Our Film Editor’s Favorite Witch Movies
As a Salem history buff, dark academia nerd, ex-Harry Potter fanatic, Anjelica Huston stan, 2014 Halloween Tumblr girl, and lover of women doing crazy shit in films… it's easy to deduce that I love witch movies. Grab your popcorn and—if you can stand it—candy corn and watch these movies to embrace your inner witch.
1. Practical Magic (1998)
Let’s start this list with one of my ultimate feel-good films: Practical Magic, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in all their ‘90s glory. Bullock and Kidman play two witch sisters, with Bullock’s Sally being the reserved quiet one and Kidman’s Gillian being her fiery, rebellious counterpart. It’s silly and stylish, but most importantly it’s a story about accepting who you are and the power of women supporting each other in the face of adversity and violence. Best watched in early autumn to match the gorgeous coastal New England scenery. Whenever I’m feeling spiritually lost living in New York City, I revisit Practical Magic to remember what life could be like.
2. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The first time I watched The Blair Witch Project was with my younger brother, and I told him that this was real footage filmed by real people. He was terrified the whole time, thinking everything that was happening had actually happened. But even though I knew that it was fictional, I was still terrified by this groundbreaking style of filmmaking. Though not a traditional witch movie, The Blair Witch Project is emblematic of great horror, making you scared of what you don’t see rather than what you do see. The forest scenery, shaky camera, and deeply candid acting style is horrifying and sure to get you in the spooky mood.
3. The Addams Family (1991)
Some people might not classify The Addams Family as a witch movie, but I beg to disagree. Morticia Addams did, after all, major in hexes and spells while in college. No movie gets me more in the Halloween spirit than The Addams Family (likewise, no movie gets me more in the Thanksgiving spirit than Addams Family Values). The three women of the Addams family—Morticia, her daughter Wednesday, and Grandmama—could all be thought of as witches, with their macabre magical ways. To me, witchcraft can be defined as the inherent power and mysticism that occurs when women band together, as seen in Practical Magic. The support and love between Morticia and Wednesday is indeed a powerful force, as is the love and support between all of the members of the family. “Spooky camp” is the best term for The Addams Family, and that’s just how I want to feel on Halloween.
4. The Witch (2015)
Robert Eggers’ The Witch (often known as “The VVitch”) single handedly made me love the horror genre. Prior to watching The Witch on my way to a weekend trip to Salem, Massachusetts, I was very anti-horror. I’m a self-professed scaredy cat! But I also had a prejudice against the genre, thinking it was wholly composed of a series of jump scares that band together to create a story that has no real intent behind it. While many horror movies are just that, The Witch opened my eyes to a whole world of horror that I didn't know existed— horror that is rooted in history, violent sexism, and the deeper societal issues that are the true horrors we still have to live with. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the eerie Thomasin exceptionally as we watch her transform from oppressed Puritan farm girl to woman of the devil. While I don’t believe that all witchcraft has to do with the devil, this is by far my favorite depiction of Satan in films. The Witch shows the slippery slope of female freedom, or the lack of it, with nuance and excellence.
5. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Concluding with a lighter note is the animated fantasy Kiki’s Delivery Service, brought forth by the incredible Studio Ghibli. The story follows a young witch setting off alone as a part of her witch training, but her self doubt causes her to lose her magic. A combination of stunning visuals and lovable characters, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a fantastic film that presents a mystical metaphor for a struggle that we all go through. This is one of my favorite coming-of-age movies and one that I think every artist should watch to learn some valuable life lessons. Watch this to get whisked away in the magical world that only Studio Ghibli can create.
Honorable mentions: Suspiria (1977), Suspiria (2018), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Hocus Pocus (1993)
Cover Photo by Jonathan Tommy. Edited by Katrina Kwok.
