Witches in Horror Movies | The History of Witches Part 3

[@Mothills]

"this next movie is one of my favourite" "the next movie is a personal favourite" this movie is one of the best-" i love the passion and excitement you have for movies

[@lunabearsong2043]

And books!

[@dezlovdahl1722]

Xx

[@FaiaHalo]

EXACTLY!

[@forrestdupre9916]

@@FaiaHalo If you want a more accurate version of THE WIZARD OF OZ it's the Muppet version.

[@reiterated]

@@forrestdupre9916 Also Return to Oz captures the spirit of the books really well to me.

[@ChrisLeeW00]

When I started watching this series, I was expecting a historical look at witchcraft, but it became a must see watchlist!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Haha glad you didn’t mind the shift in style, I love looking at media history and how it relates to real history so stuff like this is really fun for me, there are a ton of must see movies on there though. Belladonna of Sadness is one of the coolest movies ever made I think just because of how different it is.

[@harrietr.5073]

@@audreyluna6023 ?

[@lorensims4846]

Not to mention a couple of the books that I was able to download from Project Gutenberg.

[@maxvilla5558]

Dude does not stop

[@i.need.a.new.nickname]

@@basilmetternich1474 this is part three dude. Learn to count and then come back later.

[@LuLu6214]

In The Devils, they weren’t dressed as KKK, it’s a capirote which was the Catholic Inquisitions version of a dunce or penance cap/outfit. The KKK later adopted a style of it but that did not remove its use by penitent Catholic fraternities today.

[@lockandloadlikehell]

Yeah, that seemed like a strange assertion

[@theguardian8317]

I think so too. I haven't seen that film so I'm just guessing but probably the outfits of that court scene may simply mean they are the catholic church and/or the inquisition in general. In the catholic church people doing penance had to use certain clothes including the pointy hood, maybe to hide their identity or to keep the thing personal or something like that but to this day they similar outfits still signify the penance. During the inquisition those accused of heresy sometimes also were made to wear special clothes and a pointy hat also signifying penance but without covering their face probably as means of humiliation. The hoods from the later kkk probably have influence from the catholic capirote but its function is mainly to hide the identity when doing vandalism or criminal or terrorist acts.

[@fruitygarlic3601]

Even though I understand the meaning of the garment, I like to take it the way Praise says as well. In a movie that is so willing to play fast and loose with anachronism and traditional wear (none of the priests at my school dressed that weirdly), the silhouette invoking more modern images of bigotry still feels like a valid, perhaps intentional choice. As a writer, my adherence to accuracy still gives me moments of, "Aha, look how seamless that metaphor was!"

[@hermestrismagistos3145]

@@fruitygarlic3601 Some people just can't help but see racism in everything. Even if it isn't there.

[@Larper64]

@@fruitygarlic3601 It isn't/wasn't a garb for the standard priest, but mostly for penitent orders and the like for various ceremonial purposes. In modern times it is extremely rare to see unless you live near a monastery that still uses it and you happen to be there for a procession where they are worn. So yes for most part modern people will often associate the garb for its use by the KKK as in is technically more widely used by them at this point, by it is also still technically used by various penitent orders as well. I do find it worth noting though that most photos of monks using the capirote tend to wear it in various vibrant colors and with robes of equally magnificent hues, it is interesting the film chose to go solid white for their depiction.

[@canadey97]

The ending of The VVitch was honestly what made that whole movie for me. She was finally free.

[@Vulpes89]

Free to murder babies.

[@lockandloadlikehell]

@@Vulpes89 why would she murder babies?? *WAT*

[@melyssamizal4282]

@@lockandloadlikehell according to new england folklore (it goes back farther too), witches scarificed babies and used their bodily fluids for flying ointments. think witches on broomsticks.

[@ivaldip82]

I thought somewhat the same way. Plus I feel when people are ostracized and treated as wicked that it sometimes pushes them to embrace it. The witch was amazing and I loved that it didn't just end with an ambivalent statement about paranoia or whatever historical thesis on cruelty you want. I don't need movies to tell me something is fucked up in real life.

[@DMHayes]

@@melyssamizal4282 happens in the film too.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Hey everybody, thank you so much for watching this series and for being supportive through it, that means so much to me so thank you for that. I'm going to be doing a few shorter videos next to give myself a break before I do another long work like this, so there should hopefully be a few of those to look forward to in November and December. I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween next week!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks! And yeah what’s up?

[@tommyhicks4510]

@@InPraiseofShadows I've been looking into pursueing film making as my career and your videos are kind of inspiring. I was wondering if you would want to collaborate.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

@@tommyhicks4510 Hey! I am so sorry I didn't get back to you before now I am very bad at responding sometimes. I would love to talk about things more with that, can you send me an email about maybe what you had in mind?? The link to my email is in the description under this video, looking forward to hearing from you man!

[@kaylam9359]

This series is fantastic and SO full of great info. Thank you!

[@Solqueen86]

Have you seen The Movie: Return to OZ?

[@cliffridenour6675]

I just wanted to say, this is one of the highest quality documentaries I've ever seen. The detail and devotion to your subject is highly commendable, and it's a level of effort you dont typically see on youtube or television. Then I went on your channel and realized this is like... your thing. All of your videos are detailed and impressive. You put so much work into this channel and it's incredible. Gonna go binge the rest now. Thank you!!!

[@chriscze6153]

Yeah that is exacty what I think, but even more so for this documentary. I did not have high expectations going into this, even though I watched and enjoyed the first part of this witch series - and I could not imagine how it could go for so long, but I was actually captivated watching this for most of its runtime, and considering I am always multi tasking and doing things that says a lot about this. Super well done, thank you!

[@victoriasmith9029]

I finally part 2!

[@brocowsci]

Meh

[@finnsword8286]

My take on the VVitch ending is that it’s exactly what the tagline says it is, a New England Folktale. I always saw it as being able to be viewed from two different points. One, is from what Puritans from that time would view as a horrifying folktale meant to warn others. A family leaves their church and village solely because of their father’s overwhelming pride. They have a new baby, but don’t seek out baptism for him, and such, a witch kidnaps and kills him. And then that witch begins killing their other children, and their oldest daughter (who is becoming a woman) gives herself to Satan. If you leave the church and your community, let your pride/envy run you, disobey/lie to your parents, who’s to say this wouldn’t happen to you too? It’s meant to be a scary story you’d hear from that time, there a good video essay on it I really enjoy. By Rant and Bollax, I believe. And the other point has been said by others in the comments. That Tomasin gets her happy ending by becoming a witch. Her life was a young Puritan girl about to become a woman was awful. Her father let her mother suspect her of things she didn’t, her mother very clearly envied her, the twins tormented her, her brother, uh, was beginning to give her weird looks, and she’s blamed for the death of the baby. If things hadn’t gone so wrong towards the end of the film, she would’ve just been given to another family solely to work for them. She’s the only one in the family who doesn’t represent a sin, AND is the only one you ever see confessing about the ‘sins’ she had committed, right at the start of the film.

