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Witches in the Woods

2019, Horror/Mystery & thriller, 1h 30m

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Witches in the woods   photos.

Seven friends set off for a weekend on the slopes. On the way, their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. With temperatures falling and their nerves on edge, they turn on one another as they attempt to survive the night.

Genre: Horror, Mystery & thriller

Original Language: English

Director: Jordan Barker

Producer: Jordan Barker , Borga Dorter

Writer: Christopher Borrelli

Release Date (Streaming): Apr 24, 2020

Runtime: 1h 30m

Production Co: Gearshift Films

Cast & Crew

Craig Arnold

Hannah Kasulka

Alexander De Jordy

Corbin Bleu

Sasha Clements

Humberly González

David Lafontaine

State Trooper Captain

Jordan Barker

Christopher Borrelli

Screenwriter

Borga Dorter

Executive Producer

Chris Morgan

Martin Wojtunik

Cinematographer

Keegan Jessamy

Original Music

Glen Charles Landry

Production Design

Bruno Rocca

Art Director

April Forward

Set Decoration

Shannon Vaillancourt

Costume Design

Lindsay Chag

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‘Witches In the Woods’ Review: The Woods Are the Least of Your Worries

Toronto After Dark Film Festival runs October 17th through the 25th .

At this point it’s probably easier counting the number of movies about friends heading into the woods who don’t wind up slaughtered, as the premise has quickly become the go-to setup for far too many horror films these days. That’s not to say some of them don’t turn out well with fun thrills, memorable kills, and satisfying endings, but most entries in the sub-genre unfortunately go the opposite route. Witches in the Woods , if nothing else, at least ends on a high note.

A group of college “friends” head into the snowy woods with plans for snowboarding, drinking, and relaxing by the fireplace, but when one insists they take a sketchy detour the gang quickly finds themselves stranded with a broken SUV, decreasing temperatures, and a whole lot of antagonistic tension between them. The situation is bad enough, but with dicks, bitches, cheaters, and a fragile young woman named Alison ( Sasha Clements ) — she recently accused some classmates of sexual assault and is still dealing with judgement and fallout — among them, it might not be the inclement weather that gets the best of them.

Director Jordan Barker and writer Christopher Borrelli open their film with a quote from Robert Oxton Bolton — “Belief is not merely an idea that the mind possesses; it is an idea that possesses the mind.” It’s as close to a theme as the film attempts, and while it doesn’t quite congeal with the narrative until the final frames it remains an ambitious idea for a “cabin in the woods” scenario.

The “cabin” here is the SUV that gets driven into a snow bank, breaking the axle and leaving the gang stuck in the middle of a frozen nowhere, but the outcome is the same. They’re screwed. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the feeling is mutual as the characters go out of their way to annoy each other and viewers alike. Constant bickering and worse leaves you wondering why these people would have possibly agreed to a shared vacation, and their value as characters only decreases from there. Not watching the road is one thing, but handing a clearly sick and disturbed Alison the keys is an idea that screams “hell no!” Add in a character debilitated by a bear trap — a trap designed to be opened by humans — characters constantly finding excuses to split up even as their numbers dwindle, and my least favorite horror trope of a protagonist accidentally killing a friend, and you have a script that just works overtime to make its characters unlikable. It’s a shame, both because it lessens the movie and because the performances are actually solid for the most part.

An early stop at a gas station reveals some of the area’s history including a witch trial that saw a woman accused of supernatural shenanigans before being burned alive for her supposed crimes, and it’s the heart of the madness here. The idea in their collective head, once Alison’s behavior begins to grow strange and dangerous some among them jump to that obvious conclusion — she’s a witch! Borrelli’s script does allow for a fun and engaging rebuttal as the only relatively smart one among them (Jill, played by Hannah Kasulka ) counters that others’ antics are every bit as suspect, but it’s one of only two brief bits of brightness amid an otherwise dim experience. The other, as mentioned at the top, is the film’s ending which drives the main idea home in satisfying fashion despite stumbling some in its conviction and narrative support.

Those two highlights aren’t enough reason to give Witches in the Woods a watch, though, as the frustrations and annoyances far outweigh their effect. The film earns points for attempting something fresh, but a reliance on wholly obnoxious characters and poor choices leaves a disconnect for viewers that it just can’t overcome.

Related Topics: Film Festivals , Horror , Toronto After Dark

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Witches in the Woods [Frightfest 2019 Review]

It’s a bold move putting the word “witches” in the title of your movie , let alone “woods,” but Witches in the Woods , the thrilling, claustrophobic, and chilly new movie from director Jordan Baker ( Torment, Duress ) bravely references the two most famous elements of the most famous lost-in-the-woods movie ever, confident its premise is just as effective. Crucially, much like The Blair Witch Project itself, there’s no actual witches to be seen here. Er, unless you count the possibly telepathic crow.

The film begins with a group of college kids heading into the wilderness in a big SUV, aiming for the kind of weekend that usually goes wrong in horror movies. They’re relatively normal types, with the kinds of barely-disguised tensions over romantic relationships and past indiscretions that will surely spill out once they become stranded. After being stopped traveling down the road they were headed, one of their number assures the group he knows a shortcut.

Related: Death of a Vlogger [Frightfest 2019 Review]

There’s some discussion about it, but nobody wants to drive all the way back , so they acquiesce and soon the massive vehicle seemingly capable of making it across any terrain is moving slowly through mounds of snow, surrounded by thick forests on either side. Hours pass and the bickering soon begins, as it becomes clear the group is completely lost. The responsible party decides to go for help, someone else starts acting a bit funny, and things get progressively worse from there.

Witches in the Woods isn’t at all the film you’re expecting it to be. First off, it genuinely takes place in the woods, rather than adjacent to them. Most of its tensest moments occur when the group is stuck huddling together in their car, trying to stay warm while waiting for help they know probably isn’t coming. The witch element is introduced when the gang stops at a gas station and one of their number tussles with a local over animal cruelty, but even this incident doesn’t pay off how you imagine it will.

