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In the summer of 1997, United Kingdom readers perused through their local bookshops. The debut novel from author J.K. Rowling adorned shelves, with its cover artwork featuring a young boy with a peculiar lightning-shaped scar on his forehead and messy black hair, donning John Lennon-esque circular spectacles and a black cloak over a white dress shirt with a red and gold scarf around his neck, all while curiously anticipating the arrival of a train with the sign "Hogwarts Express" on the front. Two questions immediately come to mind: "Who is Harry Potter?" and "What is the Philosopher's Stone?"

Nearly 30 years later, it's safe to say that those U.K. readers fell in love with Harry Potter and the Wizarding World. Little did they know that Harry would become inarguably the most popular protagonist in children's literature of the 21st century, spawning seven books, 11 feature films, a play on the West End and Broadway,...

From feeling tarantulas crawling on my face and attending a midnight séance to meeting amazing creators and seeing movies such as Talk to Me and Evil Dead Rise conjure up scares on the big screen, these past several years I've been fortunate to experience the thrills and chills awaiting horror fans in the Big Easy at The Overlook Film Festival. Likened to being "a summer camp for horror fans," Overlook is always circled on my calendar, and this year is no exception, as the festival's first wave lineup is brimming with must-see movies and immersive experiences.

Taking place April 3rd–6th in New Orleans' Prytania Theatres, the first wave lineup for this year's Overlook Film Festival pays homage to horror's hallowed past while celebrating its promising future with an eclectic lineup of films including Christopher Landon's Drop, David Cronenberg's The Shrouds, Eli Craig's Clown in a Cornfield, the...

Diablo 4 Season 7 has only been out for a little over a week, and would you believe it, we already have multiple game-breaking bugs. This time, there’s a new bug with Decay Augmentation, one of the new Witchcraft Powers that got introduced with the update. The specifics aren’t clear yet but the bug is letting players dish out trillions of damage.

New season, new bugs, same Blizzard. Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment

And it’s no surprise that Spiritborn players are capitalizing on this first. Streamers and leaderboard climbers are already using this bug to clear Pit Tier 150. One Spiritborn player has even cleared it in two minutes, a time that is obviously due to the buff because the player clearly hides their damage numbers to hide the fact that it’s a bug exploit.

Diablo 4 can’t escape the bugs and glitches At this point, it’s a feature.

Whether it be a big snake, a Frankenstein monster, or even a glamorous Hell god, viewers remember the villains of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The cult classic television series perfected the art of serialized television when there weren't many examples at the time. The titular vampire slayer, Buffy Summers, fights monsters week to week, but the Big Bads are the overarching antagonists of each season. Typically, these villains would represent some larger thematic issue explored throughout the season. Angel turning into Angelus is a metaphor for the heartache of first love, while the chaotic trio of Season 6 is a critique of misogyny.

As memorable as these villains are, they aren't always the most terrifying. Buffy remains a cultural touchstone because of the emotional themes woven throughout the series. Some of these themes come out in surprising ways with some of the most gruesome and deplorable villains. These characters aren't remembered...

Fans have been longing for the day the Scarlet Witch returns to the live-action MCU, and it seems like Marvel is setting up for her comeback sooner rather than later. Elizabeth Olsen’s last appearance as Wanda Maximoff was in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where the character seemingly died. She has not been in the live-action MCU since then, but the actor’s Marvel return was recently confirmed for 2025.

Olsen will lend her voice to the animated series Marvel Zombies next year. It is technically a return to the franchise, but it’s probably not the exact return that MCU fans were hoping for. Considering that the Scarlet Witch is currently dead, that complicates how the studio could bring her back to the live-action films. However, fans should feel more confident about an inevitable live-action return for the Scarlet Witch after hearing Olsen’s recent comments.

Few spy films delve into the murky waters of human psychology and institutional intrigue as masterfully as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Tomas Alfredson’s 2011 adaptation of John le Carré’s classic novel remains a towering achievement in the espionage genre, eschewing high-octane action for a meticulous, cerebral dissection of loyalty, betrayal, and the heavy toll of a life lived in shadows. This isn’t just a spy thriller—it’s a character-driven masterpiece that redefined the modern spy film.

