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The Love Witch
The Love Witch
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The Love Witch

The Love Witch

2016
Comedy, Horror
2h 0m
Elaine, a beautiful young witch, is determined to find a man to love her. In her gothic Victorian apartment she makes spells and potions, and then picks up men and seduces them. However her spells work too well, and she ends up with a string of hapless victims. When she finally meets the man of her dreams, her desperation to be loved will drive her to the brink of insanity and murder. (imdb)

Directed by:

Anna Biller

Screenwriter:

Anna Biller

Starring:

Jared Sanford, Samantha Robinson, Jeffrey Vincent Parise, Gian Keys, Laura Waddell, Robert Seeley, Elle Evans

Genres:

Comedy, Horror

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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The Love Witch

2016
Comedy, Horror
2h 0m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 48.89% from 581 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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twincinematwincinema
Rated 17 Feb 2017
60
35th
An aesthetically pleasing film, but man oh man, it's a slow two-hours. "Complaining about the runtime? How could he?" Very easily, folks. VERY EASILY!
Rated 17 Feb 2017
backwardsuitbackwardsuit
Rated 22 Sep 2018
75
66th
Intresting that writer/director/designer Anna Biller, whose vision is evident in every tactile detail, is adamant that this is not meant as comedy or homage to 60's sexploitation. I found it hard to enjoy this as anything other than uniquely retro camp pastiche about somewhat arch gender discourses & self-help relationship guides. This weird discrepancy might contribute to its singular kitsch aura but it doesn't carry the ideas far enough to be much more than formally subversive & very amusing.
Rated 22 Sep 2018
terrymacterrymac
Rated 17 Feb 2017
74
68th
Very aesthetically pleasing, and I'm not just talking about the luminous Samantha Robinson. This looks like a bizarre 60s/70s flick given an HD remaster. The underlying themes of gender and sexuality aren't entirely lost amidst the style, humour and setting; shades of The Stepford Wives and other weird dramas are evident, and I suspect that rewatching will reap dividends. It could have benefitted from some sharper editing, and been a bit, well, FILTHIER, but this is definitely worth seeing.
Rated 17 Feb 2017
bakcheiabakcheia
Rated 05 Aug 2017
92
89th
TLW provides us with a hilariously campy and incredibly academic stab at second-wave feminism, mid-century Hollywood, and the gender binary. The film explores the toxic role of patriarchy through employing it to its furthest parodic threshold, undercutting it, and then literally murdering the hetero-clusterfuck that the film knowingly backs itself into with its perfect conclusion. Self-worth or agency could be conflated with the eponymous "love" here, and it humorously picks these themes apart.
Rated 05 Aug 2017
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 06 Feb 2017
8
80th
It has a deeply cynical, almost scathing approach to the battle of the sexes that verges on parody, the dialogue is stilted but in a dead-pan way that works, and all the actors operate as if they're in a bizarre soap opera from a mysterious bygone era. It's a beautifully shot and wickedly funny movie, so check it out.
Rated 06 Feb 2017
cherroristcherrorist
Rated 22 Apr 2017
60
30th
Relies too much on gag and retro aesthetics, gets weaker and falls apart towards the end.
Rated 22 Apr 2017
donquixoticdonquixotic
Rated 03 Feb 2017
1
3rd
I imagine if you love this attention to style that is all the substance you need, I found it intolerable
Rated 03 Feb 2017
evan_watersEvan Waters
Rated 01 Feb 2017
92
78th
A gorgeous, stylish movie with some clever insight into the male gaze and how screwed up modern ideas of love and sex can be. Suffers from a few plot-related hiccoughs but overall a beautiful revival of bygone aesthetics.
Rated 01 Feb 2017
wolfwoodeWolfwoode
Rated 02 Mar 2021
50
17th
Interesting style but the movie had its head too far up its own ass to tell a good story.
