30 Movies and Shows Inspired by the Salem Witch Trials

Various Salem Witch Trials Movies and TV Shows Have explored one of the most fascinating and horror-centric events in American history. Witchcraft is a popular topic in the realm of horror and fantasy, but the topic is made all the more impressive when it is based on real events. Many have heard stories about the historical events that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, and several movies and television shows use the infamous Salem Witch Trials as a backdrop or plot point.

The Salem witch trials are a period from 1692 to 1693 in which Massachusetts townspeople were put on trial after being accused of witchcraft. Many documentaries have been made about women who have been killed. This period has inspired many on-screen works about magic, witchcraft and the supernatural. Movies that effectively pay homage to the Salem Witch Trials use the historical event as a jumping-off point for even more terror (and not always in the horror genre), and while many feature evil witches, many also focus on the real-life tragedy. of the events.

1

I Married a Witch (1942)

A witch burned in Salem back in the 20th century

1942s I married a witch May be a little dated, but it remains a charming and funny romantic comedy – one that also has a plot that makes The Salem Witch Trials An integral element. The story (which is based on Thorne Smith’s 1931 novel The Passionate Witch) starts with a witch, Jennifer, and her warlock father, Daniel, who are burned at the stake by Purtian community leader Jonathan Wooley. Fast-forwarding to the then-business day of the 1940s, Jennifer’s spirit reemerges to carry out a curse she placed on Woolley’s male descendants.

Jennifer then tries to seduce Wallace Woolley, although seducing the married aspiring general is no easy task. Her attempts to sway Wallace lead to a series of practical-comedy hijinks. Woolley eventually succumbs to her advances and leaves his wife, though the escapades only escalate when he discovers that his new beau is a witch. Fredric March plays every member of the Woolley family, including Wallace, while Vernoika Lake stars as Jennifer.

2

Hexan (1922)

A fictional documentary retelling of witchcraft’s history

1922s hexane is a horror documentary inspired by the Malleus Maleficarum and other historical artifacts, and is one of the first movies to feature the Salem Witch Trials.. Directed by Benjamin Christensen, the silent era Horror movie takes viewers through the history of witchcraftMixing in dramatizations over to make it a very scary true story retelling. However, it is also controversial thanks to recreating nude torture scenes depicting what happened to people persecuted as witches at the time.

hexane In 1968, re-edited and released in the US, it. Witchcraft through the ages.

hexane was banned in several countries, including the United States. At the time, some critics criticized the film as “anti-religion and anti-clericalism”. The film was re-edited and re-released in the US. it. In 1968, re-titled Witchcraft through the ages And it creates a history of both ancient witch scares and more recent ones, including the Salem Witch Trials.

3

Bell, Book and Candle (1958)

The movie that inspired Bewitched

Academy Award-winning actor James Stewart may be best known for his work with the likes of Frank Capra, George Cuco and Alfred Hitchcock, but in 1958 he took the lead in the supernatural romantic comedy Bell, book and candle. Directed by Richard Quine, this Salem Witch Trials movie used the brutal historical event as the narrative basis for a light-hearted rom-com that went on to inspire TV shows like Captivated.

Bell, book and candle Focuses on Stewart’s boss Henderson alongside multiple Golden Globe winner Kim Novak as Gillian Horroyd, A witch who survived the Salem witch trials and stayed alive long enough to be present in a stereotypical Greenwich village in the 1950s. Bell, book and candle is based on the Broadway show of the same name, and was almost remade by Disney in 2006.

4

The Crucible (2014)

The third adaptation of the play by Arthur Miller

The Crucible is the third film adaptation of Arthur Miller’s 1953 play of the same name. Unlike the 1996 and 1957 versions, which were movies based on the play, The 2014 movie is a production of the stage play itself from the Old Vic. The movie stars Richard Armitage and is directed by Joel Farber. It was filmed during a live performance and was sent to theaters in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland.

As a version of the Arthur Miller play, the story plays out as the original intended, with a Dramatization of the Salem Witch Trialswith many moments fictionalized for narrative purposes. The play itself was an allegory for the Red Scare in the United States known as McCarthyism, which caused Miller to be targeted when the play was released. The movie and play show the dangers of people rallying together to persecute a whole group of people just to feel safe.

