Review: “Witchy Ways” is a magical date-night romance
The ideal date night movie does not require deep thought. It must be light-hearted, entertaining, and romantic without dwelling on things…
The ideal date night movie does not require deep thought. It must be light-hearted, entertaining, and romantic without dwelling on things that bring the mood down. Witchy Ways is such a film. It’s an enchanted romance with a ghostly twist. The film does not dive too deep into heavy topics. However, Witchy Ways does have a lot to say about finding love through generational grief and loss.
Eve (Diora Baird) drives to a small town cottage that was rented by her late mother. The women planned a trip before the mother died. Evie’s bestie Penny (Candis Cane) urged her to take the trip to shake up her life, get some rest, and possibly leave the job she hates. The cottage is owned by Danni (Marem Hassler), an open and practicing witch.
The cottage has a special connection to Eve’s mom’s childhood. Danni’s family owns the place and they have their own ghostly connection in Nina (Ava December Martinez). Danni is also dealing with grieving Robby (Marc Price). Robby wants the house gone, whether it is sold or burnt to the ground with Danni in it!
Eve comes in amidst all of this and ends up being caught in the middle. This happens as she rediscovers herself and the hobbies that she used to love. Eve’s time at the cottage is steeped in weirdness that she believes is mental illness. Danni finally shares her witchy side, in an effort to make Eve feel less crazy. Instead of driving Eve away, the magic pulls them closer as the chaos bubbles to a head. Eve feels so drawn to Danni that she isn’t sure if it’s love, a spell, Nina, grief, or insanity.
Witchy Ways is a story about finding love while enveloped by grief. The characters are all dealing with old and new losses in their own way. They find that love and light are the only way through the darkness. The theme is not deep and the plot is easy to jump back into in the event of date night distractions. It’s perfect for a “movies and chill” evening.
Eve and Danni’s romance (and steamy, sexy scenes) bring an LGBTQ+ element to the witch romance film genre that is long overdue. And just in time for Spooky Season. Danni’s legacy of witchcraft may spark a conversation about how many lesbian, bisexual, and nonbinary gendered women were condemned as witches a few short centuries ago.
Evie and Danni’s characters join Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) and Rio (Aubrey Plaza) from Agatha All Along in bringing queer representation to the legacy of onscreen witches.
One Life to Live fans will notice something familiar about the sheriff, played by David Fumero.
Catch Witchy Ways on the film festival circuit. Find out where to screen it next at witchywaysmovie.