Rated 02 Mar 2021
adamj1982adamj1982
Rated 21 Oct 2017
45
13th
Full of itself
Rated 21 Oct 2017
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 15 May 2017
77
49th
Another back-of-Hollywood B-movie from the multi-talented Anna Biller, with a lot of attention going into production design, costumes, props, casting etc to make sure that all the visual riches on screen will compensate for the not-to-be-taken-too-seriously story and old-fashioned staging. Biller neophytes may be taken in by this striking cinematic language, but for me this is the same trick as in "Viva", only without that edge of biting satire in the script. A little dull and linear.
Rated 15 May 2017
staryarabbistaryarabbi
Rated 27 Feb 2017
55
32nd
2016's La La Land of horror cinema. Just as there isn't any substance in La La, same goes for LW, even though the latter is far richer than the former. As some have already noted, it could've been way filthier and darker, and truer to its feminism: she could've tantalize men, use them for her pleasure & offer them to satan as sacrifice. There could've been more suspense and real horror. Thus, this cool retro look doesn't suffice for a good movie. But still not unworthy of a watch.
Rated 27 Feb 2017
judo_koalaJudo Koala
Rated 10 Feb 2017
75
53rd
Seeing this on 35mm was absolutely gorgeous; aesthetically, there is not enough I can say about this. From the set design to the framing, its callback to '60s schlock wasn't just evoked; it was downright recreated. Narratively, I'm struggling to work through its many inherent contradictions and layers; will require multiple viewings.
Rated 10 Feb 2017
bofbof
Rated 07 Feb 2017
75
71st
The Love Witch pastiches esthetics from the early 70s to deliver a gleeful skewering of sex and gender roles, all done with a deadpan madness that I'm never sure is intended or just happens. Gets lost in itself once or twice, but who can blame it? Wicked.
Rated 07 Feb 2017
jaiguyJaiGuy
Rated 05 Feb 2017
65
16th
The things I liked about this movie are the design, the sound (the acoustics of a movie theatre), the late 60's early 70's aesthetic (I was convinced for a second it was genuine), and it was well casted (no pun intended). I would have laughed more if I saw it 20 years ago. Essentially, I felt the main philosophy behind the story was a bit film school freshman.
Rated 05 Feb 2017
paxtonPaxton
Rated 30 Oct 2024
68
57th
Resides in my brain like a dream but in my dreams I remember it being better than it is.
Rated 30 Oct 2024
markimarkMarkimark
Rated 21 Aug 2024
72
65th
Trashy and funny film with interesting aesthetics. Film actually goes much deeper and much more complex in exploring sexuality/love. A refreshing watch!
Rated 21 Aug 2024
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 16 Jul 2021
31
9th
What did I just witness? A completely one of a kind oddity for sure. I was amused at times, but I could only marvel at the stylistic choices for so long. About halfway through, the movie's path was clear, and I realized that I wanted so much more out of this experimental retro absurdity, and the movie wasn't going to deliver. And it didn't.
Rated 16 Jul 2021
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 26 May 2021
70
45th
Killer style but it runs too long without shifting gears for how relentlessly camp it is. I suppose was hoping for a more psychedelic climax.
Rated 26 May 2021
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 17 Feb 2021
60
42nd
Aesthetically and stylistically wonderful. The script is interesting but the drama isn't exactly compelling and the intentionally wooden performances didn't always work for me. The full-on visual splendor helps mask any shortcomings.
Rated 17 Feb 2021
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 03 Dec 2017
70
72nd
A rare film that uses its references only to demolish them and construct something new -- a Technicolor feminist soap-opera about human nature, spells and a deadly drive for love. So many lovely raccords -- dirt to bury a dead body followed by a chocolate cake being cut -- and the beautifully use of close-ups and establishing shots uses its lavish, extravagant interiors for a really subversive film about witchcraft and woman empowerment. A wicked, beautiful film about destroying men.
