Horror Movie Review: The North Witch (2024)

Combining folklore frights with psychological horror, The North Witch is a compelling watch that nails much of what it is going for. Directed by Bruce Wemple and written by Anna Shields, the basis of this horror tale is a classic, witches.

Anna Shields stars as Madison, who has just been made homeless, so gets in contact with an old friend named Gemma (Jessy Holtermann) in the hope of staying with her until she can get back on her feet. Unfortunately, Gemma is going away this weekend with her friends, but feeling bad for Madison, she agrees to let her come along on her camping trip.

This is no ordinary camping trip though. These women are looking for a mysterious cabin that is linked to the legend of the North Witch. Find the cabin, which no-one has ever done before, and find the truth about those that have gone looking for it and never returned. A legend that is delightfully creepy.

Of course, such a cabin should be impossible to find, but following a storm so strong that it borders on being supernatural, Madison awakes to find what they’ve been looking for. Except she is alone, and all around, strange things are occurring. Madison isn’t in Kanas anymore, she’s hurt and scared, which is why the arrival of Talia (Kaitlyn Lunardi), another of the group is greeted so warmly. At least until her arrival herald’s the kind of dark events that would drive a person insane.

Which is what Madison begins to question. Are the events around her actually occurring? Has she gone insane? How long has she been in this cabin, and is the North Witch real?

These are the important questions that make’s The North Witch an exciting watch. The story, the real-life parallels, and the characters are all weaved together well, ensuring the viewer is constantly feeling engaged. Even when the psychological aspects surrounding time, and all the disorientation that comes with it, starts to have an effect. This kind of tension is where The North Witch excels.

Anna Shields isn’t just a strong writer, but she’s also a strong actor and alongside the supporting cast (especially Kaitlyn Lunardi), helps ground the film in reality, while also doing everything possible to make it a horrifying watch. There are multiple times where the film frightens, often without resorting to jump scares too, but there are also multiple moments where it disgusts. No spoilers, but there are some inventive bloody and gory moments.

All of this results in a genuinely memorable horror film that delivers on most of its promises. Some may want a more direct ending, one that spells things out, but here, a bit of ambiguity works. In fact, it fits the film’s story and tone. Was any of it real?