[@lockandloadlikehell]

Now she lives like a god

[@malicewonder8345]

There can be a third point of view: madness multiplied by dysfunctional relationships multiplied by superstition. The whole family might be being slowly poisoned by some hallucinogen. There is even a scene where the father is looking at maize ears affected by something resembling ergot. That species of ergot, Claviceps gigantea, is able to produce hallucinogens of the lysergic acid group, just like its relative Claviceps purpurea that grows on rye, wheat and barley.

[@viniciusdeoliveira5869]

I have another interpretation. It is an allegory on grooming. Disfunctional family, older, powerful women seduce and give you to an even more powerful male who promises you payment in exchange for your life.

[@annabell3385]

How many people immediately tried to find and watch "The Devils?"

[@andreyparente9610]

I did

[@andreyparente9610]

It is downloaded

[@lemonhead4368]

I did. Successfully.

[@andreyparente9610]

@@lemonhead4368 have u watched?! Im Still procrastinanting on it

[@blackbennybouvierdesmond1042]

​@@lemonhead4368Where did you find it?!

[@QueerComics1994]

In regards to the VVitch: I think you may have a negative read of the ending. The VVitch has a happy ending because of what the witches represent in the film. Tomasin is about to become a woman in the film, and due to the time period she lives in, everyone in her life uses her and tells her what to be. She is commanded, objectified, blamed, disregarded, ostracized, and lusted after for being a woman. The witches and Black Phillip offer a way out of her oppression, asking if she'd like to live deliciously. Eventually, she agrees to leave behind the society that didn't value her as a person and become a witch, one of her own agency and without oppression from her peers. After she is freed from her family and enters the circle, she is literally lifted off of the Earth. She rises above what society deems she should be and lives by her own rules. Black Philip and the Witches are not the villains, Puritanism and paranoia are.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

I really like that reading of the film, and to be honest with you I have never looked at it that way, so thank you for that. The last shot of her floating and laughing works really well under that view, as I had always taken it as her going insane in a similar way to a similar moment in Midsomer. I especially like it when taken out of the context of history, because I do still have a problem with their being no men around the fire, but less so in that reading. I think the biggest thing I struggle with in the film is that everything is so open, what I saw as being very negative you see as a positive thing, and I don't think there is a problem with either way of looking at the story at all, but I do wish that there was just something else small in the film for me at least that allowed us to know more about her as a character. I have probably watched it about five or six times now, and I can't tell a lot about her as a person, maybe that is the point. A lot of stuff happens to her, and you can read into that in several different ways. It is a movie that I have wanted to like for years, and has probably been for me one of the most challenging horror films I have ever seen in that regard. But while I'm going to stick with how I see it, I also really like that take on it and is one of my favorites that I have seen. I still don't like how overtly evil the witches are shown to be though in that lens though. I don't mind Satanic witches being very evil personally, but I like them to be evil in an open inclusive way that doesn't agree with the Catholics, like I said about Rosemary's Baby or Hereditary. I ran that section of the video on The Witch past a lot of my friends before publishing it and they all told me that I probably shouldn't include it but I did anyways. Even though I'm not a huge fan of The Witch, I do still find myself thinking about it a lot and was one of the reasons I made this series actually. It started out months ago as a video about The Witch vs. Hereditary and sort of grew from there, and it is something that I will probably continue to think about, so thank you for sharing that view. I will rewatch it eventually with that in mind, I need a bit of a break from witches at the moment though haha sorry for the long comment, but you have given me something to think about and I appreciate that.

[@QueerComics1994]

@@InPraiseofShadows good to know. I really like your videos and just wanted to give my 2 cents. As for the other witches being evil, it is titled "a new england folktale" so in my personal reading, the story is being told from the perspective of a new Englander who is equally afraid of witches and sees them as evil, but what actually happened was Tomasin left her family to be in a coven in the woods or something.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

@@QueerComics1994 Thanks man, I appreciate that, and I could totally see that as well and I think it works. I always love hearing stuff like that from people because I would have never seen that side of it at all. I would have never seen the film as possibly having a happy ending before. Have you caught The Lighthouse yet? I really want to see that but haven't gotten around to it. I love atmospheric horror, and he does do atmosphere shockingly well. I will always remember that shot of the family on their knees blessing the land in The Witch, I think it is my favorite shot from that movie. So I am hoping it is as good as I'm hearing it is, I want to see it this week hopefully.

[@QueerComics1994]

@@InPraiseofShadows not yet but I love A24 films so I will eventually check it out. I still need to see Midsommar but its hard to find 3 free hours to watch it.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

I hope you like it when you check it out. I loved that one, so far it’s my favorite of 2019 I think, either that or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But I have missed a good bit of movies this year that I need to catch up on. But usually I will check out anything A24, they are always at least interesting and sit with me longer than most stuff tends too.

[@chaoticfirearm]

The amount of time and care you put into this project is astounding. I applaud you.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you, I really wanted to get this series right and is the project I’m most proud of so I’m really glad you liked it.

[@greenvelvet]

"The Devils' looks like the craziest movie, I've never heard about. I need to see this....for jesus

[@quianabell9699]

It's one of the best films ever. It's fucking nuts.

[@hermestrismagistos3145]

I'm dying to see it to. Sucks it's not available anywhere. Had an issue finding the 1981 film 'Possession' starring Sam Neill and the incredible and gorgeous French actress Isabelle Adjani unless I wanted to pay over $100 for some limited release box set. But finally came across a Korean bootleg. It was a great disturbing and at times funny arthouse lovecraftian horror movie. Highly recommend it.

[@mikepatrick5909]

Crazy movies are what Ken Russell is famous for..

[@ThreeNinjaDucks]

Those poor kitties that's the saddest part of the video for me

[@TeddyTeddyTeddyTeddyTeddy]

So you did scary clowns You did witches Whats next how about The Devil itself i wanna see you talk about mister Lucifer Or zombies

[@GremlinBones]

or werewolves or vampires So many "trope" monsters to be examined, all incredibly interesting histories and sub-messages.