Rated 03 Dec 2017
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 27 Nov 2017
70
47th
Doofy with the most sincere dedication to the art of filmmaking
Rated 27 Nov 2017
jakeaestheteJakeAesthete
Rated 20 Oct 2017
98
98th
She is eating strawberry while smoking and drinking. She is so busy.
Rated 20 Oct 2017
okayfrogokayfrog
Rated 08 Oct 2017
50
21st
You know when you're watching something that's CG, and you know it's CG, but you're also impressed by how real it looks? That's The Love Witch in its attempt to ape late 60s/early 70s horror aesthetics. I'm aware of what they're going for, and it's impressive, but it's also distracting. The titillating scenes were thoroughly enjoyable. Everything else was forgettable barring the ending, which was somewhat unexpected.
Rated 08 Oct 2017
shewasSheWas
Rated 15 Jun 2017
95
98th
Because I LOVE B-movie. Because men are morons. Because one can never be loved enough in this life. Because you can't help but want to be.
Rated 15 Jun 2017
indyatmnINDYATMN
Rated 26 Apr 2017
58
8th
Fans of the unusual may be drawn in by the movie's combo of Feminist Studies & badly made 70's horror flick, but that loses its appeal quickly as the deliberately stiff performances & deliberately clunky dialogue make you wonder what the hell the filmmaker was thinking surrounding her "patriarchy"-destroys-everyone storyline w/ so much cheese. The lead is impressive though as she somehow remains compelling despite being instructed to act as vapidly as possible.Or maybe it's just cause she's hot.
Rated 26 Apr 2017
johnsandwichJohnSandwich
Rated 01 Mar 2017
60
41st
cool and beautiful but also pretty boring
Rated 01 Mar 2017
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 05 Feb 2017
93
92nd
Esse filme é de uma comicidade irônica tão sutil e inteligente e que não estou acreditando que nunca vi um filme dessa mulher antes.
Rated 05 Feb 2017
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 25 Oct 2024
62
25th
I found this more interesting than actually good. It has a lot going for it aesthetically, as it feels like a 60s movie both with the technicolor and just generally that seemed to be the vibe they were going for. It seems intentionally campy with mixed results. I found it a bit overlong and draggy in parts, but the right person might absolutely love this. Definitely worth seeing as an interesting and somewhat different experience, but didn't totally work for me.
Rated 25 Oct 2024
anotherbullanotherbull
Rated 09 Oct 2024
89
56th
You really think you're watching a film of an older era, beautifully shot and the acting is perfectly bad. Has a decent amount to say and it talks well in its irony and campiness.
Rated 09 Oct 2024
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 31 Aug 2024
65
65th
Biller not only wrote and directed, but designed the meticulous sets and costumes and even composed the seriously impressive music; a staggering degree of control and indicative of the breadth of her creative vision. It's a campy and oddball feminine rumination on Eros and Thanatos, inspired by 1960s aesthetic and evoking the short films of Cecelia Condit. My only gripe is that it's perhaps slightly too slow.
Rated 31 Aug 2024
hadleyreisHadleyreis
Rated 05 May 2024
66
45th
The question is: would you die for one night with her? The answer is: probably.
Rated 05 May 2024
jpfergusonJPFerguson
Rated 15 Apr 2024
40
14th
The thing is, I think the men in this are alright! In particular, Wayne seems like a good dude. I wonder if Naomi Wolf has seen this? And, yes, it did not need to go for two hours.
Rated 15 Apr 2024
brrrpbrrrp
Rated 19 Feb 2024
40
19th
There's a lot to admire in this film which, for the first time since Black Dynamite, seems actually well steeped in its source material. The visual elements and the soundtrack are all spot on, and impressively ornate, but the text is opaque and awkward. Sometimes it will indulge a little too much in preaching (in all likelihood to a choir). It's a shame, because it is very funny at points. Also rather wore out its welcome half an hour before it ended.
