The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

Agora.

 
That's a good one.

I remember when I started a similar thread on another pagan website, the people there flipped saying these movies portray the pagan community as evil, and are therefore misleading, but anyway.

What are your favourite pagan/ witch themed movies?
Sure, they're misleading, but they show off some really beautiful scenery! And the whole mystic aura they give away is just so nice! :ange:
What do you think?

Strap in! I used to work at a movie store and I have a horror podcast, I know my witch movies!
 
The Craft. This movie is the reason I got into witchcraft. It was stylish, it was cool, it was empowering. It has its problematic elements (ugh, girlfights) but there's a lot of good shit going on here.

The Witches of Eastwick. Because sometimes in order to get some power and some meaning in life, you need to nail the devil. Plus Cher!

Season of the Witch aka Hungry Wives by George A. Romero. This is, in my opinion, an overlooked gem. It's one of Romero's earliest films and the budget was nonexistent - the DVD actually starts with text informing the viewer that the quality is far below what they would normally release. It's the story of a bored housewife who gets into witchcraft in a desperate attempt to craft an identity beyond wife-and-mother. Paul Huson's Mastering Witchcraft is the main resource used in the film and you get to see her do some of the rituals described in the book. It is damn near impossible to find this movie as a physical copy (believe me, I've tried) but it IS on youtube aside from the first five minutes or so.

My sister and I hosted a horror discussion panel evening on the above three films - it was about feminism of the 70s, 80s, and 90s as viewed through the lens of witchcraft in film.

Practical Magic.  The climax can still make me cry because I too am very, very close to my witchy sister.

Suspiria. I prefer this over Inferno, and it is just... glorious. It's a giallo so it doesn't have to make sense, and visually it's just stunning. The blood looks like tempera paint for god's sake. And that double kill. Oh MAN. Beautiful. Also I like the idea of witches deciding to open a school for the occult arts and dance. Like fuck it, yeah, conjuring and ballet, sure.

The Wicker Man. Don't even bring up the Nic Cage one in my presence. The original is damn near perfect. The pagan islanders, the self righteous virgin detective, the weird ass songs, and Christopher Lee's stunning turtlenecks and ascots.

Antichrist. I avoided seeing this film for a long time because I thought it would be boring. I was wrong. While it's not one I throw on just for fun, it definitely is one of my favourite movies that touches on the wildness of nature and in us.

The Lords of Salem. After the shitstain that was Zombie's Halloween remake, I was cautious about giving him another chance. But man, I am glad I did. That coven is 'hashtag: squad goals!" material.

Black Death. This came out about the same time as the shitty Nic Cage 'Season of the Witch' and it's a similar story. Just done, you know, GOOD. Sean Bean is in it, so you can guess how well his character fares.

Rosemary's Baby. I could talk for hours about this movie, but I'll spare you all.

The Witch. I loved this so much that I paid to see it in theatres twice, which for me is practically unheard of. The imagery, the ending... oh MAN. It's everything I ever wanted it to be. (Also Black Phillip rules.)

Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages. I like both the original and the William S. Burroughs versions. It remains my favourite "put it on mute on the TV during a party" movie, too.


In the "so bad it's good" category...

Silent Night Deadly Night 4: Initiation. So. Anybody here know who Brian Yuzna is? 'Cause this is a man who looooooooooooves a goopy movie. Just moist. This is no exception. Anyhow, it's a sorority that's secretly a witches coven and it has some sort of batshit plot about Lillith and cockroaches.

Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows. This movie is terrible, let's just get that out of the way. That said... it's entertainingly terrible, and the Wiccan character makes me laugh. As does a drunk guy's explanation of the Rule of Three: "in three days, your dick will fall off!"

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch. My sister will never understand my love for a movie where a dumpy, pornstached doctor bangs all the chicks he meets while investigating an evil Celtic child murder cult. Great Carpenter score, though.


For anybody who likes to listen to stuff, may I direct you to The Faculty of Horror? It is a feminist horror podcast. They have two witch episodes in which they discuss some of the films I've listed here, plus others.

Also, for anybody who wants to hear more about the pornstached doctor... How Did This Get Made? Halloween III.

Agora.

Yes!

Now pardon me while my head explodes from this rare moment of agreement between Castus and myself

Warlock, Stardust, Lord of the Rings, Conan, Gladiator, Highlander, Excalibur, The Dark Crystal, Narnia, Willow and Ladyhawke to name a few :pop:

 
The bolded movies were in fact my entire childhood and are being added to my witchy media list (which I've realized I need to start).

I remember when I started a similar thread on another pagan website, the people there flipped saying these movies portray the pagan community as evil, and are therefore misleading, but anyway.

What are your favourite pagan/ witch themed movies?
Sure, they're misleading, but they show off some really beautiful scenery! And the whole mystic aura they give away is just so nice! :ange:
What do you think?

 
The Mists of Avalon
Ring of the Nibelungs
Hammer of the Gods
Pathfinder (1987)