Summary
Witches have played a huge part in storytelling for centuries, conjuring dark and spellbinding tales that haunt the nightmares of adults and children alike. The power and mystery of witches intrigues and excites viewers, making them a perfect subject for horror movies.
At the heart of many terrifying witch movies is a dark force beyond earthly comprehension which goes far beyond the stereotype of an old woman in a pointy hat. Whether a viewer seeks a twisted fairytale or a shocking supernatural story, nothing offers creeping dread and fear like a witch movie.
10Snow White: A Tale Of Terror (1997)
A Grimm Fairy Story
Snow White: A Tale Of Terrorbrings more of the classic darkness of the original Brothers Grimm stories to this well-known fairytale. Sigourney Weaver plays Lady Claudia, whose connection to the dark arts begins to grow and control her every choice. The hatred between the beautiful but bratty Lilli and her envious stepmother continues to grow until she can no longer hold back her murderous urges.
This movie goes beyond the traditional tale and delves deep into themes of rivalry, loss, grief, and the delicate balance of life and death. The characters are nuanced and multifaceted, especially Lady Claudia, who viewers may find surprisingly sympathetic. The movie is well-paced, dramatic, and delightfully dark with superb performances from the entire cast.
9Hellbender (2021)
A Dark Mother-Daughter Tale
Hellbenderis a captivating coming-of-age movie like no other. The movie centers on the relationship between a mother and her daughter who she has been trying to shelter from a dark family secret. As the teenager discovers more about her witchy heritage and the power held within her, the more dangerous she becomes.
Hellbenderexplores witchcraft through the eyes of two women at very different stages of their lives. Itis an atmospheric and gripping story of how the conflict between a mother and daughter can be exacerbated by secrets, lies, and control. The mother, played by Toby Poser, has a mesmerizing presence and is a real joy to watch, especially in the more dramatic scenes. The on-screen chemistry between the two actors could certainly be attributed to them being real-life mother and daughter, a fact not many viewers realize until much later.
8The Wretched (2019)
Don’t Go Into The Woods
The Wretchedfollows teenager Ben who, when visiting his divorced father at a lakeside town, discovers the existence of an ancient witch. No one believes Ben’s wild claims, blaming his emotional state on his parents' divorce, so the brave teenager must take it into his own hands to seek a way to banish the body-snatching, child-catching witch.
This movie is full of eerie tension and spine-tingling creepiness viewers will know and love from folk horror stories. Having a teenage lead invoked an echo of the bygone era of80s horror picturesbut with modern SFX and low-level gore. The witch is suitably creepy and is presented more as an otherworldly entity than a human woman, which suits the unsettling folklore vibe of the plot. The story isn’t full of twists and turns but is gripping edge-of-your-seat stuff.
7Suspiria (2018)
Dancing Through A Nightmare
Suspiriais a psychological horror set in a dance academy run by a coven of witches. An American dance student arrives at the German dance school with the hope that they will nurture her skills but soon discovers a disturbing secret at the heart of the school.
Tilda Swinton steals the show in this brutal and thought-provoking movie as she takes on three very distinct roles, including an old Holocaust survivor, Dr. Josef Klemperer. She has an uneasy, ethereal quality to her that lends itself well to characters like teacher Madame Blanc and the sinister Helena Markos. The rest of the cast gives solid performances, supported by blood-soaked effects and plenty of gore. The plot is different fromthe 1970s original, with less subtlety and more emphasis on the themes of anti-fascism and social turmoil. It is less an arthouse feast for the eyes than the old version and more of a macabre performance meant to enthrall and entertain.
6Gretel And Hansel (2020)
A Twist In The Tale
Just as theold tale goes,Gretel and Hanselare two siblings who wander the woods in search of help and come upon a mysterious house among the trees. Delicious smells come from inside this strange home, and the two hungry children can’t seem to resist. The old woman inside seems sweet enough to begin with, but things soon take a sinister turn.