Rated 19 Feb 2024
julesfmbjulesfmb
Rated 19 Nov 2023
43
6th
I don't get it. In the 70s, this would've been ridiculed, maybe mentioned in some movie history book alongside The Vampire Lovers and other 70s Hammer classics. Now someone decided to immitate that cheap art design and slow pacing, and suddenly what was a product of low budget and weak scripts simply becomes 'wit'? Between the real thing, and the thing that is just like the real thing but "self-aware", i think the enjoyment is equal.
Rated 19 Nov 2023
doyler29doyler29
Rated 31 Oct 2023
70
42nd
Biller creates a strange world that mixes the style of a Technicolor melodrama from Hollywood's golden age with elements of 60's exploitation, creating an extremely unique visual palette that's then populated with things that interest her ... witchcraft and burlesque mainly. Most reviews seem to want to reduce this to a homage to other filmmakers, but it's clearly a richer and more unique vision than that.
Rated 31 Oct 2023
fra_paolofra paolo
Rated 25 Oct 2023
40
37th
When it's good, it's very good; and when it's bad it's horrendous.
Rated 25 Oct 2023
sam_quentinsam quentin
Rated 09 Oct 2022
81
67th
Gorgeous and strange film. At times it makes its messages a little too direct. It needs more show and less tell in spots. Overall, it was at times hilarious, beautiful, strange. Nice work.
Rated 09 Oct 2022
badfurdayBadFurDay
Rated 11 Dec 2021
7
76th
A deliberately grossly exaggerated criticism of the emotional defects of both men and women done in the style of old cheap horror movies, bad acting and all. An oddly adorable movie to watch. The aesthetics are great, almost entrancing at times. Unique!
Rated 11 Dec 2021
panzerwolfpanzerwolf
Rated 16 Nov 2021
70
57th
The look of this movie is what I loved te most. The confusing mix of it being in the 60's and actually not taking place during that time is confusing and charming at the both time. The clunky acting just adds more to the mix, but also two hours is way too long a runtime for this plot. The imagery kept me more captivated than the story did, so while I get that it works best as combination, I know I would have struggled to get through this had it been shot in a 'modern' way.
Rated 16 Nov 2021
ol44893OL44893
Rated 28 Oct 2021
79
44th
Ait', I liked it A LOT. And there's a fuckton written on it (cult classic mayhaps?). If I'm forced into some sort of statement, I'd say, it lifts the classic gothic romance to a surprising new level, manages sexploitation w/o a whole lot of sexual content. For me though, dazzling colors & swoon-worthy costumes, clever themes, smartness, and juicy inference.
Rated 28 Oct 2021
pianosamaPianoSama
Rated 18 May 2021
65
45th
There's a *lot* of subtext going on throughout all 121 minutes of this, & while some of it is well-executed I honestly found most of it to be pretty muddled. It's difficult to tell if the performances are intentionally stilted or not given the look & feel of old-school exploitation, but regardless they're enjoyable. All said, it's a touch long & a bit too arthouse by the end for my taste, but I still found it interesting & appreciated all the different ideas it has. Worth a look for the curious.
Rated 18 May 2021
nobambanobamba
Rated 22 Nov 2020
75
83rd
I read that the cinematographer and the director made some very intentional choices. Technicolor paid off. Samantha Robinson was captivating but at the same time very distant. I liked her meekness when confronted. Pacing and editing felt like a TV movie. Beautiful women; ugly men. Intentionally bad dialogue? Overall a very jarring feel. Is Elaine a victim of the patriarchy and/or is love the real problem? BURN THE WITCH (by stripping her?) Fav scene: renaissance faire.
Rated 22 Nov 2020
gabrielpGabriel_p
Rated 16 Jul 2020
25
2nd
If you enjoy 2 hours long pointless homages to 60s movies, then this is your movie. If you enjoy anything else, stay away. 2 HOURS LONG!
Rated 16 Jul 2020
christofchristof
Rated 07 Apr 2020
93
97th