[@TeddyTeddyTeddyTeddyTeddy]

Kelsey Valeska I know right I’m surprised there aren’t more of these kind of retrospective/history videos

[@jellyjub1690]

if he was talking about the devil he would talk about paganini

[@edienandy]

The devil would actually be a really good topic. So much of what people actually imagine and think of when the hear “Satan” comes from pop culture and not the Bible or clergymen or anything like that.

[@Xenunnaki]

@@GremlinBones Personally I'd like to see how aliens in fiction evolved from little green men to what we see today

[@Ilovemahmochi]

I’m cry that you didn’t cover the beautiful Suspiria remake but thank you for covering one of my favorite movies, The Belladonna of Sadness. I watched it until the very end. Great work.

[@colinarmis]

omg exactly same! i came for belladonna but got disappointed by no suspiria 2018

[@NessNayii]

Oh no! I'm part way through this, and came here specifically for his take on the wonderful Suspiria 2018. What a wasted opportunity: S'18 has such a wonderfully rich vein of subtext to mine, so many facets to explore. I'll probably watch the rest of the video, because so far it is very good...but I am disappointed.

[@Liiimes]

Agreed, it was the only movie I was looking forward to seeing his take on before watching this video. I loved the suspiria remake so much. :)

[@Scrofar]

Well, for the record he did mention the remake by name when he reached the 2010s, as one of the 'really fun pieces of media that involved witches.' I'm not sure if there's a difference between either version, bu I imagine since he liked the orig 70s Suspiria, he probably had nothing to add on in regards to the remake.

[@vi0let831]

I SEE BELLADONNA OF SADNESS, I CLICK.

[@TrippyKitty08]

Same. It needs to be talked about more often.

[@erincarr9411]

One of the most amazing little known movies EVER!

[@thekaijumaster200x3]

It is probably one of the most gorgeous and haunting pieces of cinema of all time.

[@chelseacristoffor]

Yesss a whole video about that film would be much appreciated 💗

[@Scrofar]

me: vows I could never watch Belladonna of Sadness again after the first time also me: grabs every vid essay that features it

[@TamTam-rq4nc]

It's such a shame that the Devils has been kept a secret for such a long time. I truly hope it gets a proper release and the recognition it deserves.

[@liminalquartz]

This history of witches series is a masterpiece, I binged it because I literally couldn't stop. Insightful and informative as well as absolutely fascinating! This is the best "documentary" I've seen in literally years. I can't imagine how much work went into making this. Bravo and thanks!!

[@quianabell9699]

I must say, this was one of the most enjoyable documentaries ever made.

[@Criticlysm]

Phenomenal work. All three installments are fantastically crafted.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@alexandersmith7061]

I just realized that Harry Potter had two best friends, making them a group of three

[@edienandy]

Mathing is hard lol

[@yourbrandnewobsession9821]

Edie &Andy no it’s because 3 had to do with witchcraft 😩

[@susanwatson6175]

11111

[@DarkMuj]

a "holy trinity" if you will

[@vaninaduncan7658]

As a french girl, I am very glad you covered The Devils, though the real story of the possessed nuns of Loudun is just about a territory conflict between Grandier and Lauverndun.

[@shadowartist8892]

It usually stuff like that, isn't it?

[@nextos]

I had the complete opposite viewing of the vvitch. The whole film is an onslaught of the Cruelty of nature, the vast and malicious uncaring similar to your reading of the lovecraft's Witch story. Tomasin is the only character in the family without "sin" and she is given mercy at the end of the film by being shown how to survive in the chaos of nature. If the film had ended with her resting on the table she would have starved to death and the film would of been a hopeless Tragedy. Tomasin joining the black coven has her triumphing against adversity, breaking her bonds and surviving this harsh world. To me it's a happy ending in an extremely bleak film. With your comment on how it fails to critique the real life events. I disagree. The film shows the puritanical belief system to be one of failure and fear. It leads the family to be exiled from the community. Starves them. And breaks the family against itself. Cannibalism (especially of children) was common during the long colonial winters (both familial and strangers). Nothing can justify the witch burnings nor any of the atrocities done to women of this time . However I feel that taking out the supernatural elements and leaving it a story about solitary women who steal and eat unguarded children/animals during a fruitless winter, is a much worse solution to the films historical context. I really enjoyed this series, You got me to finally watch the witches of eastwick and I loved it. Thanks for all the work you put in and goodluck with this amazing channel :)

[@zm1055]

I agree, VVitch does an amazing job of showcasing puritanical society's view on women at the time on a small isolated scale and twisting it into a reclaiming of that femenity despite the tragic events. It's both a great period piece and commentary on how the views on womanhood and witches themselves evolved. I feel like a lot of people look over these aspects to the film, I myself did before rewatching it and having it grow on me. Shame it clearly hasn't grown on others yet

[@nextos]

@BLAQ JOKER tomasin has as much blame as any of the family. If you think she intentionally let the baby get taken then you have a very different viewing of the film to me.

[@gonzalofelixpanchowhartons4993]

Súperb review-00bc-2099@f-n I done did do did dig thomasin u genius but i van't sex with thomasin's pa or steppa

[@nopatiencejoe6376]

@BLAQ JOKER I don't think she could have done much to prevent the baby from literally disappearing into thin air...

[@naegling]

@BLAQ JOKER except we saw the baby's dissappearence from Thomasin perspective, so we know she didn't intentionally let the baby get taken, she wasn't neglectful either

[@debalinadas6474]

I cannot even imagine the effort, research and love that went into the making of this absolutely wonderful series. I've just started reading up on the witch burnings in Assam, and I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly helpful this series has been. So thank you so much for this!

[@setadriftonfishandchips]

Watching this during pandemic. You put a lot of effort into this. You've earned a sub.

[@joshuataft5541]

True statement .its a great vidio

[@District9Prawn]

Bless you for uploading this on my day off! Your work is criminally underrated and some of the best video essays I've seen on this site.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Glad it worked out! Thank you for the kind words, that makes me really happy to know.

[@Rahshu]

My interpretation of "The Witch" was that the girl had spent her entire life praying faithfully to God, trying to be good, doing what everyone told her, and suffering every hardship and austerity for the sake of salvation. Yet in her lowest moment when she had no one, she finally reached out to Satan. He answered back immediately and clearly. Contrast this with God who never once made answered her prayers or even made himself known to her in the smallest way, no matter how fervent her prayers. Satan spoke to her and asked what she wanted. Had anyone ever asked he what she wanted? This may have been the first time someone ever did. Satan offered her that, offered her pleasure and power for the first time in her life. All she had to do was give over her soul with was the same price God had. As far as she could tell, there was no God or that he didn't care. If God wanted to save humanity, he should take a few pages out of the devil's book instead hiding and expecting humans to make his excuses. At least, that was how I read it, and I found that exceedingly provocative. Still, your take makes some interesting points. It did make a point to be very historical, and sometimes going too far in that direction can rob a story of a genuine soul. Maybe it would have been better as a docudrama about the time and place in which it was set. Of course, these days, everything seem to be suffering a crisis of identity, trying to be all things but yet nothing itself. I think it's a theme that also came across in your video about the decline in book covers for horror novels. You could say similar things about advertisement, movies, games, books, music, interior design (especially in malls), and fashion. Is it any wonder everything is looking to the past to get things with personality?