5

A Haunting in Salem (2011)

Indie horror studio The Asylum’s 3D scarefest set in the city of the witch trials

Although it was a narrative element in many early romantic comedies, horror is the genre that leverages the Salem Witch Trials the most, for obvious reasons. Although it is not the strongest horror film of Salem Witch Trials, 2011 A Haunting in Salem Definitely worth a look for genre aficionados who want to see as many movies that draw from the 1692-1693 event as possible.

The history of A Haunting in Salem is textbook borderline B-movie horror from the kind of indie studio Asylum is known (and beloved by its fans) for. Bill Oberst Jr. Star as Wayne, the new sheriff of Salem. He moves into a large townhouse which, to his shock, is haunted by the spirits of several witches who were burned alive during the trials. One surprisingly powerful aspect of A Haunting in Salem Are the special effects that are created without CGI using practical methods.

6

Salem Witch Trials (2002)

A CBS miniseries about the Salem witch trials

CBS created miniseries The Salem Witch Trials In 2003, what the title makes clear is heavily focused on the Salem Witch Trials. The mini-series features some familiar faces, including Kirstie Alley, Rebecca De Mornay, Shirley MacLaine and Peter Ustinov. It’s a dramatization of the Salem witch trials, just over three hours, and the miniseries has very high production values ​​for a TV movie and some great acting. It’s a bit condensed for a miniseries that wants to define the Salem witch trials and their effects on people in the 1690s.

The series Begins at the height of hysteria, with men striking fear into the young girls living in Salem. At that time. However, although the lead-in is lacking and viewers watch from the middle of the story, the historical accuracy is on point and the show hammers home the sexual politics, religious persecution and community conflict that the era produced.

7

Mass Hysteria (2019)

A group of witch trail reenactors find these events becoming their reality

Much like 2011s A Haunting in Salem, 2019s Mass hysteria is a low-budget independent horror movie that may not be the strongest, but is definitely worth considering for those looking for films about the Salem Witch Trials. Mass hysteria Comes from the studio horror team, who are also responsible for over the dark, and was initially distributed by the streaming service Shudder. Despite not being the only horror film with a plot that involves the historical events that create terror in the modern era, he movie uses the events of the witch trials in an incredibly intriguing way.

A horror comedy at heart, Mass hysteria Focuses on a group of historical reenactors who recreate the Salem Witch Trials for a Halloween performance. However, during the show, one of the audience members actually drops dead after an argument with Paige (Geen Santiago), who plays one of the witches. The townspeople become convinced that Paige is actually a witch, and so she and the rest of the cast must escape the violent lynch mob.

8

Black Death (2010)

Witch hunting in medieval England

Black Death Is not technically a Salem witch trials movie, but it shares much in common with the hysteria of the witch trials and has many hallmarks of the niche horror subgenre. The story takes place three centuries before the Salem witch trials, during the Black Death in Medieval England. Sean Bean stars as a novice monk named Osmund who has a secret romance with a woman named Averil. However, after he believes she has died, he sees what he believes is a witch resurrecting her. Osmund then kills her to “save her soul.”

Osmund spends the rest of his life killing innocent women in the name of witchcraft.

Things are not what they seem, but Osmund wants to believe the truth and begins to hunt the woman, Langiva, down, wanting to kill her for witchcraft. When she tells him that Averill was only drugging, and they saved her, only for him to kill her, Osmund finally loses his sanity. The movie then really focuses on the Salem Witch Trials connection when Langiva escapes And Osmund spends the rest of his life killing innocent women in the name of witchcraft, continuing a terrible tradition.

9

Season of the Witch (2022)

A documentary exploring modern witchcraft

While the Salem Witch Trials make great fodder for horror movies or as the inspiration for some supernatural romantic comediesIt is always worth mentioning that the historical event was a terrible tragedy. At least 19 people, mostly women, were killed, and the idea of ​​witch hunts became integrated with the local beliefs of New England. Belief in witchcraft has also gained renewed traction in the 21st century, with many now spiritually identifying with the title of witch.

The 2022 Season of the Witch is a Salem Witch Trials documentary that looks at the events in New England between 1692 and 1693 (as well as other historical witch hunts and persecutions)and discuss their impact on modern witches and the practicing faiths in which the title of witch is used. It’s a fascinating watch, especially since it focuses primarily on four modern witches and thus provides a unique perspective on the historical tragedy.

