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Top Ten Wicked Witches from Film and Television

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In horror movies and TV series, witches come in all shapes and sizes and a with a whole host of motivations.  From powerful evil witches to serene and beautiful healers they have popped up in droves over the years in genre films and television.  I want to preface this list of my favorite wicked witches by saying this is meant as no disrespect to the pagan community as I am a member myself.  I hope you find your favorite spellcasters here!

10. Winifred Sanderson

hocus pocus

From her fabulous singing to her spell book that could actually see you coming, the leader of the Sanderson witches was played to the hilt by Bette Midler!  Her motivation?  Youth and beauty!  How was she going to get it?  By sucking the life force out of children!  Winifred is one of my favorites for a lot of reasons, but her amazing performance of “I Put a Spell on You” is at the top.  Using a song to cast a spell that will make your victims dance until they die earned Winnie her place on this list.

9.  Nancy Downs

craft

If we’re talking crazy witch bitches, it doesn’t get much better than Fairuza Balk’s turn as Nancy Downs in 1996’s The Craft.  Nancy had been so beaten down by life that one taste of real power pushed her over the edge, and it wasn’t long before she had committed her first murder and began threatening anyone who disagreed with her.  The more the power grew, the more she went over the edge leading to one of the best witch battles ever filmed.

8.  Fiona Goode and Marie Laveau

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This pair, a witch and a voodoo queen, have more power and style in one finger than most of the rest on this list.  Watching them square off in American Horror Story: Coven was some of the most entertaining television I’ve seen in years.  Fiona’s quest to remain the powerful Supreme played well against Marie’s eternal life with the horrific price of offering a child up to the Papa Legba once a year beginning with her very own daughter.  If you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for?

7.  Mother Malkin

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Queen of the witches in Seventh Son, Mother Malkin was doubly dangerous as a powerful witch who could transform into an equally powerful dragon. Though the film was much maligned in certain circles, Malkin was a great character whose tenacity earned her place on this list.

6.  Mombi

mombi

The woman literally cut off young girl’s heads and kept them in a parlor where she would switch one out for the next depending on her mood.  Brought to life by the talented Jean Marsh, who also brought Bavmorda to terrifying life in Willow, this vain and villainous witch from Return to Oz was one crazy lady.  Terrifying and cruel, she wanted Dorothy’s head for her collection.

5.  Muriel

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The leader of the dark witches in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, Muriel is intent on abducting children to enact a spell that will give the witches protection against fire.  Muriel is cruel and not above using whatever method necessary to rid herself of the witch hunters and bring her followers into a new era of protection from their most lethal enemy.

4.  Bellatrix Lestrange

bella

An adamant follower of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise, Bellatrix’s devotion crossed into obsession long ago, and there was nothing she would not do to prove herself to him time and again.  She didn’t just enjoy torturing people, she savored each moment.

3.  Lamia

lamia

Lamia, the oldest of the three sister witches in Stardust (each named for different types of vampiric entities from folklore), sets out on a quest to collect the heart of a fallen star.  Michelle Pfeiffer was amazing in the role of this life sucking witch.  Powerful and relentless in her search.

2.  The Grand High Witch

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If you’ve seen this movie, then you know.  Anjelica Huston plays the Grand High Witch who creates a potion that will turn their hated enemy, namely children, into mice.  One of the scariest witches on film, Huston was  on point from start to finish in The Witches earning her the number 2 spot on the list.

1.  Haggis

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When Ed Harley’s son is accidentally killed by a group of twenty somethings from the city, he turns to the witch Haggis for revenge.  She warns them there will be a price, but he insists, and she conjures up the demon, Pumpkinhead, to hunt down and kill those responsible.  It doesn’t take Ed long to realize the price is experiencing every moment of pain each of the youngsters feel as Pumpkinhead exacts his revenge.

There you have it!  My favorite wicked witches to grace the screen!

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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