Tired of all the Wicked hype? Watch these must-see witchy horror movies instead

Thanks to the massive success of Wicked and Wicked: For Good, witches are having a moment right now. Don’t be surprised if Hollywood decides to make more witch-themed movies thanks to Wicked’s massive box office success. Horror fans know, however, that witches have a long and storied relationship to the silver screen, including Margaret Hamilton’s iconic performance as the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz.

For those seeking something scarier than Wicked’s earworm songs, here are five must-see witchy movies.

Häxan

Häxan is an early entry in the horror genre. Directed by Benjamin Christensen, this 1922 black and white Danish film is shot like a documentary. It explores the historical roots and superstitions surrounding witchcraft, starting with the Middle Ages and going through the early 20th Century. Though the film is more than 100 years old, its images remain potent and effective. This is also a movie that tends to side with the witches and critiques the public hysteria that comes with old-fashioned superstitions.

Häxan is available to stream for free on Tubi.

The Witch

Robert Eggers’ 2015 feature debut The Witch is a great movie to watch after Häxan. Set in 17^th Century Puritan America, it follows a family’s troubles in the New World. The more the crops don’t grow, the more the family’s patriarch, William (Ralph Ineson), suspects his oldest daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) just may be a witch communing with the devil. This film, like all of Eggers’ work, is beautifully shot and has one heck of an evocative ending. This feature also gave us iconic horror villain Black Phillip and Taylor-Joy in her feature film debut.

The Witch is currently available on HBO Max.

The Craft

Director Andrew Fleming’s 1996 film The Craft is a coming-of-age masterpiece about four female outcasts who find agency through friendship and, well, witchcraft. The cast features Robin Tunney as new girl Sarah, Fairuza Balk as mascara-wearing Nancy, Rachel True as Rochelle, and Neve Campbell as Bonnie. Out of all the films on this list, The Craft has one of the most iconic lines that makes the outcasts feel seen and heard. Of course, I’m talking about, “We are the weirdos, mister.”

The Craft is currently available on Paramount+ and Prime Video.

The Love Witch

Though director Anna Biller’s The Love Witch released in 2016, this feels like something straight out of the 1970s. The film’s colors are retro and utterly gorgeous. In this feature, Elaine (Samantha Robinson) desperately wants a man to love her. In her Gothic-style apartment, she tries potions and spells, luring one man after the other. The only problem is that her spells work a little too well and she kills them.

The Love Witch is streaming for free on Tubi.

Susperia (1977) and Susperia (2018)

Dario Argento’s original Susperia is a much different beast than Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 remake. Both, however, are must-watches. The original has an eye-popping color palate, unforgetting deaths, and that awesome score by Goblin. On the other hand, the remake has very little in common with the original, other than a young American, Susie (Dakota Johnson), enrolling in a world-renowned dance academy. Guadagnino’s film adds a bit more meat to the plot and some of the visual flair of Argento’s original. It also has one really great death scene that’s not easy to shake.

The original Susperia is available on Tubi. The remake is available on Prime Video.