When it comes to slow-burn horror that gets under your skin, few movies in recent years have done it as masterfully as The Witch. Set in 1630s New England, this folktale follows a Puritan family banished to the edge of the wilderness, where an evil presence awaits. With its unrelenting sense of dread, period-accurate dialogue, and haunting atmosphere, The Witch cast a spell on audiences and critics alike.
If you were entranced by The Witch’s dark magic, here are 15 more movies that conjure a similar mood. From pagan cults to possessed corpses, these films will make you believe that witchcraft is alive and well in cinema. Light a candle, grab your broomstick, and let’s dive in.
1. The Wicker Man (1973)
No list of witch movies would be complete without The Wicker Man. This British folk horror classic follows a devout Christian policeman (Edward Woodward) investigating a missing girl on the remote Hebridean island of Summerisle. The residents, led by the charming Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), follow ancient Celtic pagan traditions involving ritual sacrifice.
As the policeman’s search intensifies, he uncovers increasingly disturbing secrets about the islanders’ beliefs. The Wicker Man builds slowly to one of the most shocking endings in horror history. Its influence can be felt in everything from Hot Fuzz to Midsommar. If you want to understand where modern folk horror came from, start here.
2. A Dark Song (2016)
In this Irish indie gem, a grieving mother rents a remote house and hires an occultist to perform a dangerous months-long ritual to summon her guardian angel. Desperate to make contact with her deceased child, she pushes herself to the physical and psychological breaking point as the rite grows more intense.
A Dark Song is a grueling watch that doesn’t shy away from the blood, sweat and tears required for real magic. Stars Steve Oram and Catherine Walker give raw, committed performances as two damaged people grasping for the supernatural. The movie’s bleak setting and shadowy cinematography create an oppressive atmosphere of despair. But it’s not all doom and gloom – the ending offers a glimmer of hope that feels truly transcendent.
3. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
A father-son team of coroners (Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) get more than they bargained for when they perform a late-night autopsy on an unidentified female body. Although the corpse shows no obvious signs of trauma, strange things start happening in the morgue as they cut deeper. Could it be the work of witchcraft?
The Autopsy of Jane Doe makes the most of its confined setting, using the claustrophobic exam room to ratchet up the tension. Director André Øvredal (Trollhunter) keeps the mystery intriguing and the scares coming at a steady clip. The movie’s matter-of-fact approach to the autopsy process only makes the supernatural elements more unnerving when they appear.
4. It Comes at Night (2017)
Two families hole up together in a remote cabin as a deadly plague ravages the outside world in It Comes at Night. Paranoia rises as they argue over how to stay safe and ration their dwindling supplies. But is the real threat lurking in the woods, or is it the fear growing between them?
Although it was marketed as a more conventional post-apocalyptic horror movie, It Comes at Night is a slow-burn psychological study of how people react when society breaks down. Writer-director Trey Edward Shults creates an almost unbearable sense of tension and distrust between his characters. The movie’s title suggests an external monster, but the horror is rooted in the darkness of human nature.
5. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
You can’t discuss witch movies without mentioning the one that kicked off the found-footage horror craze. The Blair Witch Project follows three student filmmakers into the Black Hills Forest to investigate a local legend about a murderous witch. Armed with handheld cameras, they trek deeper into the woods and quickly get lost as strange noises echo around them.
Shot on a shoestring budget, The Blair Witch Project became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its revolutionary marketing campaign, which claimed the footage was real. The movie’s shaky cam and improvised dialogue make you feel like you’re watching a genuine documentary gone horribly wrong. Over 20 years later, its final shot remains one of the most terrifying images ever put on screen.
6. Suspiria (2018)
Dario Argento’s candy-colored 1977 original is a masterpiece of nightmarish beauty, but Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria remake casts an equally hypnotic spell. Set in a West Berlin dance academy run by a coven of witches, this art-horror fever dream follows an ambitious American student (Dakota Johnson) drawn into the school’s dark secrets.
At 2.5 hours long and full of baffling imagery, Suspiria is not an easy watch. But it’s a movie that seeps into your bones and haunts your dreams. Guadagnino soaks the screen in shades of red and gray, turning the academy into an otherworldly hellscape. And Tilda Swinton disappears into three different roles, including an elderly male psychiatrist. Love it or hate it, you won’t be able to shake Suspiria.
7. The Love Witch (2016)
Filmed in gloriously retro Technicolor, The Love Witch follows a beautiful young witch named Elaine (Samantha Robinson) who uses spells to seduce men. But her magic comes with a deadly price. This horror-comedy is a groovy throwback to 1960s exploitation films, with a feminist twist.
Writer/director/producer/editor Anna Biller painstakingly recreated the look and feel of vintage B-movies, from the saturated color palette to the period-accurate costumes and props (which she made herself). The result is a movie that looks like a lost relic from another era. But beneath the stylish surface is a wickedly funny satire of gender roles and a sneaky critique of the male gaze.
8. Häxan (1922)
Part documentary, part horror movie, Häxan is a silent Swedish film that explores the history of witchcraft from the Middle Ages through the 20th century. Director Benjamin Christensen combines dramatic reenactments with academic lectures to paint a fascinating, often shocking portrait of how superstition and misogyny fueled the persecution of women.
Häxan was banned in the United States upon its initial release due to its graphic depictions of torture, nudity, and sexual perversion. But viewed today, it’s a remarkably progressive film that was decades ahead of its time. Christensen’s nightmarish visions of Hell and use of innovative special effects make Häxan an important forerunner of the horror genre.
