Broomsticks and Bloodshed

Before modern folk horror and long before witchcraft became mainstream in horror cinema, there was The Virgin Witch (1971), a bizarre blend of occult themes, sexploitation, and questionable storytelling choices. This week on Broomsticks & Bloodshed, Cory and Rossa take a deep dive into one of the strangest witch-themed films they’ve tackled yet. The hosts break down the film scene by scene, explor...

The Graham family never had a chance. From the very first frame, Ari Aster’s Hereditary makes that terrifyingly clear — and this week, Cory and Rosśa drag every hidden sigil, every carefully placed hat, and every demonic invocation into the light. They walk through the full arc of the Graham family’s unraveling, while Rosśa unpacks the deep goetic underpinnings of the film’s magic — Crowley’s Thel...

This week on Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory steps behind the mic solo for a deeply personal dive into the five horror films that shaped his love of the genre forever. From the spiritual terror of The Exorcist to the grief soaked nightmare of Hereditary, the paranoid isolation of The Thing, the grimy brutality of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and the haunting madness of The Shining, this episode e...

In this episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rossa dive headfirst into the iconic 1996 film The Craft, unpacking its legacy, its chaos, and its surprisingly layered portrayal of witchcraft. Recorded on the film’s 30th anniversary, the timing feels almost… fated. Before getting into the movie, the hosts reflect on a whirlwind weekend at Spirit Northwest, sharing stories from their live sc...

Step away from the coven for a moment as Broomsticks and Bloodshed dives into a horror catch-up session. Cory and Rossa trade notes on everything they’ve been watching lately, from theatrical releases to streaming deep cuts, covering the good, the bad, and the absolutely unforgivable. From the chaotic fun of Ready or Not 2 to the bleak dread of The Dark and the Wicked, the duo explores what makes...

In this episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rosśa descend into the hypnotic, chaotic world of The Lords of Salem, the divisive occult fever dream from Rob Zombie. From Salem’s blood-soaked past to a modern-day radio station unknowingly broadcasting something sinister, the hosts unpack a film that’s equal parts ritual, nightmare, and visual spectacle. They explore Heidi’s unraveling as a...

Step into the smoky, spell-soaked streets of 1950s Greenwich Village as Cory and Rosśa dive into Bell, Book and Candle (1958), the ultimate witchy rom-com dripping in charm, camp, and subtext. From Kim Novak’s hypnotic allure to Jimmy Stewart’s wide-eyed unraveling, this film serves romance with a side of magic… and a whole lot of questions. Is love real if it’s conjured? What does it mean to lose...

This week on Broomsticks and Bloodshed , Cory and Rosśa crack open the glittery, chaotic spellbook that is the 1989 cult classic Teen Witch . What starts as a simple high school fantasy quickly spirals into magical makeovers, bizarre musical numbers, questionable spellwork, and one of the most legendary rap battles ever committed to film. The story follows Louise Miller, a shy and chronically over...

This week on The Witches of Eastwick, we dive into George Miller’s slick, sensual, and gloriously chaotic tale of power, patriarchy, and polyamory gone demonic. Cory and Rosśa are joined by special guest Sarah from the Final Girls podcast to unpack the feminist fury and camp spectacle of this 1987 cult classic starring Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and an absolutely unhinged Jack Nichol...

In this episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rosśa dive deep into Mother of Flies, the latest haunting folk-horror film from the Adams Family, streaming on Shudder. Blending personal grief, cancer narratives, and witchcraft as lived practice, the film asks a brutal question: what are you willing to give in exchange for more time? Cory and Rosśa unpack the film’s poetic structure, its use...

In this episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rossa ride into the dusty crossroads of horror and the Wild West to unpack 2020’s The Pale Door. What starts as a gritty outlaw tale quickly twists into a supernatural showdown filled with witchcraft, glamours, cursed towns, and some truly questionable choices. The duo breaks down the film scene by scene, diving into its chaotic tonal shifts,...

This week on Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rosśa head into the woods to confront The Wretched (2019), a pandemic-era horror hit about a child-eating bog witch hiding in plain sight. We break down the film’s folklore influences, skin-walking terror, and impressive sound design, while also calling out its continuity issues, rushed third act, and deeply divisive ending. Is this an underrated fo...