[@karlijnlike4lane]

I enjoyed this series a lot & will be subscribing. I do though want to offer another perspective on The VVITCH, which you pan (for purposes of this study) bkz it "doesn't take a stance" sociologically: I'm afraid what you might be objecting to is that it doesn't take the particular stance you personally want in a witch film. If I'm paraphrasing correctly, your observation is that the main character [appears to] falls into the same trap set for women by the Malleum instead of using her eventual social liberation to set her own course apart from a Satanic union. I believe that that is part of the filmmakers' point, though not all of it. As you must know, setting herself free from within, independently, psychologically, might make a more satisfying ending for you, but would be socially anachronistic. Think about the social milieu of her upbringing: The cathechism Caleb gets put through by the father, she would have received from the mother, along with the encyclopedic rules for women in Puritan society. This is her claustrophobic psychological world. We're given no explicit insight into her internal life or motivations bkz it's all implied; but understanding both filmmaking & women's history as you seem to, you're obliged to understand that you're expected to empath her internal life & put yrself in her shoes - not as the protagonist in a story for someone's entertainment but as someone like her in her position in that situation. Until she's put thru the progressive expulsions of being (1) exiled from a larger society along with her family, (2) exposed to the idea of witchness via her confrontation with the energy of the woods, her guilt over her baby brother's kidnapping, Caleb's coma, fit, & death, and the chaos element of the twins, and (3) (via her mother) of being labeled personally misfit for her native family environment & a bad influence on them, she has no motivation or means of thinking outside the box of dutiful Xian daughter she's been socialized into. She has no role model for acting socially independently until, finally left to her own devices, she does choose a new path rather than the old one, which has clearly failed her & everything she had relied on & believed. She doesn't return to the village, as she could have, with no living witnesses to counter whatever cover story she might invent - now that would've been interesting to see what she'd have done with that. Instead, accepting the only acceptable offer before her, she ventures out to find what role models might be out there - she prefers the unknown. (We might have access to the Malleum, but she wouldn't have.) I don't feel its failure to live up to your personal expectations for a subgenre of "witch horror" is a useful critique, but as a librarian I'm perhaps a little less genre-focused. That may sound surprising, but the fact is that all genre, all classification schemes, are artificial and inexact. I found it much more historical sociopsychology of family dynamics than horror, even with the gore, jump scares, hysterics, and Grimm-staged tensions, which were gorgeous and great. I think you're missing your own point in faulting a work of art for being no more than it claims to be; ultimately you can only take a work as it is. You may need to refine and decide whether your content is meant to be scholarly thruout and to be taken seriously to the end, or whether the whole exercise is just a vehicle for your personal movie reviews; because while I understand the historical background of part 1 informs the analysis of parts 2 & 3, for me either one is fine but the mixture is jarring, at least not without some disclaimer as to the shift in tone. Otherwise I think your scholarship & analysis were great & i look forward to checking out some of the subject works, if i can find them.

[@auroradlg154]

This is pretty much how I felt the VVitch too. I did not see a woman succumbing to Satan out of weakness, but a woman who took the one escape that seemed to allow her to live a little in the context of her knowledge and society. Before the movie ended, I knew this was the only ending in which she lived that could make sense and without some Deus Ex machina plot twist. To me it does not agree with the Malleum, as the text says women choose to be witches out of temptation, while the movie implies that women become witches because society pushes them to be so or accept a life of repression. The fact only female witches are shown does not seem to me to imply only women are weak enough to succumb to Satan, but that only women suffered that claustrophibic situation. In less words, the Malleum blames women, and the film blames society. Of course, this is just an opinion and as any human being, I can be biased. Other than the assesment on this film in particular, I loved this series and I am suscribing too. I now have a pretty cool "must watch" list too.

[@zm1055]

Devils is such an astounding film. It's literally been robbed of the respect it deserves. I first saw it years ago when I was like 13 or 14 by torrenting it on pirates bay. It was a weird cut that was the dvd version but had the uncut scenes spliced back in, albeit in much worse quality and the wrong aspect ratio

[@e.nataliareyeshdez.3557]

"Elsa is a witch" is a statement I never thought to ever hear but I'm glad to

[@misha_helen]

This series has honestly been an emotional rollercoaster, I loved it as I also thank you for all of your time and effort put into this masterpiece.

[@EmmaHollen]

SPOILERS AHEAD for The Witch (by R. Eggers)) How interesting! I read "The Witch" in a completely different way. For me it condemns catholic religion and in a way consecrates witches. The father is proud (there are many visual and thematic links created between him and Jesus), the mother is greedy (all she can talk about is her silver cup) and the brother lusts after his sister, while the twins are lying little devils. Thomasin is the only one who strives to be good to everyone, without relying on the religious principles that the family seems so obsessed about. Their bigotry (including their obsession with witches) is what ultimately makes her break down You can see how benevolent she is throughout the whole movie (in the last scene, when she's killing her mother, she tells her that she loves her), and somehow, because her parents are so blind to it because all that matters is what the Bible says, it all amounts to nothing (or rather to the loss of everything) for her. For me, "The Witch" illustrates how religion ostracised women (hence the female witches) and clouded people's judgement with empty words and empty morals (the people who led witches to the stake were no better than Thomasin's parents). In my opinion, the witches of the first part of the movie are only here to remind us of the folklore that was still very present in people's mind back then. These inserts are not here to show us what's really happening in the woods: they are part of the atmosphere, a projection of the family's psyche and cultural background. When Thomasin becomes a witch, for me it is on the illustration of how she breaks down and goes crazy (hence the only magical elements of the movie, reality breaks with her), how this society has created the monster they so wanted her to be. It is almost a metaphor for a long session of torture and how people were forced to confess that they were witches. Another explanation could be that Black Philip is in fact God in disguise, who rewards her in the end by freeing her (she is ascending, and is naked, possibly illustrating her going back to a garden of Eden? This interpretation sounds less solid to me). Either way, it is a sort of origins story of witches (still in my opinion), and I loved how Eggers cleverly wrote it. But... yeah, it's all down to personal interpretation :)

[@lockandloadlikehell]

I'm pretty sure the Puritans would have slaughtered Catholics on sight lol

[@tofu6165]

the only thing i disliked in this whole video was the take on practical magic bc i just adore the movie. however, i do know its messy and can be difficult to watch so i get it

[@pinkdolly]

I LOVE that you gave your thoughts on Inferno!!!! That is SUCH an underrated movie... but you’re right, it is total chaos!