The location is New England, though the movie was shot on location in freezing, snow-covered Ontario, Canada, so the witch trials loom large and yet it takes only a flyer about a nearby historical attraction and the aforementioned massive, lurking crow to suggest something supernatural is afoot. Sasha Clements’ moody Alison falls victim to some kind of dodgy energy early on and begins suddenly making grave proclamations about how “we’re never getting out of here” once they get stuck, which are played for dark laughs but also undeniably ominous.

She’s at the center of some kind of Steubenville-esque on-camera rape incident, involving football players and including at least one of the men in the car (unbeknownst to her), which not only adds an extra layer of tension but also gives Witches in the Woods an irresistibly modern hook that situates it firmly in real life. Even with no witches in sight, it’s clear there’s evil at play here. It’s great to have the trials in the background, but the real fear comes from what these very human characters are capable of.

Confining the action to the car is a bold choice that pays off hugely as personal tensions slowly but surely rise to the surface. The cast is uniformly terrific, their natural and nuanced performances even more impressive considering the harsh conditions they had to endure. The film Witches in the Woods most calls to mind is Adam Green’s still hugely underrated Frozen, which similarly stranded a group (including one blonde young woman) in freezing conditions and left them at the mercy of the environment.

See Also: Haunt [2019] Set Visit Report

The supernatural element sets Witches in the Woods apart but its most devious characters are the principle players, along with the aforementioned crow which may or may not be a witch itself. It’s a well-told story of betrayal, survival, and personal responsibility with a darkly historical twist that’s cleverly unraveled in a single, snowy setting with a group of talented performers and splashes of shocking, bravura violence. A quietly affecting little chiller (no pun intended, though the cast and crew were clearly freezing).

WICKED RATING: 7/10

Director(s): Jordan Barker Writer(s): Christopher Borrelli Stars: Hannah Kasulka, Alexander De Jordy, Craig Arnold, Corbin Bleu, Sasha Clements Release date: TBC Studio/Production Company: Gearshift Films Language: English Run Time: 90 minutes

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[Review] Icy Tensions Make for a Wicked Hunt in ‘Witches in the Woods’

A title like Witches in the Woods recalls folkloric and other fantastical tales of horror. However, this film is not that kind of story. Instead, its title teases a fun premise brimming with great moments of tension and character dynamics. Directed by Jordan Barker and written by Christopher Borrelli , Witches in the Woods follows a group of friends traveling for a snowboarding trip. 

Our central characters include Jill ( Hannah Kasulka ), Allison ( Sasha Clements ), Derek ( Craig Arnold ) and Philip ( Corbin Bleu ). During their trip, one of them comes across a pamphlet about the Stoughton Valley Witch Trials; the text says how young women were hunted down and executed, their anger becoming one with the land. And would you go figure, the friends happen to be traveling through Stoughton. 

A car accident leaves them stranded in the wilderness, and with the dangerous weather conditions, the friends try to survive the night – and each another.

Most of the narrative is devoted to tension between the characters. In its first act, the film makes a point to let the viewer know there are a few secrets among the group, each capable of hurting someone. Over time these secrets become revealed, establishing distrust between certain individuals. As our characters struggle throughout the night, their bitterness towards one another lingers. This focus escalates to a witch hunt of sorts. As each person strives to stay alive in the icy woods, their hysteria and anger is turned towards each other. By utilizing survival horror traits, Witches in the Woods provides us with unnerving interactions to keep us on edge.

One issue is that the acting isn’t too deep, however, for everyone is primarily present to move the plot forward. The film cares more for delivering the drama between characters rather than developing them or offering a deep sense of personality. This can lead to a hit or miss when it comes to caring for characters and some of the conflicts that take place.

Further adding to the group tension is that of Allison, who some believe may be possessed. It is her weird behavior and a random seizure that kick off the group’s concerns regarding what is wrong with her. We see Allison covered in blood and saying some creepy things. Yet, other than two small occasions, we never see her do anything violent for most of the film. Derek even begins to blame her for problems taking place, but there is no logical reason as to why. There is no proof whether Allison is possessed, which makes the suspicion surrounding her an interesting part to the witch hunt. 

Besides all the issues taking place between the characters, the film also does a decent job portraying a chilly isolation. Utilizing limited lighting, plenty of shadows and the small space the friends take up in the broken-down car, one can feel the cramped and cold discomfort. The setting also allows us the chance to be closer to the unease between characters, amplifying the suspense.

Though its characters aren’t the strongest, Witches in the Woods still offers an intriguing narrative. As the film plays out and we watch the sanity of the characters spiral out of control, we too feel among their hysteria. From the grim setting to the declining sanity of our cast, Witches in the Woods brings the viewer on an experience permeating with ominous chills.

Shout! Studios will release Witches in the Woods on Digital & On Demand April 24th.

Michael Pementel is a pop culture critic at Bloody Disgusting, primarily covering video games and anime. He writes about music for other publications, and is the creator of Bloody Disgusting's "Anime Horrors" column.

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Witches in the woods.

2019 Directed by Jordan Barker

Evil is waiting for them.

A group of students head off for a snowboarding adventure on an untouched piece of land. When their SUV mysteriously stalls in a brutal snowstorm they are not only faced with the reality of freezing to death but a fate even more horrifying. For they have become stranded in Stoughton Valley, home of some Witch Trials even more horrendous than Salem, and are being hunted by a supernatural creature determined to keep them there.