9. The Lords of Salem (2012)
Rob Zombie’s most underrated film, The Lords of Salem stars Sheri Moon Zombie as a recovering drug addict and radio DJ who receives a mysterious record that triggers flashbacks of Salem’s dark past. As she investigates the music’s origins, she uncovers a sinister plot by a coven of ancient witches to bring about the Apocalypse.
The Lords of Salem is a significant departure from Zombie’s grittier, more violent work. It’s a surreal, slow-burn film that prioritizes atmosphere and dread over jump scares and gore. Zombie pays homage to classic occult horror movies like Rosemary’s Baby and The Shining, while still putting his own trippy spin on the genre. The movie’s haunting score and hallucinatory visuals make it feel like a satanic nightmare you can’t wake up from.
10. Hagazussa (2017)
Set in the Austrian Alps during the 15th century, Hagazussa follows a young goatherd named Albrun who lives alone in the wilderness after her mother’s death. Ostracized by the superstitious villagers, Albrun begins to explore the depths of black magic to exact revenge on those who wronged her.
Hagazussa is a challenging film that moves at a glacial pace and features minimal dialogue. But if you can get on its wavelength, it’s a deeply unsettling experience. Director Lukas Feigelfeld creates an oppressive sense of isolation and paranoia as Albrun descends into madness. The movie’s stunning cinematography captures the harsh beauty of the Alpine landscape, while the droning score by Greek black metal band Rotting Christ ratchets up the tension.
11. November (2017)
Based on a novel by Andrus Kivirähk, November is an Estonian folk horror film set in a pagan village where werewolves, spirits, and the plague run rampant. The story follows a young woman named Liina who uses ancient magic to win the love of a villager who is betrothed to a German baroness.
November is a bizarre, darkly comic film that feels like a twisted fairy tale. Director Rainer Sarnet shot the movie in stunning black and white, giving it the look of an old-world lithograph come to life. The film’s mythical creatures, including kratts (supernatural servants made of farm tools) and the personification of the plague, are unlike anything you’ve seen before. November is a wild ride that will leave you spellbound.
12. Gretel & Hansel (2020)
In this dark reimagining of the classic Grimm fairy tale, a young Gretel leads her little brother Hansel into the woods in search of food and work. They stumble upon the home of a seemingly kind old woman, who secretly has sinister plans for them. But Gretel has a hidden power that could turn the tables on the witch.
Gretel & Hansel is a visually stunning film that looks like a macabre storybook brought to life. Director Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter) creates an eerie, dreamlike atmosphere drenched in shadows and fog. Sophia Lillis gives a mesmerizing performance as Gretel, a girl on the cusp of womanhood grappling with her own darkness. The movie’s muted color palette and slow-burn pacing may frustrate some viewers, but it casts a seductive spell if you surrender to it.
13. Errementari (2017)
In 1830s Spain, a blacksmith keeps a demon captive in his workshop until a young girl accidentally releases it. As the demon rampages through the village, the blacksmith must face the sins of his past to stop the evil he unleashed.
Errementari is a Basque-language film that combines elements of folk horror, dark fantasy, and pitch-black comedy. Director Paul Urkijo Alijo draws inspiration from local mythology and Basque history to create a unique vision of Hell on Earth. The movie’s practical effects are impressive, particularly the demon’s grotesque design. But beneath the surface scares is a poignant story about guilt, redemption, and the power of forgiveness.
14. Apostle (2018)
In 1905, a drifter named Thomas Richardson infiltrates a remote island run by a secretive cult to rescue his sister from their clutches. As he searches for her, he uncovers the dark truth behind the cult’s supernatural beliefs and the deadly sacrifices they perform to appease their goddess.
Apostle comes from acclaimed action director Gareth Evans (The Raid), but it’s a slow-burn folk horror film rather than a martial arts extravaganza. Dan Stevens gives a fierce performance as Thomas, a man haunted by trauma and addiction on a mission of redemption. The movie takes its time building the mystery of the island and its inhabitants before exploding into bloody mayhem in the final act. With its creepy masks, pagan rituals, and squelching gore, Apostle cast a spell on Netflix viewers when it debuted.
15. The Wind (2018)
Set on the 19th-century American frontier, The Wind follows a plains-woman named Lizzy who is driven mad by the incessant wind and the sinister forces that lurk just beyond her isolated cabin. As a new couple settles nearby, Lizzy’s grip on reality begins to unravel as she becomes convinced that a demon is coming for her unborn child.
The Wind is a slow, meditative film that relies more on atmosphere and psychological horror than jump scares. Director Emma Tammi uses the desolate landscape and howling wind to create an overwhelming sense of isolation and dread. Caitlin Gerard gives a raw, unhinged performance as Lizzy, a woman pushed to the brink of madness by the elements and her own repressed trauma. The movie’s non-linear structure keeps you guessing until the chilling final reveal.
Conclusion
From pagan cults to frontier folktales, these 15 movies showcase the power of witch stories to unsettle and enchant us. They tap into our deepest fears about the unknown and the supernatural, while also exploring timeless themes of power, persecution, and the dark side of human nature.
Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or just looking for a good scare, these films will cast a spell on you. So light some candles, brew a potion, and let the dark magic of cinema wash over you. Who knows what secrets you might uncover in the flickering shadows?
Happy viewing!
