More campy witchy movies

January 9, 2021 7:29 AM

Can you name me more movies like the original The Wicker Man and the more recent The Love Witch? (Also worth mentioning, Kate Bush's The Red Shoes.) I love to rewatch these but I'd like some new ones. Give me your campy, witchy best!

Streaming is preferred since going out is tough these days.

posted by fiercecupcake to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

I don't know if you'd find Midsommer camp, but as far as "horror movie that privileges a woman's POV and goes completely over the top +Creepy Villagers" it's checking boxes. I'm a weenie about most horror, but there were limited gross bits.

(I personally found it hilarious)
posted by emjaybee at 9:31 AM on January 9, 2021

Response by poster: Oh yes, I should have mentioned Midsommar! I loved it, too - one more data point of what I'm looking for.
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:04 AM on January 9, 2021

If you liked The Love Witch you might also like the old classic Bell, Book and Candle
posted by Mender at 10:28 AM on January 9, 2021 [6 favorites]

Suspiria (1977) is free to watch on Tubi. "Over the top" is a better description than "campy," because it's pretty intense, but it for sure has a super colorful quality and a solid witch theme.
posted by Wobbuffet at 10:43 AM on January 9, 2021 [1 favorite]

You might like The Witches of Eastwick, with Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Cher as the witches, and Jack Nicholson as a mysterious new arrival in town. Brilliant performances from all of them.

The whole film is funny, dark, exuberant, and has that late 80's feel that so many great movies do. Definitely some camp in there as well, especially towards the denouement.
posted by underclocked at 11:30 AM on January 9, 2021 [5 favorites]

Bewitched (2005) is a fairly generic light comedy (based on a fun 1960s sitcom) but worth mentioning for a charming and breezy performance from Nicole Kidman.
posted by ovvl at 12:28 PM on January 9, 2021

I'd suggest taking a wander through Dario Argento's work in general, if you end up liking Suspiria. His stuff can vary WILDLY in quality, but it's all got that dreamlike campy weirdness. Phenomena is probably the closest to being witch-adjacent, though it's more horror than gothic.
posted by fight or flight at 1:54 PM on January 9, 2021 [1 favorite]

No idea whether it’s available or in what form, but the first thing I thought of was Witchfinder General (1968). Stars Vincent Price and is set in the 17th century. (It was also released under the name “The Conqueror Worm.”)
posted by scratch at 1:58 PM on January 9, 2021

Ken Russell’s 1988 double header, Lair of the White Worm and Salome’s Last Dance.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 3:05 PM on January 9, 2021 [2 favorites]

Not so much humor, but maybe try the 1996 movie The Craft.
posted by gudrun at 5:56 PM on January 9, 2021 [2 favorites]

I think you might enjoy Peter Strickland’s In Fabric.
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 6:55 PM on January 9, 2021

Movies not yet mentioned that check these boxes for me and available online:
The Dunwich Horror
Ken Russell's Gothic
Hungry Wives
Rosemary's Baby - not entirely in this genre but if you haven't seen it...
posted by beyond_pink at 7:21 AM on January 11, 2021