Comparable to Psycho’s musical framework, The Witch efficiently conveys tension with its cacophonous musical composition. Seeking a symphonic method to arouse psychological discomfort, Canadian composer Mark Korven sought to write a score that would add intimidation to the film’s narrative. Korven obtained the film’s aqueous shrieking sounds by utilizing various stringed instruments such as the Swedish Nyckelharpa, Finnish Jouhikko, a hand-cranked Hurdy-Gurdy, and the inharmonic Waterphone. During the film’s beginning, we are introduced to these concentrated shrills as the Puritan family is ostracized from their commonwealth and trots away on a horse-drawn buggy (0:03:12). The music grows in intensity, coming to a slight halt when the director