Hannah Kasulka Craig Arnold Sasha Clements Corbin Bleu Alexander De Jordy Humberly Gonzalez Kyle Mac Ian Matthews David Lafontaine James Gilbert

Director Director

Jordan Barker

Producers Producers

Christopher Borrelli Jordan Barker Borga Dorter Munire Armstrong Madison Falle

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Chris Morgan James Gilbert Allan Fung Brent Cote Martin Wojtunik David Lafontaine

Writer Writer

Christopher Borrelli

Cinematography Cinematography

Martin Wojtunik

Production Design Production Design

Glen Charles Landry

Art Direction Art Direction

Bruno Rocca

Composers Composers

Bryce Mitchell Keegan Jessamy

Costume Design Costume Design

Shannon Vaillancourt

Gearshift Films Voltage Pictures

Releases by Date

14 aug 2019, 25 aug 2019, 31 oct 2019, 10 feb 2020, 01 jan 2021, 03 sep 2020, releases by country.

• Digital MA15+
• Physical 16 DVD+Blu-ray

New Zealand

Russian federation.

• Digital 16+

South Korea

• Theatrical 15세 이상 관람가
• Theatrical 16

90 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by DreamScape40 ★½

Started watching this last night and passed out asleep. If that tells you anything. Finally getting around to finishing it after working OT.

Friends turn on each other.. That's pretty much about it. Slow build up. The mood was every bit infuriating, especially when they would yell and do annoying stuff. Even I felt like yelling at the screen, "Shut up!" haha

Review by coles84 ★★★½

WITCHES IN THE WOODS combined uncertain dread with a claustrophobic hold that would not let go. Blended possession, witchcraft and a road trip from hell in a mighty fine way. It’s setting of heavy snow and dangerous conditions added an extra layer of menace. The film uses several cliches but they work, it possibly struggles on occasion to keep up momentum but the atmosphere soon has it back on track. Hannah Kasulka is destined for big things, a likeable and strong lead.

Review by WraithApe ★½

Another film, another transparent allegory. This time it's those old chestnuts, weren't witch trials bad, isn't ignorance dangerous, and there are no real monsters, only monstrosities of the human mind yada yada yada.

As a horror film, it's just about serviceable but so clichéd it's wearisome: van full of teenage dirt bags ill-advisedly go off-roading, van breaks down in the wilderness, calamity ensues. You can entertain yourself for a while with a game of Horror Trope I Spy, my favourite letter being G for Grizzled Harbinger of Doom. As they have a tendency to do, he first shows up at a gas station with a truck load of bear traps, a grizzled look on his grizzled face and a grizzled…

Review by Paul Worts ★

Would have been nice to have chucked in the odd actual witch.

Review by Ted Perkins ★★★½ 1

This movie is a great example of why you should never trust the average rating on Letterboxd. Half the reviews are like “the word Witches is in the title and there are no Witches in the film. 1.5 stars” lmao. This thing really captures the sense of helplessness and dread you’d get after getting lost in the middle of nowhere on a road trip in the pre-GPS era. And it just builds on it and builds on it while increasingly adding to the tension. It reminds me of Raimi’s A Simple Plan - another terrific snowy thriller where a plan just goes completely to shit. Sure, some of the guy characters are annoying and pretentious but as anyone who has ever hung out with college athletes can tell you - a lot of them are annoying and pretentious!

Review by Spookie ★★

This felt so damn disjointed. And wheres the actual witch? I musta missed it, like I did the point. Lol 🤷‍♀️

Review by Kevin Prescott ★★★½

A lot of people on here critized the lack of witches in this movie and i feel like it's my responsibility to remind everyone that horror classics, like "The Blair Witch Project" or "The VVitch", also barley show any witches, if they even show one at all. "Witches in the Woods" is set in a snowy forest setting, which makes for a great and moody atmosphere and the myth about some witch trials in the area is only used as a plot device to stir up fear and paranoia between the group of friends that grows until the whole situation escalates. So, everything that people critized actually works in favor of the movie, in my opinion. While most people wanted…

Review by FredM ★★

but where are they?

I saw crows, a familiar bunch of youngsters in a car, the obligatory so called shortcut leading to being stranded, fights,... I keep saying that these snowy surroundings are great territory for these type of movies to be successful, but unfortunately this is not a prime example.

Review by Devon’s Movie Madness ★★★½

A Slow Burn Winter Chiller: 7/10

I’ll admit. This isn’t a good movie, per se, but it has that kind of “something’s wrong & we don’t really know what it is” kind of vibe. It reminds me of Wind Chill (with Emily Blunt), in a way, without being it. I think that’s the reason why I have this rated a 3.5 star. It’s a concept that has potential & promise, but while it’s not executed perfectly, it’s still interesting enough.

The movie isn’t too scary, but has a very creepy vibe to it. There are some (trigger warning) very creepy scenes, light blood/gore, & mutilation of animals, but it’s overall a lighter horror than a few of the ones of its type. But…

Review by Kevin Cormier ★★½

A group of college students on their way to a snowboarding trip end up in a fight for their lives as their SUV gets stuck in the snow en route to their destination.  Tempers rise as temperatures fall.  This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, it’s not a bad horror movie as there are a few great moments but still left me slightly disappointed.

Review by Sarah Stubbs ★★

Where were the witches? Much like others have said, this is pretty much just 90 minutes of unlikeable people fighting in the woods.

Review by 🩸kman🩸 ★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Last night in the Airbnb and this was on the horror channel (UK TV premiere) so we watched it. We could have watched Salt but we didn’t. This wasn’t great. It was kinda slow and kind of confusing. Not a lot really happened and I guessed that the main girl was gonna be the the possessed one in the end. The movie wasn’t entirely boring or unwatchable, it just wasn’t great. The acting was alright though, it was funny seeing Corbin Bleu in the film, especially since we spent most of the film laughing at the fact he looks just like my uncle. The whole snowy atmosphere was pretty cool but I spent a good majority of the film…

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Witches in the Woods (2019) Review – TAD 2019

With friends like these, who needs witches.

Witches in the Woods

Witches in the Woods is an interesting film in the “lost in the woods” genre. Its title paints a generic picture that it tries to subvert throughout it’s running time, to mixed effect.

Director Jordan Barker ( The Marsh, Torment ) with the help of screenwriter Christopher Borrelli, crafts an interesting tale that. while not achieving all of its lofty, subversive goals, is a fun movie that will leave the audience with some lingering questions.