[@alexisfreeborn9547]

I was up until 2 am watching all of the three part series... I am floored at the depth and breadth of works you covered. The time and care you put into creating these videos, the imagery, the narration... addicting! I feel like I learned SO much and enjoyed every second of it! Thank you for captivating my imagination and my interest, you are amazing at what you do!!!

[@Liiimes]

Absolutely love love loved this series. I had no expectations when I clicked on the first video Witch of yours, quickly turned out to be a youtube hidden treasure for a horror lover like myself, especially when it comes to witches, ghosts and halloween :) I personally loved that you included your own opinions in both the art, film and history on the subject. Can't wait to see what you release this halloween, I'm hoping for ghosts/spirits but whatever it is I'm sure it will be great! Definitely will become a patreon.

[@MikuSoda]

I can't wait for your channel to blow up. The quality on the production of this videos are off the chart, I'm so happy I stumble with this, my new favorite channel

[@tituslafrombois1164]

2.3k? You deserve that decimal being moved AT LEAST two places to the right.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks man, hopefully one day haha things have been doing well lately though so I feel good with how things are going so far.

[@TheSionThomas]

You are absolutely right! KZbin film reviews analysis (if you can call it that) that just basically describe the plot back to you beat by beat is so boring and not very interesting. Yes, I can see it happening we’ve watched the same thing. I think your channel is fantastic for its detailed discussions in terms of context, theme and meaning. You have a level of insight and observation that far surpasses those who review with mocking wit to cover their lack of depth Keep up the good work

[@IndigobluBeauty]

Excellent documentary. The Witch is one of my favorite films...I see it completely different - she was actually driven to accept her femininity based on what so I was telling her and in fact was driven mad to this as well. Neon Demon is another excellent witch movie...check it out if you haven’t!

[@Orishibu]

Holy hell, this series of videos is amazing! Without a doubt the best pieces of media to deal with these subjects I have ever come across, at least from an informative aspect. + I got movie recommendations for the next decade or so. This channel is simply top notch in general, thanks so much for this!

[@frederickburke9944]

In Wizard of Oz when the witch cries, "I'm melting! I'm melting!" In the book she actually does melt, like the nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Then dorothy sweeps the remaining sludge out the door with a broom.

[@TimZoet]

After just finishing this 3 part series, I gotta just compliment you on your work. I cannot imagine how much time must've went into the making of these videos. Thank you for your work and I'm subscribing right now

[@haovyhoang1860]

8:55 "1950s was the last real decade of the good witch period" lol modern anime witches says hi

[@naegling]

now you mention it, i realize maho shojo's should be count as witches so the good witch period have never really ended in japan

[@ajdynon]

@@naegling In fact, an alternate word for "mahou shoujo" is "majokko", or "young witch". And the first ever magical girl, Mahoutsukai Sally, was directly inspired by the American TV show "Bewitched".

[@ajdynon]

As an aside, if you're interested in the history of the magical girl genre, check out the "Mahou Profile" video series by ErynCerise.

[@Sssilk84]

I really appriciate the effort you put in this 3 part series. Great topic and detailed breakdown. Keep up the great work and props from Holland!

[@CatalinaRoaPereira]

I thought you were going to talk some of "Charmed" the 2000's tv show...

[@luanaudio]

I missed that too, but he focused more on films

[@cma3304]

@@luanaudio Yes, but he also mentioned Wizards of Waverly Place... now that I think about it, he didn't mention Sabrina the Teenage Witch or the recent remake, Chilling Tales of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Just thought it was weird that they were not mentioned.

[@cma3304]

I thought so too

[@FAInsanity]

Jeez guys. He's only human. He probably forgot when he wrote the script plus the video is already almost 2 hours long. Chill.

[@MelanieJean1031]

He talks about Sabrina in the last two.

[@FadeIn2Obscurity]

I have binged practically all of your videos. Out of all the people on KZbin who do video essays like this, yours are by far the most well researched and intriguing. Your level of detail and passion for the subject matter is very evident. And you present your opinions on media in ways that even if I disagree with you, I am at least able to see where you are coming from and can respect your viewpoints. You don’t yell or scream or play a character in these, you come off as genuine, as yourself. It’s so refreshing to watch and listen to.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you very much, I’m really glad you like the videos and that really does mean a ton to me.

[@Basey]

Belladonna of Sadness is one of my favorite movies. I never would have watched it except I saw a quote from it (while randomly scrolling through IG one day), along with a picture from the film, and was instantly intrigued. Will have to check out some of your other mentions that I haven't yet seen.

[@morriganlestrange3853]

Wow, I just watched this entire series. Excellent! This held my attention through the entire series, almost completely without any interruption. I really appreciate all the work and care you put into this, it's quite mind-blowing to see something so well-crafted here on KZbin.

[@PenTangleify]

I also recommend A Dark Song ... independent film about the abremalin rituals. Really enjoyable for occult and film enthusiasts

[@BridgetteBentley]

It’s one of my faves. Very creepy!

[@iWillowBee]

And now I will re-watch part 3 with a notepad to write down all the movies I need to see now! Great series, thank you!

[@DainDenham]

Love this whole series! So informative and entertaining! I love your commentary so much. Everything about your videos is perfect. Thank u

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you that is very kind, I’m really glad you liked the videos!

[@PijiPlays]

What a finale, WOW! This series captivated me from start to finish. I commented on the previous two videos but I've got to say it again, you put so much effort and hard work into this I've been blown away! Thank you! Looking forward to watching more of your work. Best wishes!