Pure genius!...what an absolute cracker of a film. Works on many levels of satire and irony and has much to say about the often toxic invention of modern love.
Rated 07 Apr 2020
madmanMadMan
Rated 08 Oct 2019
86
56th
Weird, gorgeously shot tribute to classic cinema with a fantastic lead performance from Samantha Robinson.
Rated 08 Oct 2019
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 26 Aug 2019
85
76th
Bewitching throwback to overwrought 70s horror is beautifully crafted and designed, with gorgeously rendered cinematography and a fine cast in on the joke who never play down to the material; Robinson in particular is great as the faux fatale, and finds her perfect balance in Keys' hilarious squarejaw straight-man work. Loses its way somewhat towards the end, with Biller becoming uncertain as to how to bring it all in for landing, and attempting a profundity that the material doesn't support.
Rated 26 Aug 2019
natebarriosnatebarrios
Rated 26 Jun 2019
50
18th
looked cool! am taking a break from dates now!
Rated 26 Jun 2019
sylviesylvie
Rated 08 Apr 2019
50
25th
I expected so much from this film in terms of feminist undertones, but it failed to deliver. The love witch is not the feminist manslayer we dream of, but she is objectified and her victims are portrayed innocent as her murders are not truly justified within the plot. The set, costumes and the style are all beautiful but I wish they went with a much different screenplay.
Rated 08 Apr 2019
leemarvinsleemarvins
Rated 19 Sep 2018
85
91st
If Douglas Sirk, Hitchcock's Marnie and Dryer's 'Gertrud' had an offspring it would look like Ms. Biller's "Love Witch". Not necessarily a ironic or throw back to a fifties melodrama. But still a great film on its own merits.
Rated 19 Sep 2018
jacoiiiJacoIII
Rated 01 May 2018
38
42nd
I enjoyed this quite a bit, but I don't think I understood it.
Rated 01 May 2018
rexperadoRexperado
Rated 20 Feb 2018
84
74th
It took me back in time and showed me both genders defects.
Rated 20 Feb 2018
calexicoCalexico
Rated 22 May 2017
75
51st
Funny and entertaining with a very fun retro aesthetic.
Rated 22 May 2017
amazedemonamazedemon
Rated 28 Apr 2017
63
39th
The Love Witch establishes itself as a satirical pastiche of 60's sexploitation/70's horror, while constantly talking about gender. Unfortunately, the film doesn't offer anything profound, painting both men and women as potential narcissists, both lustfully indignant. Biller's eye for design and detail is what makes the film stand out, and this stylised aesthetic excuses or even justifies the stilted acting. Robinson is great though. Sadly, the ending veers into Trolls 2 territory. Unrewarding.
Rated 28 Apr 2017
icarusIcarus
Rated 21 Apr 2017
60
26th
Well, I can't say I've seen anything like that before. I loved the look, atmosphere, and overall satirical tone of the whole piece--both modern and aged at once. I *think* I get what it's trying to do, and laughter is often the best way to get one's point across. And while I am sympathetic to that point--something along the lines of 'women are people, too'--I just wish I felt more invested in any of the people that populate this film.
Rated 21 Apr 2017
janusjanus
Rated 15 Apr 2017
80
77th
Good exploration of the seeming contradiction of the love-hungry man-hater.
Rated 15 Apr 2017
mandymandy
Rated 27 Mar 2017
7
73rd
Stylish and original, with a hard to define retro, fantasy, gothic horror feel.
Rated 27 Mar 2017
guvolefouguvolefou
Rated 19 Feb 2017
71
42nd
!f - CKM Budak.
Rated 19 Feb 2017
capodelnullacapodelnulla
Rated 18 Feb 2017
80
81st
hem satir olarak hem tür olarak işleyerek iyi bir parodi olduğunu gösteriyor. hayran edici bir estetik çekiciliği var. kamera açılarından mizansene, karakterlerden olaylara her şey bir yorum olarak işliyor ve gülümsetiyor. diğer yandan kurduğu cümleye denk düşen bir durumla izleyicisini de karşı karşıya bırakabiliyor samantha robinson sayesinde. böylesi dalgaya yalnızca hayran kalınır.
Rated 18 Feb 2017
lupisterlupister
Rated 13 Feb 2017
65
76th
Pretty stylish and funny, but not a horror or thriller at all.
Rated 13 Feb 2017

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