In this episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rosśa close out 2025 by trekking deep into the haunted woods of The Ritual (2017), David Bruckner’s bleak and beautifully shot folk horror nightmare. What begins as a memorial hike for a fallen friend quickly turns into a descent into guilt, grief, and something ancient lurking among the trees. As tensions fracture the group, the forest itself...

This week on Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rossa descend into the gothic heart of 1970s Blaxploitation horror with The House on Skull Mountain. Set in an eerie Atlanta mansion and steeped in ancestral legacy, the film blends Catholic imagery, Vodou, Hoodoo, and gothic melodrama into a supernatural mystery where blood calls to blood and the dead refuse to stay silent. We break down the film’s...

In this week’s episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rossa plunge into the feverish world of Häxan, the silent-era blend of scholarship, superstition, and shocking imagery that redefined cinematic witchcraft. We explore its historical sources, its unforgettable sabbat visions, and the real witchcraft practices buried beneath the hysteria. From demonology manuals to torture chambers, we ex...

This week on Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rossa trek into the icy folklore of 1950s Finland to explore The White Reindeer, a haunting blend of shamanic magic, vampiric hunger, and the crushing loneliness that transforms Pirita from a restless bride into a shape-shifting predator. We dig into the film’s stark Arctic landscapes, its surreal ritual sequences, and its deeply human fear of desir...

Grab your potion bottles and hide your chocolate! This week, Cory and Rossa unmask The Witches, Nicolas Roeg’s twisted children’s tale of mice, magic, and moral panic. From Anjelica Huston’s iconic Grand High Witch to Jim Henson’s grotesque creature work, we’re diving deep into the film’s mix of whimsy and horror. Join us as we explore how Dahl’s story warped witchcraft for a generation, what the...

This week on Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rossa dive into 1978’s Summer of Fear — a made-for-TV witchy thriller starring Linda Blair that’s equal parts camp and curse. From eerie family secrets to seventies-style sorcery, we unpack the film’s magic, melodrama, and misunderstood witchcraft. Tune in as we explore how this forgotten gem helped shape the era’s small-screen horror and whether it...

In this special supplemental episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rosśan take a break from their usual deep dives to chat about the horror movies that have been haunting their screens lately. From cult classics to new releases, they share what’s been hitting, missing, and casting the strongest cinematic spells this spooky season. Grab your pumpkin spice potion and settle in—it’s a casual...

A cursed button, a desperate loan officer, and a furious witch collide in Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell (2009), a wild ride of camp, terror, and dark humor. This week, Cory and Rossa break down Raimi’s chaotic return to horror, from jump scares to gross-out gags, while also digging into how the film’s portrayal of curses and witchcraft connects to real magical practices.

This week, we’re talking about Ti West’s  The House of the Devil  (2009). Set in the 1980s, the film follows a college student who takes a babysitting job in a remote house, only to find herself caught in a nightmarish plot steeped in satanic panic. We dig into West’s slow-burn style, the retro throwback vibes, and the chilling finale that makes this a modern horror cult classic.

In this week’s episode of Broomsticks and Bloodshed, Cory and Rossa take a deep dive into Hellbender (2021), a haunting indie gem that fuses coming-of-age horror with raw witchcraft energy. We break down the film’s eerie atmosphere, its unique take on power, isolation, and inheritance, and how its magic compares to real-world witchcraft practices. From blood soaked rites to psychedelic visions, we...

In this episode, Cory and Rossa tackle the terrifying world of The Conjuring—but is it truly a tale of ghosts, or just another cinematic smear against witchcraft? We unpack the legend of Bathsheba Sherman, the film’s Satanic Panic roots, and how Hollywood gets real-world witchcraft all wrong. From blood sacrifices to baby-killing myths, we separate horror fiction from magical fact. Grab your rosar...

This week, Cory and Rossa unravel the cursed runes of Jacques Tourneur’s Curse of the Demon (1957). We dive into the film’s eerie atmosphere, occult symbolism, and that unforgettable demon reveal. How does the movie portray ceremonial magic and male witchcraft? Is Dr. Holden’s skepticism a shield—or a curse of its own? Join us as we explore the shadowy world of postwar British horror, where knowle...

This week, Cory and Rossa descend into the eerie world of Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby. From gaslighting to gothic paranoia, we unpack the film’s chilling portrayal of motherhood, autonomy, and satanic influence. Plus, we explore how the film reflects real-world fears around reproductive control and whether its occult elements hold any truth in modern witchcraft. Is Rosemary crazy—or cursed? T...