The Crucible

Directed by Nicholas Hytner, The Crucible details the chaos that ensues after several young woman, led by Winona Ryder’s Abigail Williams, claim that their small village has become overrun by witches and devilry – with these developments proving especially consequential for Daniel Day-Lewis’ John Proctor. Filmmaker Hytner, armed with Arthur Miller’s screenplay, delivers a slow-moving endeavor that doesn’t, at the outset, possess much in the way of compelling, attention-grabbing attributes, and there’s little doubt that the picture’s initial efforts at capturing the viewer’s interest are stymied by a proliferation of underwhelming characters and a recurring emphasis on flowery, antiquated instances of dialogue. It’s clear, then, that The Crucible benefits from an increasingly compelling midsection and second half focused on Day-Lewis’ commanding figure, and there’s little doubt, as well, that the growing emphasis on legitimately engrossing sequences (eg Paul Scofield’s scene-stealing judge confronts the group of accusers) paves the way for a stirring final stretch – which, when coupled with a thoroughly memorable final scene, ultimately does cement the film’s place as an erratic yet mostly rewarding endeavor.

*** out of ****