9 witch-centric horror movies to watch this fall

The fall season is fast approaching, and Halloween is just around the corner. With more new horror movies being released, we can't forget to revisit the classics. Witch horror is a very popular subgenre in horror and deserves more recognition.

Not every movie on this list falls directly under horror, but it will still contain those elements. Here is a list of some witchy movies to watch before or during Halloween.

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is a horror comedy that has received mixed reviews but still managed to amass a significant cult following. Elvira is a popular Halloween symbol and, therefore, should be watched during the season.

After hearing about her great-aunt's death, Elvira expects to collect a considerable inheritance. Instead of money, she inherits a broken-down mansion in a small town. The town, including her uncle, is unwelcoming and judgmental of Elvira's lifestyle. Little does Elvira know her uncle is trying to get his hands on the aunt's spell book and wreak havoc on the town. To stop him, Elvira must tap into a little bit of witchcraft.

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

The Witches of Eastwick is a supernatural comedy based on the 1984 book by John Updike starring Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cher, and Jack Nicholson.

Three friends (Sarandon, Pfeiffer, Cher) live in a small town and have each lost a man in their life. After living dull lives, a mystery man (Nicholson) moves to town and begins to date all three girls. He eventually asks them to live with him, and he reveals that each of them possesses power and that they are witches. As their power begins to grow, the girls become wary of his intentions and his plan for their newfound power.

The Craft (1996)

The Craft is closer to the horror genre than a few others on this list. The Craft is an extremely popular witch movie that can also be considered gothic.

Sarah moves to a new school and quickly learns that a group of outcast girls have been rumored to be witches. As she grows closer to them, she realizes the rumors are true and they need her to be part of their coven to perform rituals. Each of their powers grow and begin to darken and scare Sarah, she alone must put an end to the abuse of power.

Suspiria (1977) and (2018)

Suspiria is a horror mystery movie first released in 1977 and eventually remade in 2018 by Luca Guadagnino. The two plots differ slightly but still have the element of witchcraft that haunts the narrative.

In the 1977 version, the character Suzy moves to Germany to study at a ballet school, the night she arrives she witnesses another student fleeing the school. The next day, she learns that that student was murdered, making her stay more than unsettling. Suzy begins to experience weird phenomena such as falling ill frequently and hearing unusual noises. Suzy begins to realize that the ballet school is harboring dark secrets that may just result in her death.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Where would this list be if The Blair Witch Project wasn't included? The Blair Witch Project was a turning point for horror movies and the found-footage genre. When the movie first came out, audiences were terrified and even believed it to be real.

Three film students want to create a documentary about the legend of the Blair Witch. Traveling to a small town and investigating the woods on their own takes a dangerous turn. The three of them become lost and begin to see and hear things that have them questioning the existence of the witch.

The Witch (2015)

The Witch is an A24 horror directed by Robert Eggers starring Anya Taylor-Joy. The Witch was inspired by folklore and many popular folktales, as well as the historical accounts of witchcraft.

Set in 1630s New England, a family deals with the tragedy of losing the youngest son. The parents pass the blame onto their eldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) because she was in charge of watching him. As more and more strange occurrences happen, the other siblings begin to accuse Thomasin of witchcraft.

Practical Magic (1998)

Practical Magic is another popular witch movie from the 90s. The popularity is in part due to the cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest. Practical Magic is also in the works of making a sequel decades later.

Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman) descend from a long line of witches. Their ancestor placed a curse on the Owen's women that if they fall in love, that man is fated to die. As they grow older, both sisters fall in love, but the man Gillian chooses turns out to be a murderer, and Sally accidentally kills him. They use witchcraft to try and bring him back, but it only makes him more evil.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a witch horror movie that is severely underrated in my opinion. The horror movie is actually quite scary and provides an intriguing insight to witchcraft.

A father and son run their family morgue and receive a "Jane Doe" victim. As they begin to perform an autopsy they find bizarre causes of death to an otherwise untouched body. As they cut deeper it becomes apparent that she is no ordinary victim and her death may have been ritualistic.

The Love Witch (2016)

The Love Witch is another movie that falls under the category of horror comedy. The movie has been praised for its aesthetics and the performance of Elaine (Samantha Robinson).

Elaine is a young witch who just wants to love and be loved. She makes all kinds of potions in order to make men love her but sometimes it works a little too well. Elaine eventually finds the man of her dreams but her obsession for love drives her insane and eventually murderous.