[@LittleRedTeaCake]

One again, I am in awe. This was so wonderful to watch and so informative. I now have lengthy list of movies that I need to watch and I am not mad about it. I do have a few notes on two of the movies: "I Married A Witch" the issues didn't just come from her pranks, they HATED each other and sought to make it as miserable as possible for each other. And for Jimmy Stewart, he was actually extremely uncomfortable with the age difference. The only reason he agreed to the movie was because of his contract with the studio. After it, he stopped taking roles for romantic leads and only chose characters who were already married. Thank you again for this. I really and truly enjoyed it. I can't begin to properly explain just how exceptional I find your work. It's clear that you're passionate about the topic and if you're faking it, then holy shit, you're even more amazing and I mean that in the best way possible. I hope you have a lovely day and enjoy your break because you have more than earned it. Happy Halloween!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you so much! That made me really happy to read so thank you for that. I didn't know that about Stewart with the contract, I'm glad he too thought it was weird haha he came to my town a little before I was born, and I always grew up really liking him in old Hitchcock stuff when I was a kid, so I'm glad to learn that. I am also really happy that you enjoyed the videos, that means a ton to me and I think it is awesome, so thank you. I will always make videos on stuff I am passionate about. I've learned I can't do videos that cover topics I'm not into in some way, which admittedly probably holds me back as a KZbinr a little because when I try to make videos on things that are currently very popular that I don't find personally interesting they end up not getting finished and left abandoned in my hard drive, so I do very much mean everything I say on the channel and do consider each of my videos to be very personal in one way or another. But the channel has been doing much better lately which makes me very happy and hopeful for the future. Thank you for your comment, I hope you have a great Halloween as well, and I hope you enjoy that new long list of movies!

[@Watashiwadeus]

You put a lot of love and work into your videos and it's very evident. This whole series was very informative and cool. Thank you for making this.

[@Boggythefroggy]

I know this is older but just thought I'd mention since I'm not sure if you mentioned it, but The Devils is based off a very real case of demon and witch hysteria in France you can read about in a non-fiction book by Aldous Huxley called The Devils of Loudun! Last Podcast on the Left did a multi-part series on it and it's very interesting for sure.

[@moongodkys5508]

I rewatch this series every few months to catch up on bits I may have missed. Definitely within my top 5 channels. Thank you for your hard work and insight. It means a lot to me and I'm sure it means a lot to others as well.

[@moiseslozano6906]

Amazing video series! The amount of research is outstanding and made me better understand various ways of framing in the subgenre. The only thing that I felt was slightly misplaced was briefly adding Midsommar near the end. I understand it loosely relates to the dissecting the subgenre because of the director's past work/inspirations that are a bit more focused on the term "witch" and the iconography; spells, nature, female sexuality, cults, etc. But that film, to me personally, touches more contemporary topics like interpersonal relationships from all kinds, not just men vs. women, grief as communal practice and I even dare to say The Anthropocene itself. Nevertheless, I'm excited to see what other videos/series you come up in the future!

[@prabhdeepsingh5642]

The amount of research you have done in this series is unbelievable. It will take months for an average person just to see the movies or read the material which you have refernced in this series. A big thank you for making this.

[@ottobaron6392]

19:17 You cut off my favorite part of Paul Frees incantations where he says " And consider this dismaying observation: this theater has no windows and no doors… which offers you this chilling challenge: to find a way out! (Laughs.)

[@FairyGodMuthaNina]

I just binged on all three of your videos in the Witch series and all I can say is BRAVO hands down the best and most informing, educating and well delivered take on KZbin regarding the history of witches from back then til now! Thank you.

[@GremlinBones]

During the segment on Belladonna animation, he reiterates that a witch's hair is thought to be a source of power or have magic of some sort. For some reason, it only dawned on me here, but I thought of the story of Samson in the bible. His source of power is his hair. It is literally what gives him his power, even though he is a believer in God. I guess it's sort of conduit of God's power in him there. So when it is cut off and he is chained up, he no longer possesses his inhuman strength until he believes again (or something along those lines, it's been a long time since I read that story). But I just thought this was an interesting comparison to make.

[@julietagarcia8955]

Amazing three part video, you really give an insight on everything! History, mythology, social/politics subtle points of view, religion, entertainment without grasping for air, thank you!

[@mrjolieguy8673]

Suggesting a possibility that “Carrie” in a way could be a Witch & how She fits the “Witch Criteria” is a great valid theory 👌🏼 I Never had thought to see “Carrie” as being “witchy” . 🤯🤭😱😲 Now though, having seen your points here, I say that she was a witch all along👌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😉

[@joshuataft5541]

Totaly agree...also I love your thumbnail photo..realy cool

[@mrjolieguy8673]

@Joshua Taft ☺️😊aw thanks Very nice of u to say👍😉✌🏼

[@rachellydiab]

Please never stop making videos, I’ve learnt so much from your channel!!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks!

[@burtbiggum499]

The Witch didnt need to make a stand on the morality of the times it was depicting. Nobody in 2015 thought the treatment of witches was justified. Not every movie needs to take a stance. I dont think Heriditary took a stupid stance either it was just a fantastic movie.

[@tonywords6713]

Exactly the fact that these movies never wink at you or tell you how to feel is what makes them so effective. Similarly w Scorsese in Goodfellas or the Wolf of Wall Street

[@lowrider276]

Not everything you watch needs to validate your opinions. It's actually fine when someone feels different about something as low stakes as movie

[@kirkwoodpaterson9510]

Totally captivating documentary, well laid out and doesn't force any particular narrative on its audience. It's just a fascinating historical document.

[@bonnibelbuboltz9234]

No Paranorman? Darn. Still, this is an amazing series.

[@katrinademontia456]

Thank you!!! I thought I was the only one...

[@fozziek]

The analyses you made for every decade really hit home; they actually made me rethink my views on the VVitch. Very, very informative and well made.

[@Morthagg]

You've probably already gotten quite a bit of comments about your feelings towards the vvitch, but I want to add: In my opninion, nothing in the film points its finger towards Thomasin as being weak or destined to fall for the Devil. Everything points towards societal and religious structures punishing a person for being young and a woman so much, that in the end she can do nothing but embrace it and turn it into her power (for better or worse). It seems to me like the Devil only takes advantage of the prejudices of society, not that those prejudices were correct in the first place. If you even want to take the ending as literally as that. I've always left it in the middle. The symbolism of her being innocent all the way through the film, until she has been blamed for and lost everything, and then embracing (internally or actually) all the evil (an freedom!) she has been branded with anyway, didn't really need an actual devil, to me. EDIT: oh before I forget: I fucking love this series you've made :D go you!

[@linwong1494]

My watch list has been expanded so much because of this series. I've never heard of Rosemary's Baby but now I feel the urge to give it a watch, with all the praise you've given it. Thanks for another great video dude!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

No problem! And yeah Rosemary’s Baby is both one of my favorite books and movies, I would definitely recommend checking one of them out. They are both worth it in my opinion.