10

Maid of Salem (1937)

A classic historical drama from the 1930s

Directed by Frank Lloyd, Maid of Salem was One of the first movies that was made about the Salem witch trialsReleased in 1937. Claudette Colbert plays Barbara Clark, a woman who has an affair with Roger Coverman, an adventurer played by the legendary Fred McMurray (Double indemnity). However, the story causes a scandal in Salem and soon a young girl convinces the city’s elders that Barbara may be a witch, who sees her put on trial and sentenced to death.

The town prepares to execute Barbara and Roger sets out to save her life. Maid of Salem was a blockbuster release of its era, with a large cast and an expansive location. MacMurray showed that he was a star on the rise and Colbert slid into a role unlike anything she had done before. Although the movie did not paint the picture of the panic of the era, it still presented a good adventure story based on a real-life terrifying period.

11

The Covenant (2006)

A guilty pleasure of the late 2000s

The covenant is a guilty pleasure of the late 2000s when the supernatural was at its pop culture peak. It stars Sebastian Stan, Taylor Kitsch, Steven Strait and Chace Crawford, among others. The film centers around a group of male friends who grew up together and are known as the Sons of Ipswich. They come from the first families and have magical abilities.

In 1878, there was a second wave of witch accusations that occurred in Salem.

The tie to the Salem Witch Trials is seen in the town where they live and the lineage of the boys.. In 1878, there was a second wave of witch accusations that took place in Salem, which was known as the Ipswich Witchcraft Trials. In the film, the boys are direct descendants of the founders’ families who formed a coven to keep their magic a secret. There is also a short backstory that uses some of the family names of the original accusers during the trials.

12

The Lords of Salem (2012)

A supernatural horror film

In 2012, horror movie director Rob Zombie created a film that focuses on a modernized take on the centuries-old myths and legends surrounding Salem. The Lord of Salem is a Supernatural horror film that takes place where the trials originated, in Salem, Massachusetts. Although it is not the best movie about these salem witch trials, It’s still a solid and unique entry to the subgenre.

A DJ at a hard rock station discovers an album by a band called The Lords. When she listens to the record, she starts having strange nightmares. The next day, she interviews a writer who just wrote a book about the Salem witch trials and plays the record. The record has hypnotic powers that cause the Salem woman to fall into a trance. As the visions progress, she discovers a secret cult of Satan worshipers and a curse placed on the women of Salem.

13

The Undead (1957)

A common theme in horror

Before Salem was a common theme in horror, Creepy Salem Witch Trials Movie Undead From the late 1950s it was used as a stage for a time-traveling B-movie that remains incredibly lovable in the 2020s. Directed by cult film master Roger Corman, The undead is mostly known now for its appearances on Mystery Science Theater 3000 and MeTV SvengoolyBut that doesn’t mean the movie has nothing going for it.

The plot follows a sex worker who is hypnotized by a psychic. Suddenly she is in the middle of another life. Before long, she realizes that it is a regression, and she is on trial for being a witch. As with many Corman horror movies, it has a charming, low-budget quality, but it’s far from the low-brow releases that some people dismiss such movies as. Instead, it’s a surprisingly imaginative and well-acted horror ride.

14

Witches of Salem (2019)

A town gripped by fear

Witches of Salem is a miniseries that aired in 2019 and remains one of the best Salem Witch Trials TV shows — and it comes from an incredibly unusual source. The Travel Channel created it as a historical dramatization of what happened in Salem in 1692. The docudrama recounts the city’s rapid spiral into hysteria when a local reverend’s daughter starts going crazy. This soon escalates to other young women suffering from the same troubles, which leads to the accusation that a family slave is a witch.

The mini-series uses original transcripts from the period to recreate accusations of possession and witchcraft.

The town is filled with fear and turmoil, causing the deaths of many townspeople who were falsely accused of witchcraft. The mini-series uses original transcripts from the period to recreate accusations of possession and witchcraft.

15

Salem (2014-2017)

Inspired by the 17th-century witch trials

2017s Salem is a Salem witch trials TV show only loosely inspired by the 17th-century mass persecution of suspected witches, but it is surprisingly historically accurate. The supernatural horror series takes the trials to a new and more dramatized level not seen before. It all starts with a powerful witch who works as the puppet behind the witch trials. She uses the trials to create mass hysteria among the Puritans. She also uses it as a cover to fulfill her plan to challenge the devil.