The story begins with a chilling premise: there is a mole at the highest levels of British Intelligence, known as “The Circus.” When disgraced operative Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy) stumbles upon evidence of the betrayal, retired agent George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is drawn out of forced retirement to root out the double agent. Smiley, a man of few words but piercing intellect, embarks on a methodical investigation that peels back layers...

On Tuesday 12 November 2024, More 4 broadcasts The Royals: A History of Scandals!

Witchcraft Season 2 Episode 3 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Royals: A History of Scandals,” titled “Witchcraft,” promises to delve into the intriguing relationship between British royalty and the world of witchcraft. Scheduled to air on More 4, this episode features historian Suzannah Lipscomb as she guides viewers through this fascinating topic.

In “Witchcraft,” Lipscomb will explore how witchcraft has been intertwined with the lives of British royals throughout history. The episode will examine the fears and beliefs surrounding witches, particularly during times of political and social upheaval. It will shed light on how these beliefs influenced royal decisions and policies.

A significant focus of the episode will be on Queen Elizabeth I, who had a keen interest in the future and sought ways to predict what lay ahead. Lipscomb will uncover the methods and practices that Elizabeth I engaged in,...

In the upcoming episode of “The Royals: A History of Scandals,” titled “Witchcraft,” Suzannah Lipscomb takes viewers on a fascinating journey into the intriguing relationship between British royalty and the world of witchcraft. This episode, airing on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 10:00 Pm on More 4, promises to unveil the secrets and superstitions that surrounded the crown throughout history.

The episode will delve into the complex ties that royal figures had with witchcraft, focusing particularly on the reign of Elizabeth I. Suzannah will explore how the queen sought to understand and predict the future during a time filled with political intrigue and uncertainty. The connection between power, fear, and the supernatural will be examined, shedding light on how these elements influenced decisions made by the monarchy.

As the narrative unfolds, viewers can expect to learn about the various trials, accusations, and beliefs that shaped the perception of witchcraft in royal circles. Suzannah...

The latest highly-anticipated MCU series has finally hit Disney+ in the form of Agatha All Along, which brings actress Kathryn Hahn back to continue the journey she began as Agatha Harkness in the original MCU/Disney television series, WandaVision. Based on the events of the first two episodes, a big part of this season will involve Agatha rebuilding her coven and reclaiming her mystical powers with help from The Witches' Road.

Like so much else in the MCU, The Witches' Road began in Marvel Comics. There, it's been utilized as a pathway between universes that reveals itself to Marvel characters capable of practicing Witchcraft while presenting them with a series of challenges to overcome. The Witches' Road is intrinsically tied to Wanda Maximoff and Agatha Harkness, so let's explore how the latter's upcoming journey down this mystical highway might, in turn, lead to the return of the former.

Related 'Must...

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Agatha All Along episode 13 years after WandaVision opened the McU's TV division, spin-off Agatha All Along has returned to Westview bringing more mysteries. The first two episodes set the scene for Kathryn Hahn's returning Marvel villain, exploring not only the fallout from Scarlet Witch's spell cast in WandaVision's ending, but also forcing her to face demons from her own past.

The most immediately compelling of those demons is Aubrey Plaza's Rio Vidal, a formidable Green Witch who announces herself and their shared history in Agatha All Along episode 1 by trying to kill Agatha. Despite Agatha's loss of power, Rio is unable to follow through, as it's revealed that she cannot kill her. It's a passing moment, but one that could be confusing, given how enthusiastic Rio seems about Agatha dying. So why can't the new Marvel magic user kill Agatha? The hints are all there.

Reka is an experience that feels like a well-lived storybook. If you’ve spent your younger days reading tales of witchcraft, sorcery, and eerie forests, Reka is going to bond well with you. Its wondrous narrative sets itself apart from a genre that might feel saturated to many.

Even in early access, the game provides a rich landscape that draws inspiration from Slavic mythology. This is a place where exploration, magic, and creative freedom come together, building a sandbox experience that should be on your to-play list.