Witches in the Woods follows a group of students from the University of Massachusetts that set out for some winter break fun on the slopes, only to find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere thanks to an ill-advised detour. As the winter cold and the threat of death looms, tempers flare and paranoia, fear and violence become ever-present.

While Witches in the Woods appears at first glance to be a standard supernatural slasher, what it actually is at times far more interesting: it plays with a group of horrible people and shows just how far toxic friendships can lead if left completely unchecked.

Everyone on this trip has a secret, with each of them pushing each other throughout the film. It is a wonder they could stand being at school together in the same year, let alone wanting to spend a holiday in the same resort. Almost everyone in Witches in the Woods is a generally despicable person. From cheating on their partners to being flat out misogynistic and hateful, this horrible fate could not have happened to a better group of people.

As the runtime ticks down, the animosity and paranoia grow, with just enough suspicion about a potentially supernatural source of all the chaos to keep both the characters and the audience guessing on the reality of the situation. Barker and Borrelli use every trope in the “lost in the woods” playbook to keep things exciting while ensuring the body count rises as the tensions ratchet higher and sanity slowly starts to break down.

The cast does a great job capturing the despicable nature of this group of students. They have fun with their roles, making it all the more enjoyable as chaotic mayhem starts to engulf their lives. From accidents to willful malice, the group makes sure to make every kill count, with enough practical effects to keep things interesting and fun.

There are a lot of great ideas at play in Witches in the Woods , but it is disappointing to see it miss its mark frequently. The pacing is at times all over the place, giving too much time for some concepts and scenes and not enough for others. There are a lot of ideas at play, and without the proper time and effort, many of these are lost, or just feel muddled overall.

At the end of the day, Witches in the Woods is a fun, if a little flawed, outing into distrust and toxic friendships. There is enough at play to keep the film moving over its relatively brisk 90-minute runtime. Yet through all that, there are glimmers of greatness lying just below the surface. Given time and effort, Witches in the Woods could have pushed the boundaries of the sub-genre. As it stands now, it is just a fun watch.

Final Thoughts

Brendan Frye has over a decade of experience in the gaming and media industry. From an early age, he loved gaming, and that life-long passion has found its way to his work. He now works as the EIC of CGMagazine, along with acting as a Judge for numerous gaming conventions. He contributes to shows such as The List and other radio and TV programs. When he is not working, he can be found enjoying the latest Souls experience or finding a good horror movie that is in need of watching.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, CGMagazine may earn a commission. However, please know this does not impact our reviews or opinions in any way. See our ethics statement.

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Signal Horizon

Witches In The Woods Ending Explained-Mob Mentality And Mass Hysteria

Witches in the woods is a fresh take on the dangers of groupthink and succumbing to paranoia..

The film’s title Witches In The Woods sounds cliche. There will be witches in said woods. What unfolds is anything but perfunctory in director Jordan Barker’s smart psychological study. “Witches” is so much more than a teen slasher or occult thriller. Pieces of “kids in peril” movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream weave effortlessly with more intimate character study pieces like Hereditary to produce a surprisingly good film.

A group of young adults heads to a mountain retreat for a weekend of skiing, drinking, and tomfoolery. From the first claustrophobic scene, it’s obvious these people are not necessarily the best of friends. Tension strains every conversation, even the funny bits. Jokes are a little too brittle and smiles a little too forced. They all are keeping secrets. Affairs, rape allegations, and competition taint their relationships until they are barely recognizable.

A good ensemble cast of Hannah Kasulka(Jill), Corbin Blue(Phillip), Sasha Clements(Alison), Craig Arnold(Derek), Kyle Mac(Todd), Alexander De Jordy(Matty), and Humberly Gonzalez(Bree) play are stereotypical young people. All the significant archetypes are represented. The cerebral and kind boy, the beautiful but daffy coed, the snarky jokester, the bully, and the dogooder are all represented. Ian Matthews(Killjoys, Orphan Black) is a standout as the menacing local John, who barely says more than a handful of sentences. His presence is felt as one of several potential threats.

Cinematography by Martin Wojtunik makes the most of claustrophobic spaces and limited light. Coupled with Barker’s direction, they use it to drive the narrative. The entirety of the second and third act takes place in the dark or the car. That intimate connection with the characters puts the viewer in the car with them. Scared, cold, and in the dark, would you act differently? Sound practical effects mark the small but effective amount of gore. A particularly gruesome finger issue is worth watching for.

Something right away messes with the group. At first, it is relatively innocent things. Little by little, the easily explainable becomes eerier. A bathroom door that won’t open, supernaturally aware crows and strange sounds in the woods all create tension that never lets up. When one of the group begins behaving erratically, and the car becomes disabled, sanity disintegrates. Something is stalking the group and picking them off one by one. Is it witches, a locale hunter, or one of their own group possessed by an evil force?

By the end, it could be all those things, and none of them. The characters are on edge, to begin with. Too much water under the bridge and too much distrust have fostered a situation where anything could be believed. When pretty basic calamities arise, and an actual health crisis occurs, the group is already primed to think the worst. Rather than keep their wits and their tempers, they flare at each other. Unfortunately, misery loves company, and one by one, the friends follow each other off the cliff to panic.

Groupthink or mass hysteria can be a powerful thing. It is what allows cult leaders to program and control huge groups to do unspeakable things. A mix of sociology and psychology, mass hysteria can compel completely sane people to do insane things. For example, they become convinced they should shun their friend instead of helping her. What is more likely, their friend is having a seizure or their friend is possessed by the spirit of ancient witches? That’s the problem with fear. It has a tendency to grow until it consumes everything else.

The 30 Best Horror Movies Every Woman Should See

Once fear takes root, it chokes out all rational thought leaving behind chaos. Every death was the result of overreaction. Allison only had the misfortune to act strangely. The brief history lesson and group dynamic in the car did the rest. It became easy to see monsters everywhere and fear the worst.