Sophia Lillis plays Gretel with her trademark solemn confidence and seems to carry this movie through to the end. The visuals are spectacular, and a lot of thought has gone into each beautifully framed shot. The story has hints of the old familiar tale and takes a twisted turn to offer viewers some unexpected and thought-provoking fun. The witch, played by Alice Krige, is a wonderful take on the traditional witch of the woods - an old woman with sinister intentions. This is the kind of fantasy horror that creeps deep into the viewer’s bones and stays with them even after they finish watching.
5Pyewacket (2018)
Suspenseful Supernatural Horror
Pyewackettells an age-old tale of teen angst and a girl’s search for power and autonomy. As Leah Reyes struggles with the death of her father and the friction between her and her mother, she turns to a witch’s curse to solve her troubles.
It turns out that invoking ancient powers is not the best way to deal with family conflict, and Leah soon realizes she has called upon forces that are now far beyond her control. Nicole Muñoz takes on the role of Leah, making the teenager likable and relatable, particularly to women who understand what it is like to feel like an outcast in their own home. This is a surprising slow-burn of a movie that doesn’t rely on cheap shock or jump-scares to frighten its audience. Instead,Pyewackethas the audience rely partly on their imagination, building tension as it progresses.
4The Witch (2015)
Tense And Unsettling
Set in the 1630s,TheWitchtells the tale of a Puritan family who have had to leave their village and end up living on the edge of a forest inhabited by a witch. As terrible events unfold, the family slowly turns on the oldest daughter.
This is a smart and unsettling movie that deals with themes of loss, sin, and the religious fear of the supernatural. The acting is fantastic by all involved, but the stand-out performance goes toAnya Taylor-Joy.The young actress does a stellar job playing the eldest daughter, who attempts to keep her sanity while her family loses theirs. Overall, it is a movie full of quiet tension, disturbing imagery, and stunning cinematography. The effort the writer and director, Robert Eggers, made to make the movie look and sound authentic only adds to the creepiness.
3A Dark Song (2016)
A Subtle Slow Burn
A Dark Songis set in rural Wales where Sophia Howard tries to contact her murdered son with the help of a male witch, Joseph Solomon. The pair attempt to perform a ritual to bring them both what they desire, but are either of these people to be trusted? Can Joseph truly invoke magical forces? What secrets is Sophia hiding?
This is the absolute definition of a slow-burn movie. It is fraught with tension, along with the unnerving knowledge that something is coming, but no one knows what. For a while, the viewer has no idea who can be trusted. Is Joseph really who he says he is, and is Sophia being honest about her intentions? The acting is so good that it almost feels like the viewer is intruding on a private moment, and the plot draws viewers along at an even pace.
2The Autopsy Of Jane Doe (2016)
Uneasy And Atmospheric
The Autopsy Of Jane Doefollows the work of a father and son coroner team as they attempt to uncover what happened to a young woman brought into the morgue that evening. As they begin to find answers to how she may have died, it merely provokes more questions.
The movie is evenly paced and absorbing from the start. The father and son, played by Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch, respectively, have such relaxed and natural chemistry that it could easily be believed that they were actually related. It doesn’t take long for the creepy horror to worm its way in, and as the pair discover more about Jane Doe, more mysterious and horrifying events occur. There is plenty of realistic gore, mostly autopsy-based, and a few exciting jump-scare moments. It is a fresh and interesting take on a witch movie, and one many horror fans have enjoyed over the years.
1The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Frightening Found Footage
The Blair Witch Projecthad late 1990s horror fans in a choke-hold, and thesmart marketing had everyone convinced it was a real documentary.The story follows three student filmmakers as they become lost in woods haunted by the local witch.
Despite now knowing the found-footage documentary-style movie is a work of fiction, it should still be at the top of every horror movie fan’s list. It is a relatively short film but packed with creepy and unsettling moments. The actors, playing versions of themselves, do an amazing job of showing the audience what it is really like as a group of friends who slowly become lost and driven mad with fear. The pace and the scripting feel authentic, and it is easy to see why people were convinced the whole thing was real. The low budget and lack of gore or special effects mean the entire movie relies on scary audio and good acting, leaving the audience’s imagination to fill in any details.