Witchcraft That’s Yours to Craft The world feels haunting and eerie, adding to the overall aesthetic. Image Credit: Emberstorm Entertainment

Reka’s world fills itself with eeriness. At every turn and corner, there’s something to be explored, with clear inspirations from Baba Yaga and other traits of folklore based on Slavic tales. This theme never fails to lure you in, as...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Speak No Evil (2024)

Horror remakes are known for changing the tone or cinematography style, but some movies, like Speak No Evil, alter the originals more significantly. The announcement for the Hollywood version of Speak No Evil was surprising because the news broke one year after the release of the original 2022 Danish thriller. The original movie was quickly lauded as one of the best horror movies of the last five years, setting an extremely high bar for the 2024 version starring James McAvoy.

Surprisingly, the 2024 version of the film thrived against all expectations because the creative team chose to diverge from the original in many ways most notably, the ending of Hollywood's Speak No Evil. This movie isn't the first remake to completely change the source material. Many remakes have set themselves apart from the originals in theme, narrative style, plot, and characters, with varying levels of success.

Charmed's storytelling and character development allowed it to grow a cult following despite time slot changes. Shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina offer a darker take on witches, similar to the tone of Charmed. The Originals and Locke & Key share themes of sibling dynamics and magical powers, like Charmed.

Charmed and its iconic group of sisters have had a presence in pop culture for nearly 30 years now with an impressive legacy in the supernatural genre that can be seen in various shows like it. Premiering on The WB in 1998, Charmed follows sisters who learn they are witches and fight against supernatural antagonists. Charmed went through a few time slot adjustments that would typically cause a series to decline in ratings and inevitably get canceled. However, the storytelling and the characterization of the Halliwell sisters were enough to allow the show to quickly grow a cult following, and eventually get a...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Vincent Price’s Witchcraft-Magic Vinyl from Real Gone Music

No one can summon spookiness quite like Vincent Price. Just in time for Halloween, his 1969 spoken word album, Witchcraft-Magic: An Adventure in Demonology, is returning to vinyl for the first time in 50 years.

Coming September 6 from Real Gone Music, the 2xLP album features the horror legend giving a tutorial on the history and practice of the black arts.

It’s pressed on clear vinyl with “Pumpkin” orange pigment swirl and is housed in a gatefold jacket with a reproduction of the original eight-page booklet.

Oddity Blu-ray from IFC

Oddity will be released on Digital on August 20 before hitting Blu-ray and DVD on October 22 via IFC Films and Shudder.

Harry Potter remains the ultimate fan-favorite magical story of all time. The timeless masterpiece entertained fans for over a decade and continues to be a source of inspiration for all sorts of mediums. Although there arent stories exclusive to wizarding and magic in the anime world, several popular and new titles would definitely make viewers nostalgic.

Fans would be surprised by the sheer quality and quantity of stories in the anime world inspired by tropes like magical schools, wizards, and witches, just like in Harry Potter. Fortunately, if diehard Hp fans arent up for watching an eight-part film series to satisfy the nostalgia, they can tune into a few Harry Potter-esque anime series that are equally charming.

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Related Swordstyles in Mushoku Tensei, Explained

The Swordsmanship schools in Mushoku Tensei are an integral part of the fantasy world's combat system. Here's everything to know about them.

Millie Gibson this weekend offered her heartfelt thoughts on the Doctor Who episode that stirred opinions in fans of the long-running sci-fi franchise.

The “fifth” episode (including “The Church on Ruby Road”) of “Season 1” (or Season 14) opened with the Doctor (played by Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Gibson) setting foot in Wales, immediately after which the former accidentally stepped his foot on a fairy circle comprised of string, charms and notes. Witchcraft ensued, abruptly disappearing the Doctor and leaving Ruby tethered to a mysterious and spooky af old woman who always stood exactly 73 yards away.

More from TVLineThe Veil Finale...

Blood of Zeus on Netflix brings Greek mythology to life with a unique twist on the gods and demigods in a civil war on Mount Olympus. An expansive pantheon of Greek gods like Athena, Apollo, and Hades are depicted through a new lens, combining tradition with innovation. The characters, from Hera to Zeus and beyond, showcase a fresh take on well-known mythological figures in a gripping tale of power and betrayal.

Blood of Zeus arrived on Netflix in 2020 and instantly captured the attention of subscribers due to its animation style and incredibly violent portrayal of many Greek Gods. The pantheon of Greek Gods in Blood of Zeus is already quite expansive across both seasons, with many Olympian deities appearing as part of its intricate tale of Heron, one of Zeus's demigod sons, trying to save the world amidst the backdrop of a civil war on Mount Olympus. Greek Mythology is...