Are there witches? Who knows. The end’s ambiguous final moment could be a nod either direction. Stoughton Valley does exist, and Magistrate Stoughton was the evil Chief Justice presiding over the witch trials . Was Allison affected by the cursed land? Did all the group follow suit? Has Jill been influenced too? By the end, the body count and manner of death seem to indicate otherwise. Allison was probably not guilty of anything but having a seizure and being scared. Remember, we never saw her kill anyone. That distinction was left for the rest of the group. They let her fear invade them until they all reacted poorly.

Witches In The Woods may or may not be about any real witches, but it has a lot of smart things to say about sociological dynamics and the power of the mind. It is a satisfying and creepy romp through a dark forest. Stream it on Vudu or Amazon Prime right now.

As the Managing Editor for Signal Horizon, I love watching and writing about genre entertainment. I grew up with old-school slashers, but my real passion is television and all things weird and ambiguous. My work can be found here and Travel Weird, where I am the Editor in Chief.

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Witches in the Woods (2019) — Movie Review

Witches in the Woods (2019) — Movie Review Key Takeaways:

Pros : there are some scary moments.

Contras : predictable plot, lack of logic in the characters’ behavior, dull visuals.

Overall rating : could have been better

Witches in the Woods (2019) — Full Movie Review

It is close to impossible to find an original horror film. Everything good in the genre was already invented and exploited in the eighties and nineties, so now movie makers are only trying to update and reshoot old stories. Sometimes it turns out stupid and ugly, and sometimes quite alright. Regarding Witches in the Woods , one cannot say that the film is an absolute failure, but there is not much positive in it either.

As usual, let’s start by analyzing the storyline . From that viewpoint, Witches in the Woods is a genre classic. A group of young adults travels to a remote ski resort in West Mass and turns onto a country road where they get oh so lost. There’s probably no point explaining what happens next: suffice is to say that, when fighting the evil, people often tend to be on the losing side.

All the fun starts in the middle of the movie. Prior to that, the events only prepare us for the upcoming horrors. By the way, the screamers are pretty good. Personally, I flinched several times while watching. And in general, the horror was there. So we can say that Witches in the Woods succeeded at least in this. Yet this doesn’t happen until the middle of the film! And before that, to whip up an atmosphere of fear, they decided not to reinvent the wheel but use the good old messengers of misfortune – the crows. Well, again, the poor birds had to cover for scriptwriters’ laziness.

From a technical point of view, Witches in the Woods was not a success. The visuals were kind of gray and dull, and the acting is not the best. Sometimes an outright falsehood is noticeable. The heroes had a couple of attempts to rescue the action with humor, but to no avail due to their overall sluggishness. The joke about the fact that the witch was hanged for spoilers for “Game of Thrones” did not come up. Well, at least they didn’t joke about posting pictures of that dead animal to get more followers on social media.

Well, as usual, there was no logic in the behavior of the heroes. And I’m not even talking about everyone’s favorite sport of splitting up in the face of danger: no, the heroes behaved even worse than that! How about sitting in the car for hours and slowly freezing instead of making a fire from, well, the woods that surround them (they did have matches, in case you were wondering)? Or not covering their heads even after the temperature dropped below 0 degrees? Or forgetting about a bunch of warm clothes they had in the trunk?

Well, perhaps they weren’t cold enough, after all. What sucks, though, is that the movie would have turned out at least as scary if all this silliness was removed (perhaps it would become even scarier: imagine a dark shadow looming behind the heros’ backs as they gather around a bonfire. Which goes back to the point already made by the crows: the screenwriters’ laziness is obviously at fault here.

Spoiler Alert!

But the real bummer is that, counterintuitive as it is, there are no witches in Witches in the Woods ! And this can truly break your heart if the only reason for watching the movie was a hope to see some. It pains me to even think how many different witch types the screenwriters had at their disposal, yet what they chose to go for in the end can be described as “the witch within” at best (and even that is prone to be challenged). So, no sick terror of The Blair Witch Project here, unfortunately.

Hannah Kasulka — Jill

The final girl. By far the prettiest of the cast. Struggles to get her men straight.

Corbin Bleu — Philip

The good guy. A doofus who could have done better as he is the strongest of the bunch.

Humberly González — Bree

The bitch girl likely named after cheese, gets what she deserves early on. No surprises there.

Sasha Clements — Alison

The troubled girl who brings trouble. A far cry from a real witch, still.

Craig Arnold — Derek

The leader, the villain, the smartest kid who shows weakness and pays for it.

Kyle Mac — Tod

The clown who gets them all where they shouldn’t be and can’t redeem himself despite trying.

Tomatometer gave Witches in the Woods 57% (although it’s based only on 7 reviews, so 3 had to go “rotten” while 4 went “fresh”) while IMDb settled for 4.3/10 . Honestly, the latter score feels closer to reality. If it weren’t for a few decent screamers to occasionally flinch from, Witches in the Woods would have been a complete disappointment. But those looking for some horror can, in fact, get their adrenaline rush even in spite of all the obvious cons.

In short, we rate Witches in the Woods as Satisfactory and recommend it to horror fans (albeit with some reservation). One good part about this movie is that it’s relatively short (total runtime of just over 1 hour and 30 minutes), so even if you find it boring you won’t have to suffer for too long. And of course, watching at 1.25 speed or faster is always an option: there are plenty of dull episodes in the movie where doing so won’t even affect the suspense much.

Watch Witches in the Woods Online

Watch Witches in the Woods (2019) online here

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The 15 Best Religious Horror Movies

W ith Immaculate , Late Night With the Devil , and The First Omen all earning mostly favorable reviews from critics in recent weeks, 2024 is already turning into a banner year for religiously-themed horror movies .

