The Real-Life Inspiration For The Witch, This Year's Most Disturbing Horror Film So Far

There are more than a handful of new horror movies on the horizon, but one of the more hotly anticipated releases is called The Witch. The film bills itself as "a New England folktale," and follows a family who has fallen victim to evil, malevolent forces. The result is a gripping, disturbing examination of witchcraft in the colonial era. To prepare for the film's release, we took a look at a history of witches in pop culture, and we also did a little digging to figure out which components are historically accurate. Through the press notes and a little research of our own, we've uncovered all the real aspects of The Witch, from its depiction of witchcraft to the sets, dialogue, and more. Keep reading to see what we discovered.