Ahsoka season 1 introduced new characters and changed Star Wars by bringing animated characters to live-action. Ahsoka season 2 may see the live-action debut of Merrin, an important character from the Star Wars: Jedi video game series. The return of the Nightsister leaders and the involvement of Merrin could lead to a connection between Ahsoka and the Star Wars: Jedi games.

Ahsoka season 1 set up the live-action debut of an integral Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor character. Ahsoka season 1 changed Star Wars forever – it introduced an entirely new galaxy, brought various animated characters to live-action for the first time, and set up the next wave of Star Wars storytelling during the New Republic era. Not only that, but Ahsoka has also challenged the audience’s understanding of the Force. A character who previously showed no signs of Force-sensitivity is now a full-fledged Jedi Padawan, and the power...

Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale combines supernatural elements with small-town drama as it unravels the lives of witches and regular mortals living in harmony. Despite its mystical theme, the show has no connection to AMC's recent Immortal Universe hits, Interview with the Vampire and The Mayfair Witches. The series explores suspicion and secrets in the wake of a mysterious death, with a mother-daughter duo at the center of the drama.

AMC+ combines a spooky supernatural setting with relatable human drama in its new show Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale, written and created by Debbie Horsfield. Based on V.V. James' 2020 novel Sanctuary: A Novel of Suspense, Witchcraft, and Small Town Secrets, the 7-episode series premiered on the streaming service in January and has already more than lived up to its source material's name. Elaine Cassidy (The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die) and Hazel Doupe star as mother-daughter duo Sarah and Harper Fenn,...

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have laid out their latest batch of three-hour “marathon” shows for the US in 2024.

The extended solo concerts will kick off on August 17th in Forest Hills, New York, followed by stops to Chicago’s Huntington Bank Pavilion and Quincy, Washington’s The Gorge Amphitheatre in September. The final show will take place on November 15th in Austin.

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 15th at 10:00 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster, with a pre-sale for Gizzymail subscribers opening earlier on Wednesday, September 13th.

Once tickets are on sale, you can also find them at StubHub, where orders are 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s FanProtect program. StubHub is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.

In June, Kg+Lw released their “heavy as fuck” thrash metal LP PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 4.

Marrok's true identity as a puppet made from Nightsister magick reveals Morgan Elsbeth's power and raises questions about her role in Thrawn's plan. Thrawn's first task after returning to the main Star Wars galaxy will be to quickly raise an army, as the Empire lost most of its forces after the battle of Endor. The use of Nightsister magick and the ability to reanimate the dead could potentially allow Thrawn and Morgan to create an army of zombie stormtroopers, posing a major threat to the New Republic.

Marrok’s disappointing identity reveal in Ahsoka episode 4 may have given away a crucial piece of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s plan to resurrect the Empire. Despite all the speculation and theories as to who Marrok was, he turned out to be nothing more than a puppet animated by Nightsister magick. Nevertheless, Marrok’s...

Horror fans may be familiar with the name Jason Paul Collum. He has written, directed, produced, and/or acted in multiple films over the last thirty years, including Safe Inside, October Moon, November Son, and the documentaries Something to Scream About, Sleepless Nights: Revisiting the Slumber Party Massacres, and Screaming in High Heels: The Rise & Fall of the Scream Queen Era. He has also written the book Assault of the Killer Bs: Interviews With 20 Cult Film Actresses – and this month, a new Jason Paul Collum book has been published. It’s called They Made How Many?! (Mostly) American Horror Franchises of the 20th Century, and it’s a 654 page look at the many horror sequels that were made in the 1900s. Copies can be purchased at This Link.

They Made How Many?! (Mostly) American Horror Franchises of the 20th Century has the following description: The Howling 8. Children of the Corn 9. Witchcraft 16. Amityville 41 (legally?...

Earlier this month, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard announced a new album called PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation. Now, they’ve shared more details about the project, due out June 16th, and revealed its first single, “Gila Monster.”