By no means an underrepresented subgenre in the horror pantheon, faith-fueled fright flicks have been thrilling and terrifying audiences for decades. While American-made religious horror often focuses on Christian traditions and beliefs by default—as TIME film critic Stephanie Zacharek wrote in her Immaculat e review , "the lore of Catholicism is gruesome enough to fill a thousand horror movies"—other faiths and practices have increasingly crept into play.

From stories that explore the terrors of everything from demonic possession to overzealous faith to the thin line between belief and uncertainty, here is TIME's take on the 15 best religious horror movies.

The Witch (2016)

After they are banished from their 17th-century New England settlement over a religious dispute, a devout Puritan family finds themselves at the mercy of a sinister evil in the woods beyond their remote farm. Director Robert Eggers' feature debut plays on the specter of witchcraft for a slow-burn psychological thriller that makes colonial fears relevant to modern viewers. Come for Anya Taylor-Joy's breakout performance as eldest daughter Thomasin, stay for the antics of demonic goat Black Phillip.

Where to watch: Max

The Omen (1976)

Widely considered one of the all-time great religious horror classics, Richard Donner's The Omen centers on American diplomat Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck), who—without telling his wife Kathy (Lee Remick)—agrees to adopt an infant whose mother died in childbirth as a replacement for the couple's own stillborn baby. The only problem is the child, a boy named Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens), turns out to be the literal Antichrist, a.k.a. the son of Satan. The original Omen has spawned a number of remakes, sequels, and now, a prequel, with director Arkasha Stevenson's The First Omen delving into the terrifying conspiracy that brought about Damien's birth in Rome.

Where to watch: Hulu

The Wailing (2016)

When a rural Korean village is suddenly plagued by a mysterious illness that causes the infected to violently kill their loved ones, local police officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) begins to suspect a foreign newcomer is to blame. Opening with a quote from the Bible, The Wailing explores themes of religion, spirituality, and folklore for a genre-bending horror-thriller. Director Na Hong-jin said the story was born from a question he kept asking himself following the tragic deaths of several people close to him. "The question was, 'Why did THEY have to be victims OF ALL PEOPLE?'" he told The Playlist . "I already had the answers for the 'How.' What I had to find out was the 'Why.' So I began to meet and talk to the clergy of various religions, which was the starting point of this film."

Where to watch: Netflix

Frailty (2002)

Directed by and starring the late Bill Paxton , Frailty opens with a mysterious man (Matthew McConaughey) showing up at the office of FBI agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe) to confess that his brother Adam was the notorious Texas serial killer behind the "God's Hand" murders. From there, the man recounts the chilling story of his childhood, during which his father (Paxton) claimed to have been called upon by God to destroy demons walking the Earth in human form. Frailty is a sleeper gem that puts a Southern Gothic spin on biblical horror and the terror of a cruel and fickle God.

Where to watch: Prime Video

It Lives Inside (2023)

Writer-director Bishal Dutta brings a flesh-eating demon from Hindu mythology to suburban America in his underrated debut feature. It Lives Inside stars Megan Suri as Samidha, an Indian-American high school student who must come to terms with the heritage she is initially so eager to reject after her childhood best friend becomes the target of a malevolent spirit known as the Pishach—a bogeyman that, according to Dutta , is "the embodiment of isolation, and loneliness, and anxiety."

The Conjuring (2013)

Loosely based on the real-life exploits of Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), The Conjuring follows the married demonologists as they investigate the 1970s haunting of the Perron family—and decide to perform their own exorcism on matriarch Carolyn Perron (Lili Taylor) after the Catholic Church refuses. Directed by James Wan, the original Conjuring kickstarted what is now the highest-grossing horror franchise in history, having earned over $2.3 billion at the global box office ahead of the release of the final film in the main series, The Conjuring 4 , later this year.

Midsommar (2019)

As a follow-up to his acclaimed 2018 debut Hereditary , filmmaker Ari Aster delivered what he has described as "a breakup movie dressed in the clothes of a folk horror film." Featuring a breakout performance by Florence Pugh, Mids ommar follows college student Dani (Pugh) as she accompanies her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) and his friends on a trip to a fabled mid-summer festival at a remote pagan commune in Sweden after experiencing a terrible family tragedy.

The Possession (2012)

When their young daughter Em (Natasha Calis) begins exhibiting increasingly erratic behavior after purchasing a mysterious antique box at a yard sale, recently divorced couple Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick) eventually come to realize she's been possessed by a parasitic evil. Playing on the Jewish folklore legend of the dybbuk—a disembodied human spirit that restlessly wanders the Earth searching for a living host— The Possession was inspired by a 2004 Los Angeles Times article titled " A jinx in a box? " that detailed the strange history of a wine cabinet that was supposedly brought to America by a Holocaust survivor. Whether or not the real dybbuk box is cursed is up for debate. As for director Ole Bornedal's spin on the story, think The Exorcist with a Jewish spin.

Where to watch: Peacock

[REC] (2007)

Late-night TV reporter Ángela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) finds herself unexpectedly investigating the outbreak of a mysterious viral infection in an apartment building in the heart of Barcelona in Spanish filmmakers Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza's harrowing found-footage flick. To say too much about the religious component of [REC] would give the ending away, but its final twist is one for the books.

The Medium (2021)

Framed as a documentary about the spiritual practices of the Isan people of northeast Thailand, The Medium centers on a middle-aged woman named Nim (Sawanee Utoomma), a shaman who claims to be the conduit for a benevolent goddess called Ban Ya. But when Nim's niece Mink (Narilya Gulmongkolpech) begins showing signs of her own possession, things start to go horribly wrong—first for Nim's family, then the community at large. Thai director Banjong Pisanthanakun serves up a slow-burn folk horror with a bone-chilling final act that's decidedly not for the faint of heart.

