10 Bewitching Black Magic Horror Films

When it comes to witches, sorcery and wizards, I prefer to keep my film selection inside the horror genre. Now, I’m not knocking Harry Potter, I just prefer witches that actually scare the crap out of me…or at least give me a solid laugh. Here are my favorite black magic movies:


10. Leprechaun

So, this movie may not be scary for some, but one thing’s for sure: Warwick Davis is a creepy fucker in this series. While I found the movie highly amusing, I have to admit that it made me look at the Lucky Charms box in a new light. Featuring a young Jennifer Aniston, the film follows a nasty leprechaun in search of his beloved gold who likes to destroy bitches in the process of finding it.


9. Wishmaster

This movie is not only jam-packed with horror icons (i.e. Tony Todd, Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Ted Raimi and Angus Scrimm), but it also introduced a new one: Andrew Divoff. As an ancient demon that is able to grant wishes to those around him, Divoff as the Djinn gives me the damn willies. Full of unique kills and twisted ideas, Wishmaster will leave you wanting more, but stop while you’re ahead. The sequels are awful.


8. The Wicker Man (1973)

This movie definitely isn’t for everyone, but I fall into the category of people who absolutely loved it. It’s a bat-shit crazy film that keeps you guessing until the very end and is chock full of strange and unusual elements like a dozen naked ladies dancing around for apparently no reason. A sergeant is sent to a remote island off the coast of Scotland to look for a missing girl when he finds himself smack in the middle of some crazy town rituals he never wanted to take part in.


7. Lord of Illusions

Cults and magic do not mix, kids. Everyone takes their job a little too seriously from time to time, but starting a cult to resurrect your ass? It sounds like someone needs to lighten up. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen this movie, but I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since. It’s one of my favorite Clive Barker stories (he directs the film as well), so definitely check it out if you want some shock and awe.


6. Drag Me to Hell

Anytime creepy old ladies are involved with curses, you know you’re screwed. So, when it comes to being plagued with one of the worst curses around, giving you only a few days to live, you better start making the best of them! Sam Raimi’s return to horror could not have been sweeter. Drag Me to Hell is the perfect mix of scares, laughs and creativity, which only reminds us how much we’ve missed him all these years.


5. The Church

With this being the first of three Italian horror films on this list, it’s safe to say that Italians love their witchcraft. It’s always a big no-no to disturb the final resting place of the dead, but when a church is built over a cemetery, it takes things to a new and freaky level. Ghosts arrive to awake a demon, people are tortured and it gets REAL ugly…yet awesome. There are some solid WTF moments in this one.


4. Wizard of Gore (2007)

While I like the original, the remake with Crispin Glover as the title role is better. Glover was born to play this role, who takes an already insane concept and character to a really, really uncomfortable place. If you’re slightly squeamish, you might want to skip this one because it even grossed ME out, but if you’re feeling daring or just love the insanity that is Crispin Glover, rent this immediately.


3. The Beyond

The Beyond is the rare story of a warlock and a young girl, Liza, who inherits a hotel where strange occurrences have been happening. The girl discovers that the occurrences aren’t freak incidents, but that the hotel is one of the gates to Hell. While trying to find out the history of the hotel, Liza finds herself caught in a struggle with damnation itself. It’s an intense watch, to say the least.


2. The Serpent and the Rainbow

This Wes Craven movie continues to be one of my all-time favorite horror movies. Bill Pullman plays an anthropologist who travels to Haiti after hearing of a drug that turns people into zombies (non-flesh-eating). It follows in the vein of pre-Romero zombie flicks like White Zombie, which makes me nostalgic and terrified at the same time. It’s a must-see for EVERYONE.


1. Suspiria

You can’t talk about horror and witches without Suspiria getting mentioned, and there’s a reason why: it’s perfect. The first of three Dario Argento films in the “Three Mothers” trilogy, Suspiria is not only written beautifully, but its cinematography matches. Just as you feel at ease, Argento pounces on your subconscious, making for one of the most uncomfortable movie-watching experiences I’ve ever had. If you don’t already own this movie, you will soon.