Every sapphic has gone through a phase where she was obsessed with anything witchy. As a late 80s baby, my phase centered around VHS copies of The Craft, Practical Magic, and Hocus Pocus. I dreamed of being able to cast spells as easily as Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Throughout the 90s strong, independent, witchy characters cast a spell that I—and many of my friends—just couldn’t escape.
As I grew older and came into my sapphic identity, it became hard to find media to scratch that witchy itch. Luckily, queer filmmaker Jane Clark has just the fix: her new film, Witchy Ways is a sexy supernatural romance, which manages to boast a wonderfully diverse cast with just three main characters. Diora Baird shines as Eve, Marem Hassler deftly brings Danni to life, and Candis Cayne offers humor and emotional depth as Penni. All three are members of the LGBTQ+ community, and their care for the characters is refreshingly real.
Witchy Ways starts as Eve, a high-powered brand manager from New York City, retreats to her late mother’s cottage to figure out where to go next in life. There she meets Danni, an enchanting neighbor and proud witch, descending from a long line of witches. Eve and Danni learn to open up to one another, eventually finding their way to a sweet romance. However, when Danni’s long-held secret comes to light, this new love is tested. As trouble brews around them, both women have to choose between the life they’ve always known and the love they long to have.
The original spark for the film came from Clark’s friendship with actress Marem Hassler. “We’d been friends for a while but had never worked together,” says Clark. “One night over drinks, Marem said, ‘I just bought a red Komodo, have a great DP, a fab producer, let’s make a movie.’ I said yes, then realized I had to write something!”
Inspired by A Discovery of Witches and later the tone and world of Practical Magic, Clark began shaping a story about witches, ghosts, and a lesbian romance. As she researched witchcraft, she discovered a community historically unable to live freely as themselves, a theme that resonated deeply. Out of that came Danni, a character infused with both Hassler’s lived experience and Clark’s own journey.
The film is fun and sexy, weaving a beautiful story of romance and identity. Clark uses the supernatural to explore the many ways women find the strength to live authentically. The characters’ queerness is never questioned or othered, allowing the plot to focus instead on the supernatural element and the love story between Eve and Danni.
“I wanted to create a supernatural romance where queer women aren’t just included but celebrated,” says Clark. “This is a story about love, courage, and believing in something greater than ourselves.”
Sparkling lights and ghostly figures make Witchy Ways a perfect choice for those looking to avoid scary movies this spooky season and delve into something a little sweeter. Find it to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video via Wolfe Video.