. Nevertheless, what does the new wave of Robert Eggers horror films include?

Crystal balls are spherical or rounded objects made of crystal or glass that are used for scrying or seeing visions. Practitioners often gaze into the crystal ball and interpret the images or symbols that appear, using them to gain insight or access hidden knowledge. The crystal ball has been associated with fortune-telling and clairvoyance for centuries. In addition to these, there are various other occult instruments used in different traditions and practices. These can include items such as pendulums, wands, chalices, and athames. Each instrument has its own specific purpose and is used in conjunction with rituals and ceremonies to enhance spiritual connections and energies. The main idea behind the occult instrument is that it serves as a tool or medium through which individuals can tap into unseen forces and energies. These instruments are believed to act as conduits, helping practitioners channel their intentions, focus their energy, or communicate with spirits. Whether it is through Tarot cards, crystal balls, or other instruments, the occult instrument is used to access the supernatural and navigate the spiritual realm..

Reviews for "The Hidden Meanings of Occult Symbols"

1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "The Occult Instrument" as I am a fan of supernatural and horror novels. However, I was disappointed with this book. The plot was slow and lacked depth, and the characters felt one-dimensional. The writing style was also quite dull and failed to create any suspense or excitement. Overall, I found this book to be uninspiring and not worth my time.

2. Michael - 1 star - "The Occult Instrument" was a complete letdown. The story felt disjointed and confusing, making it hard to follow along. The author seemed to rely heavily on clichés and predictable plot twists, which made the whole experience uninteresting. I also found several grammatical errors throughout the book, which further detracted from my reading experience. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written supernatural thriller.

3. Emily - 2 stars - As a fan of the occult genre, I was hoping "The Occult Instrument" would provide an intriguing and chilling story. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was off, with long stretches of monotony followed by rushed and poorly developed suspense scenes. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect or care about their fate. Overall, this book lacked the atmospheric and engaging storytelling that I look for in this genre.

4. David - 2 stars - "The Occult Instrument" promised an enticing blend of mystery and horror, but it failed to deliver. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary subplots that only served to confuse the reader. Additionally, the main characters were not well-rounded, and their actions often felt forced and unrealistic. The book fell flat in creating a sense of terror or suspense, leaving me feeling disappointed and unsatisfied. I cannot recommend this book to fans of the genre who are looking for a captivating and well-crafted story.

5. Lisa - 1 star - I cannot express enough how disappointed I was with "The Occult Instrument." The plot was predictable and lacked originality, making it difficult to stay engaged. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the characters seemed like mere caricatures rather than real people. I also found the writing style to be tedious and repetitive, leaving me longing for a more captivating read. Overall, this book was a miss for me and I would not recommend it to others who appreciate well-crafted supernatural stories.

The Dark Arts: Exploring Necromancy Tools