Where to watch: Shudder

Carrie (1976)

Brian De Palma’s classic adaptation of Stephen King’s tale of a bullied girl exacting psychic vengeance taps into the horror of religious trauma by placing its titular character, Sissy Spacek's Carrie, under the care of Margaret, her abusively fanatical mother played by Piper Laurie. While the pig-blood prom is one of the most iconic scenes in movie history, the twisted mother-daughter relationship between Carrie and unhinged, God-fearing Margaret is the heart of the story.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Loosely based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a young German woman who underwent 67 Catholic exorcism rites before dying of malnutrition and dehydration at the age of 23, The Exorcism of Emily Rose dramatizes the sensational 1978 trial—in which Anneliese Michel's parents and the two priests who conducted the exorcisms were convicted of negligent homicide—that followed her death. In real life, Annaliese Michel was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy and manic depression (now known as bipolar disorder). However, writer-director Scott Derrickson's take on the story—replete with flashbacks to Emily Rose's violent episodes—suggests Emily (Jennifer Carpenter) was truly a victim of demonic possession, turning the movie into a much more over-the-top religious horror thrill ride.

Noroi: The Curse (2005)

Presented as the final documentary film of journalist-turned-paranormal investigator Masafumi Kobayashi (Jin Muraki), Noroi: The Curse follows Kobayashi as he looks into a series of strange occurrences that ultimately lead him to an abandoned Shinto shrine and an ancient demon seeking resurrection. Japanese director Koji Shirashi's horror mockumentary offers an unnervingly fresh take on the found-footage format.

The Wicker Man (1973)

Before Midsommar , there was The Wicker Man . From the moment rigidly Protestant police officer Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) arrives on the isolated Scottish island of Summerisle in search of a missing girl, it's clear something is off about the insular seaside community. Director Robin Hardy's seminal cult classic follows Howie as he slowly discovers he's in way over his head among the pagan locals—culminating in the terrifying realization he's been doomed from the start. Just make sure you don't watch the dreadful 2006 Nicolas Cage remake by mistake.

The Exorcist (1973)

What more can be said about the masterpiece that is The Exorcist ? The granddaddy of all possession films, William Friedkin's demonic chiller terrorized moviegoers and forever changed the horror landscape when it arrived in theaters in 1973. Featuring a brilliant—and Oscar-nominated—performance by Ellen Burstyn as desperate mother Chris MacNeil, the oft-imitated tale of possessed 12-year-old Reagan MacNeil (Linda Blair) remains one of the most disturbing cinematic experiences ever put to film.

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A New Blair Witch Movie Is Coming As Lionsgate And Blumhouse Team Up To Revive The Horror Franchise

Get ready to return to the Black Hills woods of Maryland, because the Blair Witch is back. The horror franchise, which started in 1999 with "The Blair Witch Project," became a game-changer, popularizing the found footage genre and becoming one of the most successful horror stories ever made. Even a quarter of a century later, the original "Blair Witch" remains fascinating and mysterious.

The tale of people going to the woods and being hunted by an evil entity continues to be enticing to executives wanting another surprise hit, even if it never quite seems to work out. The last attempt came in the form of a "Blair Witch" sequel in 2016, which was better than it could have been but failed to make an impact. That being said, the "Blair Witch" video game was pretty good.

Now, Blumhouse announced it is partnering with Lionsgate to reimagine "Blair Witch" for a new generation. /Film was in the room for the announcement at CinemaCon, where Jason Blum unveiled the plans to bring back the property.

"We are thrilled to kick this partnership off with a new vision for 'Blair Witch' that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation," said Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It is worth mentioning that "The Blair Witch Project" has significant value for Blumhouse, a studio that got its start with its own found footage horror sensation in "Paranormal Activity." As Jason Blum said during the presentation at CinemaCon, "I don't think there would have been a 'Paranormal Activity' had there not first been a 'Blair Witch,' so this feels like a truly special opportunity and I'm excited to see where it leads."

It is worth pointing out that Lionsgate has been in the "Blair Witch" business for a while. Back in 2018, Lionsgate was developing a TV series based on the original 1999 film . Whether this new movie will share any similarities with that project is unknown.

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New ‘blair witch’ movie in the works from lionsgate, blumhouse.

Blumhouse has struck a deal to reimagine other horror films for the movie studio.

By Aaron Couch

Aaron Couch

Film Editor

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Lionsgate and Blumhouse are headed back to the woods for a new Blair Witch Project movie.

It’s part of a multifilm deal between the studios that will see Blumhouse reimagine horror classics from Lionsgate. The deal follows the duo collaborating on Imaginary , which has earned $38.2 million since release last month.

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Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson and Jason Blum announced the news.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to work with Jason many times over the years. We forged a strong relationship on  The Purge  when I was at Universal, and we launched STX with his film  The Gift.  There is no one better at this genre than the team at Blumhouse,” said Fogelson. “We are thrilled to kick this partnership off with a new vision for  Blair Witch  that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation.” 

Blum gave a nod to Blair Witch for helping kick open the door for his own found-footage hit Paranormal Activity , saying, “I don’t think there would have been a  Paranormal Activity  had there not first been a  Blair Witch , so this feels like a truly special opportunity and I’m excited to see where it leads.”

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A New ‘Blair Witch’ Movie Is In the Works

The Blair Witch lives again, in a new movie being developed by Lionsgate and Blumhouse.

This will be the third official entry in the franchise, which began with a groundbreaking 1999 indie horror film directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez. The film was made to look like a legitimate documentary that had been lost and recovered. The Blair Witch Project ’s incredible financial success — it remains one of the most profitable films in history — helped launched a whole wave of “found footage” horror movies.

The second film in the franchise, 2000’s Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 , was not a found footage movie for most of its runtime, and it was not a hit at the box office. (It has since developed a devoted cult following of its own.) The last time someone attempted to revive the franchise, no one even knew the movie was happening until it was in theaters. What was ultimately called Blair Witch was initially announced as a totally separate horror film called The Woods , from future Godzilla x Kong director Adam Wingard. It was only at the film’s first screenings that people learned the truth: Wingard had secretly made another Blair Witch sequel. (One of its characters was supposedly the brother of Heather, the main character of the original film.)

