This post was inspired by Question #38 from this list.

My favorite movie involving witches is Hocus Pocus, hands down. Some people might challenge whether that can be rightfully called a “witchy movie” because nothing in that move bears any resemblance to actual witchcraft. That’s a true statement and that’s exactly what I love about that movie.

It was a bit of fun that unabashedly played with old Halloween tropes and witch-hunt inspired myths. It also made it clear up front that this is what was happening. No one walked out of the theater thinking that the Bette was representing modern witchcraft practice in the slightest. This freed us up to laugh and enjoy the movie without answering endless questions the next day from people who wanted to know how to get their own book of spells made from the skin of humans.

I enjoy movies like Practical Magic and even The Craft (yes, there’s a real witch who can find a couple nice things to say about that movie), but I also feel there will always be problems with trying to make a movie that resembles “real witchcraft,” but feels they have to go into supernatural stuff to make it interesting. The “real” stuff will always get lost in the sensationalism.

I feel that if anyone ever hopes to make a truly good movie about “real witchcraft,” they’re going to have to get out of the speculative fiction genres and probably work on a drama. Maybe a movie about a couple witches just trying to raise their children in a small town in the South. Or maybe a Druid navigating the loss of a loved one and the grieving process involved. An everyday scenario in which the movie explores how one’s spirituality interprets and helps them navigate it.

Until then, I’ll have fun with my hilariously evil Sanderson Sisters.