[@foxdie49]

Wonderful video! Except for the close-minded, ideological take on the VVitch... the film does not need nor should critique the time period or its perceptions more than what already does. It's a "what if", about how things would have been if a witch were to be what the church said it was at the time in a horror context. With pixel-perfect cinematography and probably the most interesting characters in the genre I've seen in a very long time. That without mentioning the depiction of calvinist puritans and their god fearing supersticion which was borderline insane and a joy to watch and a critique in itself, presenting a fanatical approach to religion and a patriarchal structure that in the end doomed the entire family because of the pride and self righteousness of the father figure. It's a film with hundreds of layers, none of which are a glorification of religious fanatism or sexist views. I don't see a world where either hereditary or Midsomar are better than the VVitch in any capacity (although I do like them too), but I guess that's a matter of taste. Your channel is great, but for the sake of it, I would recomend that you avoid becoming an ideologue and apreciate things for what they are, not what you think it is politcally correct for them to be. This overall series was a blast to watch for me, and it is without a doubt a series I'll come back to for references and information, but The VVitch segment took me out of it completely, felling more like an article of buzzfeed or another propagandistic outlet than the opinion of a well versed expert on the subject. In any case, this is the most interesting channel I've seen in a while and I wish you the best. Cheers from Mexico.

[@tonywords6713]

Excellent comment

[@juliencastle2953]

Exactly!

[@AveGoddess]

I appreciate your perspective, because everyone has a right to their own opinion. Yes, even the creator of this magical informative series. I LOVE How he expresses HIS own Opinion and feelings on certain thing's. Its GREAT! Because it does present the open invitation for all of us to interact and Express our own personal perceptions of what we take away from certain aspects of certain works of filmakers storytelling. I Love the friendly open dialogue he promotes. Yes it is very informative, however he isn't stating that his personal viewpoints are in any such way a definitive dogmatic fact for any of us to mindless adhere to. BRAVO! Such Great Infotainment! LOVE IT! Def gonna share the series to my Facebook page so more to enjoy & enlighten🙌👏👍

[@JamieRogersSites]

that’s exactly the critique i would make. his pc tendencies is one of the only qualms i have with this channel. otherwise, he’s smart, passionate, and dedicated

[@williamerickson520]

I agree with this assessment. I too enjoy Zane's work but find the repeated use of "progressive" buzzwords to be completely asinine and particularly out of place in the context of horror. But what can one really expect out of the indoctrination camps laughably called public education in the US. I hope schools in Mexico have not been infected with this lunacy.

[@okha8452]

Thank you so, so much for this series. It has been an absolute blast to learn so much more about a topic I have been extremely interested in.

[@macey463]

These analyses are some of the best I've seen period - not just on witches but in general. You make some great points, I can see your dedication to explaining and showcasing all the representation and frankly it is amazing. Thank you.

[@druidriley3163]

"The lead character doesn't even consider the place might be haunted when she arrives..." Um, does ANYone do that in real life?

[@hollerinannes7780]

Bitch, I do!

[@monagorgan7288]

This is the best series about witches in media i've seen! Cheers from Romania.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks!

[@SuperRat420]

FUCK YEAH, HAPPY HALLOFUCKINGWEEEEEEEEEEN!

[@laurastrobel718]

Just came across your channel a few days ago You know so much about history and cinema (2 of my favorite subjects) Plus enjoy the comment section much knowledge there as well Thanks ☺💝

[@brianlogan4243]

Hey folks, Ive seen the uncut Ken Russell's The Devils. A lot was left out of this description. It was banned for the sexual scenes and the crucifix orgy and as I understood it, possession not witchcraft was the theme. Maybe Im wrong?

[@JBrodo]

I haven't seen the film, but I just looked it up on wiki because another user here pointed out it is based on true events. The description from wiki says, "The film is a dramatised historical account of the rise and fall of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century Roman Catholic priest accused of witchcraft following the supposed possessions in Loudun, France;". So look at that! Witchcraft and possession!

[@mmickle6191]

The third portion of a magnificent documentary. I was astounded by the sustained quality throughout all three parts. So thorough in detail. I've seen The Devils - it's a wonderful piece of film making. Everyone who watches this documentary series NEEDS to see it.

[@icanhazursoul89]

While I greatly disagree with your interpretation of The Witch, this was a wonderful series and I really hope to see more deep dives like this in the future.

[@wmdiink6697]

Can't believe this stuff is FREE. It's 10 times better than most docs on the subject. Kudos! I am also a Patreon.

[@ethantyrer2836]

Although I don't agree with your critique of The Witch, I can't praise the amount of effort you've put into this series... As for my standpoint on your critique, I think you more hate the ideologies of the depicted time that the movie itself. The witch portrays the common perspective on witches at the time, I don't believe that it is intended to be a statement on these ideologies at all. I think when you can watch this as more of a portrayal of a past mindset, it becomes more interesting and to me, more enjoyable. However, that is just my opinion and everyone's thoughts and opinions may vary when it comes down to a movie like The Witch... (I am interested in your opinion on a movie like The Lighthouse though) I appreciate all your videos, especially this series. So please, keep it up

[@booksense7910]

Just finished this series! Thank you so much for taking the time to make it. I learned of history and art I wasn't aware of before. And I was reminded of some movies, art, and literature that are dear to me. I'm starting The Belladonna of Sadness now. Thanks again!

[@Mezelenja]

I d o n o t share your opinions on The VVitch but GOD DAMN this series was amazing man. Good shitt.

[@vanceadrianeangayan4127]

When I finished this 3-part documentary/video essay, I wanted to clap. This has just become my new favorite youtube channel. I am inlove with your work.

[@leobewley375]

Why would you give this a thumbs down? This is incredible

[@franciscop9009]

Ah dang, I was really hoping you'd touch on the Bayonetta series of games' depiction of witchcraft. Geez though, this was a great series to watch. Thank you so much for it! I loved every minute of your passion and historical descriptions and dissections.

[@nico_zero]