READ MORE: The Scariest Movie Vampires of All Time

Blair Witch did better than Book of Shadows , but it got fairly negative reviews and only earned about a fifth of what the first Blair Witch Project grossed in theaters.

There’s no details yet about exactly what form this new Blair Witch will take, or how (or if) it will be directly tied to any of the previous movies. The first trilogy all involves the legend of a witch who supposedly hounded the residents of Burkittsville, Maryland hundreds of years ago. What really sold The Blair Witch Project , more than the premise, was its ingenious marketing campaign, which presented the film as authentic and which convinced many potential customers of its legitimacy.

A big part of the trickery was the airing on Sci-Fi Channel of another fake documentary called Curse of the Blair Witch , which also presented TBWP as authentic and added to the mythology surrounding the film. The Blair Witch Project was also one of the first movies to make clever use of the internet and its own official site, which contained more “evidence” of the film’s characters supposed disappearance.

Which makes you wonder: In our world of increasingly permeable online truth, what does a new Blair Witch look like? We’ll find out soon…

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Another Blair Witch Project Movie Is in Development 'for a New Generation,' 25 Years After the Original

The original 'Blair Witch Project' became a surprise box office hit in 1999

The Blair Witch Project franchise will live on in a scary new installment.

At CinemaCon on Wednesday, April 10, Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced that a new Blair Witch movie is in development. The film is part of a multi-movie deal between the studios to reimagine "horror classics from the Lionsgate library," according to a press release.

Roy Lee, who produced the 2016 reboot titled Blair Witch , will return to produce alongside Jason Blum .

"We are thrilled to kick this partnership off with a new vision for  Blair Witch  that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation. We couldn’t be more pleased to be working with them on this and other projects we look forward to revealing soon," Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement.

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Blum, a producer behind hits like Paranormal Activity , M3GAN , Get Out and more, added, "I’m a huge admirer of  The Blair Witch Project , which brought the idea of found-footage horror to mainstream audiences and became a true cultural phenomenon."

"I don’t think there would have been a  Paranormal Activity  had there not first been a  Blair Witch , so this feels like a truly special opportunity and I’m excited to see where it leads," he said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

News of a fresh Blair Witch Project entry comes 25 years after the 1999 original became a sleeper hit at the box office. A less-well-received sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 , came out in 2000, then a reboot came in 2016, directed by Adam Wingard, who made the recent Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire .

Separate from this Blumhouse deal, Lionsgate has more horror sequel and reboot projects coming: The Strangers: Chapter 1 is in theaters May 17 , and an 11th Saw film will be out in 2025 .

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Henry Cavill Shows Up At Lionsgate CinemaCon, Teases ‘Highlander’; New Guy Ritchie 2025 Movie Gets Title

By Anthony D'Alessandro , Nancy Tartaglione

“If you thought you’d seen me do sword work before, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Such were Henry Cavill ‘s promises about the new Highlander movie he’s doing with Lionsgate and John Wick director Chad Stahelski, as the star made an appearance Wednesday at the studio’s CinemaCon sessions in Las Vegas.

But there was more. The actor’s new movie due in 2025 with Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González, directed by Guy Ritchie , got a title: In the Grey .

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Cavill also stars in Ritchie’s upcoming The Minstry of Ungentlemanly Warfare , about the UK’s recruiting of a small group of highly skilled soldiers to strike against German forces behind enemy lines during World War II — one of them being 007 author Ian Fleming, played by Freddie Fox. The movie comes out April 19.

RELATED: Halle Berry On Tapping Into Her Mother Instinct For Lionsgate Horror Movie In The Woods ‘Never Let Go’ – CinemaCon

Cavill onstage said of real-life ministry “were quite extraordinary … to have characters like that who were able to change the course of the war.” He had never heard about the group before.

Of working with Gyllenhaal, he said, “Jake is not only an incredible talent but what a wonderful man. I’m hoping we may see both of us on screen more often.”

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Of Ritchie, the Superman actor said, “He creates a wonderful environment on set” offering plenty of “creative freedom.”

Sometimes people say a film set is like family, “and to a degree is is, but not necessarily the family you want to keep hanging out with all the time. In Guy’s case it is,” Cavill said “There is a shorthand and a freedom of friendship.”

Cavill expanded on Highlander : “I’m a lover of the original movies, for better or for worse, and it’s one of those things where when I was reading the script for the first time I wasn’t quite too sure where they were going to go with it.”

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The Paranormal Activity studio is reviving the Blair Witch Project with a "new vision" for the horror classic

The new movie was announced at CinemaCon

A new Blair Witch Project movie is in the works from horror mega studio Blumhouse.

"I’m very grateful to [ Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson] and the team at Lionsgate for letting us play in their sandbox. I’m a huge admirer of The Blair Witch Project, which brought the idea of found footage horror to mainstream audiences and became a true cultural phenomenon," Jason Blum told CinemaCon audiences. "I don’t think there would have been a Paranormal Activity had there not first been a Blair Witch, so this feels like a truly special opportunity and I’m excited to see where it leads."

The first Blair Witch movie hit theaters in 1999 and was a massive success, grossing nearly $250 million against its modest, independent budget. The found footage horror saw a group of film students set out to produce a documentary about an urban legend known as the Blair Witch. The marketing methods were controversial to say the least, with missing posters released for the cast members ahead of the movie's premiere.

Adam Wingard, helmer of Godzilla x Kong, released a direct sequel to the first film in 2016 that starred Shameless and The Walking Dead alum James Allen McCune. The pic saw Heather's brother James head out into those very same woods to look for her some 30 years later – and was a modest box office success, grossing $45 million against a budget of $5 million.

 A new Blair Witch movie was announced last May, with Oliver Park (The Offering) set to direct. There's no word yet as to whether these two projects are related – but I'll take as much new Blair Witch as I can get.

The Blair Witch Project and Adam Wingard's Blair Witch are streaming now on Prime Video. For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies in 2024 and beyond.

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Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ currently based in the Midwest. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

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