The show uses real-life characters from the original transcripts, Like a slave named Tatuba. Her plans are complicated when new enemies and old loves get in the way of her journey to power. Although the series lacks the substance audiences may be looking for in its storytelling, it manages to pull off the horror scenes well on the small screen, which is more than can be said for many shows.

16

Motherland: Fort Salem (2020)

Witches become warriors

Motherland: Fort Salem is a 2020 Salem Witch Trials television show created by Freeform, although it is set in the modern day and builds on the legend of the trials rather than attempts to depict life while they are ongoing. The The show takes a unique spin on witches, leading back to the Salem Witch Trials From 1692. In the modern day, witches are at the forefront of the US military after a powerful witch helps end the persecution of witches.

The Salem Witch Trials took place and resulted in the deaths of many witches, but a deal was struck with the current commanding general 300 years ago, The Salem Accords stopped the persecution of witches and instead used them as a weapon to protect the US. of foreign and domestic enemies. The show features a strong cast and some great horror thrills even if it feels overstuffed at times.

17

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Unexplained marks. Deadly Secrets.

This 2016 supernatural horror film The Autopsy of Jane Doe Centers around an unidentified female corpse in the modern era, though soon learn it belongs to a powerful witch who was burned alive during the trials. Father-and-son coroners begin to experience supernatural events while trying to examine the body. The coroners suffer tragic events but realize that Jane Doe is to blame. After re-examination, they Discover that the body has markers referring to Leviticus 20:27, which is used to condemn witches in 1693.

The Salem authorities accused an innocent woman of being a witch, who now wants revenge.

Meanwhile, the Salem authorities have accused an innocent woman of being a witch, who now wants revenge. The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a slightly underrated horror gem that deserves more praise. It subverts audience expectations, avoids cheap thrills and goes for a smarter horror movie than expected.

18

Bewitched (1964-1972)

Household magic and hilarious hijinks

Winning three Primetime Emmy Awards and inspiring numerous spin-offs and remakes, Captivated is a 1960s sitcom that sees Elizabeth Montgomery’s Samantha Stephens uses witchcraft to help her non-magical family in their day-to-day lives. Although it touches on several topics, the seventh season of the show was dedicated to the Salem witch trials.

Samantha travels back in time to 1692 And visits many important landmarks emblematic of the infamous events in the Massachusetts city. Although perhaps not as nuanced as later depictions, this Captivated Saga stands as one of the first adaptations of the Salem story in modern popular culture. The sitcom has a lot of fun with its wacky premise, even if it might not be so funny to modern audiences now.

19

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

The conjuring confronts a possession defense

One of the more prominent movies about the Salem Witch Trials came in 2021, in the form of a franchise installment, The Conjuring: The Devil Did This To Me. Michael Chaves takes over directorial duties from James Wan, who is still helping with the story and producing it. The The film is directly based on the trial of Arne Cheyenne JohnsonWho denied responsibility for his crime based on the assertion that demonic possession was guiding his hand.

The devil did this to me Sticks to a lot of what happened, but throws in an exorcism gone wrong and tried explanations of Johnson’s killing his boss. Before long, the Warrens are involved, fearing that they are about to face their greatest threat. Lorraine is worse for wear, Ed isn’t much better, and there’s a suspicious murder in Massachusetts that’s almost certainly connected. Although not seen as a high point in The Conjuring Universe, it’s still a thrilling horror ride.

20

1666 Mora Street (2021)

A colonial nightmare

Fear Street Part 3: 1666 is the finale of Netflix’s three-part RL Stine throwback trilogy, and the third entry is also one of the best Salem Witch Trials movies. Follow the plot points and characters of Part One: 1994 And Part II: 1978, 1666 Spends most of its time in the titular century but wraps up in 1994. That’s because it’s the origin story of Shadyside, the murder capital of the United States.

The plot of the third film seeks to explain why Shadyside earns its reputation. What’s thought of how mere legend was The beginning of a centuries-long curse that dates back to the witch trials. The last chapter brings these Fear Street Timeline full circle satisfying, revealing some great twists and capping a terrific horror saga.