I pretty much love everything about this series, but I strongly disagree with your views on The VVitch and not merely out fanboyishness (although I will admit that I am a huge fan of the film). I think you got too caught up in a sociological and historical interpretation of the witch narratives as instruments of societal misogyny that you wouldn't just accept the supernatural elements as literal. I do agree with you on the fact witch-hunts were basically a misogynistic campaign of genocide against, mostly, women (you never phrased with these words though). But I don't think contemporary narratives involving witches should necessarily be a deconstruction of character or to present them only in a positive or sympathetic light, nor do I think the fantastical elements of film the should be interpreted exclusively in symbolic terms or as a taking place only in the mind of psychologically distressed characters. I actually think it's quite cynic and "adult male-centered" to dismiss the witness of a reality, whether psychological or factual, of a "boy lost in the woods & scared" and a "woman lost in grief". Maybe it's them, the children and women, those who are sensitive to the supernatural and most vulnerable to it, just like they're the most vulnerable under patriarchy. Double threat I guess. However, unlike patriarchal society, witchcraft does offer some sort of liberation to them, in an ambiguous and maybe immoral way to the mainstream standards. But expecting the film to represent only a commentary on the oppression of women and deprive it from any fantastical and horror elements, it's cynical. I actually like that the witches are real and magical and satanic, in the film. Sure they do evil things, but didn't the witch-hunters did the same? Wasn't it religious mores and superstition that forced Thomasin's family into their tragedy? Wasn't the decision of the pater familias out of pride to put his whole family in danger? Wasn't his lie about the silver cup the reason of his wife's resentment and hatred towards Thomasin? I don't think the witches here are portrayed in an unsympathetic way. I do think that Thomasin becoming a witch was actually freeing and empowering for her, and the demise of her family was actually caused, not by the witches, but by society's oppression of individuals. It was puritanical fanaticism that caused her tragedy and ultimately forced her to become a witch. They've reaped what they have sown. And from that perspective, Thomasin as a witch is an infinitely more relatable and sympathetic and even revolutionary character that one that would just turn the other cheek and let herself be sacrificed again by her oppressors.

[@DMHayes]

40,000-50,000 people, a quarter male, across several hundred years and two continents is not genocide.

[@NeloBladeOfRanni]

@@DMHayes that is a genocide they were trying to genocide the followers of the old ways (thank the goddess they failed)

[@mishapurser7542]

I can't tell you how grateful I am that you created this trilogy of masterpieces. It must have been a lot of work and it shows that it was a labour of love. I've learnt so much about what it means to be a witch and gained a much more nuanced understanding of witches in general. It's like an entire university module in 3-4 hours.

[@davidkennedy6998]

I think Roger Ebert's review of Ken Russell's "The Devils" was meant to be sarcastic all the way through. I'm a huge fan of the film by the way, but Ebert seems to be implying that the lurid events of the film are irrelevant to him and that he kind of resents being shown them. Especially with the line, "I entered the theater as an unwitting participant in the atrocities of our time. But believe me, that's all behind me now." This line is totally venomous. Ebert obviously doesn't actually mean that, and he seems genuinely insulted by the idea that Ken Russell's film about medieval France has any relevance to the present at all. At every turn, Ebert implies that The Devils is a story that didn't need to be told.

[@laurastrobel718]

Well Ebert was wrong The story did need to be told ... Russell was a great director and Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave rocked in that film

[@carly7522]

This is an amazing video that has given me so many more movies to enjoy. I can only applaud you on the effort you have put into it. Heartily disagree about Practical Magic, but very interested in exploring The Devils.

[@Sasoriscarecrow]

Hey, I’m just here to say that The Devils is a true story. All of it actually happened. It’s a truly crazy story.

[@JBrodo]

I just looked it up on wikipedia to confirm this, wowww... Thanks for pointing that out!

[@normalphobic]

Amazing series! I was watching while working on my atelier, and i must say... clap, clap, clap. Such an amazing writting with historical references and the analysys of pop culture. Just my cup of tea!

[@leighannenight]

I loved The Witch soooo much!! I can honestly relate to the main character. I kind of enjoyed watching her agree to live deliciously. Women have been severely oppressed throughout history and honestly if you had experienced everything that she had and had absolutely nothing left, why wouldn't you give in? Did she have another choice? There are so many f"d up stereotypes that women are forced into throughout their lives and sometimes you find yourself bending to them because the alternative is despair. No human is evil on the bases of their sex, race, class etc. We are driven to do "evil" things often by the situations we are forced into. And sometimes, we are driven to things that the outside world would perceive as evil. It is only when you relay the story of how this came to be do you understand that your judgements on a person may have been wrong (even if some of their actions were not honorable).

[@joshuataft5541]

We all should try to veiw the world through others eyes.it can be hard but mob mentality and lust for power is true evil.your coment is awsome...I'm worried about the way the world is going but we have come a long ways is actions .👍👍😇

[@lilstinker1949]

Incredible video my dude. I’ve been marathoning all your vids at work and they’ve been making my days easier. excited to see a fellow Ashevillian doing something so rad, too!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you so much man! I'm really glad you like them, sorry for the late reply today was a little crazy for me, but I'm happy they made your day easier. It's cool to see someone from Asheville on here, your'e the first one I have, but I love it here, favorite place I've ever lived at.

[@lilstinker1949]

In Praise of Shadows glad to hear it! Lived here all my life, went to college here, the works, so I’m always glad to hear other people love it

[@johnburn1628]

I have very much enjoyed watching this series! The depth of your research and your editing are fantastic, and the narration is quite good as well. I really enjoy learning about the history of occultism, and particularly enjoyed the sections on Crowley, The Golden Dawwn, and Lavey in part 2, and would love to see a series from you that explores the occult in general. A personal criticism of mine is that I found your repeated condemnation of certain aspects of history off-putting. No historical piece on witches would be complete without an exploration of sexist nature of the witch burnings and some of the representations of witches in media. However, the degree to which you felt the need to re-state your support of feminist ideals throughout this series is an ironic incarnation of today's modern witch-hunt for anything that doesn't explicitly support the PC/SJW cultual war-machine when talking about history. It is critically important to society that we are able to talk about history without feeling the need to reject events, ideas, and people because they are from time with some aspects that don't align with today's cultural norms. This series was awesome overall though, keep doing your thing!

[@burtbiggum499]

John Burn you basically said what l tried to say but with it making more sense

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

Couldn't have said it better myself, bravo.

[@Liiimes]

Don't agree with this at all. He was hardly yapping on like a SJW just because he firmly disagreed with the awful murder, torture, and vilifying of women that has gone on through history. If he can freely give his opinion of art and movies concerning witches, then he can freely give his opinion in rejecting sexism and misoginy that surrounds the subjects of witches.

[@ThisIsEduardoBueno]

@@Liiimes he can. So as John over here can comment on those comments.

[@ThisIsEduardoBueno]

1:15:38 is the best example of what you are saying because it's not even about witch hunt. This plot point really has nothing to do with woman "stand" together or not. The whole concept of the witches fighting at the end of the movie is about how power can change you. Power changes people. Financial, influencial or in this case magical powers can destroy marriages, friendships and other types of unions.

[@galiciaart]

Wow i can't believe that you made a 3 hours plus documentary, that's amazing!!! I love hoe easy to hear and understandable your content is.

[@hermeticxhaote4723]

Haxan is awesome and everyone watching this video should go watch it!

[@Desimcd]

Thank you for making this you truly did an amazing job

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks! I appreciate that.

[@MariaJoseRangelUwU]

I wish you would have talk about coven, sabrina and the glamorization of witches.