To give you an idea of its meandering quality, PetroDragonic Apocalypse is a seven-track double album. Thematically, it’s about “humankind and it’s about planet Earth but it’s also about witches and dragons and shit,” as King Gizzard leader Stu Mackenzie puts it, while sonically, it recalls the thrash metal of 2019 fan favorite Infest The Rats’ Nest.

“When we made Rats’ Nest, it felt experimental,” Mackenzie said. “Like, ‘Here’s this music that some of us grew up on but we’d never had the guts or confidence to really play before, so let’s give...

Many of the biggest anime phenomena are the ongoing series that have accrued hundreds, or even thousands, of episodes over the years. That said, anime feature films have the potential to hit even greater heights due to factors like bigger budgets and their compulsion to tell standalone stories.

Related: 10 Anime Movies That Wasted Great Premises

Particular anime movies like Akira, Spirited Away, or even more recent fare like Promare have become evergreen classics that showcase what this medium can accomplish. However, there are many impressive anime movies that slip through the cracks and haven’t achieved the same notoriety, despite the level of excellence behind them.

Updated on May 8th, 2023 by Casey Coates: This list has been updated to include trailers and to reflect Cbr's current publishing style.

Belladonna Of Sadness Release Date: June 30, 1973

Eiichi Yamamoto's Belladonna of Sadness is 50 years old and yet modern anime movies struggle...

Co-financing, co-production forum takes place September 11-12.

New projects involving the producer of The Babadook, Game Of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin and Lemon Tree filmmaker Eran Riklis will be front and centre when the first in-person Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (Iff) in three years kicks off at TIFF next month.

Now in its 17th year, the two-day co-financing and co-production market takes place from September 11-12 in association with TIFF and features 42 feature film producer teams – 20 from Canada and 22 from as far afield as Australia, India, Norway, Scotland and the US.

The producers will participate in one-on-one producer...

Welcome to 31 Days of Streaming Horror. Every day this October we’ll be highlighting a different streaming horror movie to help you get into the Halloween spirit. Today’s entry: Haxan (1922). Haxan Now Streaming on The Criterion Channel and Kanopy Sub-Genre: Cursed documentary with some sexy devil action Best Setting to Watch It In: In the center of a […]

The post 31 Days of Streaming Horror: ‘Haxan’ Introduces You To The History of Witchcraft appeared first on /Film.

Boy howdy, there sure are a lot of Amityville flicks, aren’t there? I don’t know what kind of sadistic contest they’re in with the Witchcraft series, but I’m assuming regardless of the outcome, we the viewer loses. To each their own (I’ve never even seen the Witchcraft films), but I think it’s safe to say at this point in time that the word “Amityville” has lost all meaning far beyond its original IP. But there was a time, long ago when I had more hair and less belly, that the original Amityville series was an ongoing concern.

The ’79 original was a massive hit in theatres, the allegedly true book it was based on was still selling like hotcakes, the ’82 sequel scrapped mostly everything for Italian based lunacy (which was a blessing because it is easily the best one), and ‘83s 3D romp was laughable,...

Exclusive: Witchcraft Motion Picture Company announced today that they have acquired the rights to the psychological horror She Came Back from screenwriter Emily Renee Bennett. Witchcraft’s Rod Blackhurst (Director of Netflix’s Amanda Knox) and Noah Lang will fast-track the feature as the first project optioned under the company’s new underrepresented writer mandate. Blackhurst is set to direct.

Described as if The Haunting Of Hill House took place at The Overlook Hotel, She Came Back is a film about a young woman haunted by the childhood murder of her young sister, and who, upon returning to her hometown, discovers that her sister might not be dead after all.

“She Came Back is a film about mental illness, addiction, guilt, and a strong and vulnerable woman’s struggle for identity,” said Blackhurst and Lang in a joint statement.

Dave Bartholomew, the New Orleans musician, Fats Domino collaborator and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who co-wrote the R&b classic “Ain’t That a Shame,” has died at the age of 100.

Bartholomew died Sunday at a New Orleans-area hospital, his son Dave Bartholomew Jr. confirmed to the Associated Press. “His body simply broke down. Daddy was 100 years and six months old. It was just that time,” Bartholomew Jr. said.

A trumpeter, bandleader, producer and arranger who worked with artists like Domino, Lloyd Price, Smiley Lewis and Shirley & Lee,...