The Witch
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Where to watch: Streaming on Paramount+ · Shudder (US, subject to change)
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How it scared people
The vibe
Robert Eggers built 1630s New England from period diaries, right down to the grammar, then let a family devour itself over sin and suspicion at the edge of the woods. It's less about the witch than about how faith curdles under isolation — and Black Phillip became a legend for a reason.
The Witch (2015) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated R |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 92 minutes |
| Jump scares | 2/5 — on the gentler side — it favors mood and atmosphere over hard scares |
| Gore | 1/5 — almost no gore |
| Dread | 5/5 — the kind of film that follows you around for days |
| Themes | pagan folklore; religious themes; witchcraft; characters cut off from help |
The Witch is rated R by the MPA. We score it 2/5 for jump scares, 1/5 for gore and 5/5 for lingering dread, over 92 minutes. Very little blood — the hard part here is atmosphere and aftermath, not graphic content. Older teens and adults — less for what it shows than for how long it stays with you.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is The Witch?
- On our intensity scale, The Witch rates 4/10 for jump scares and 10/10 for dread. It is on the gentler side — it favors mood and atmosphere over hard scares. Expect little in the way of jump scares, but a sense of dread that builds steadily and lingers after the credits.
- How gory is The Witch?
- The Witch rates 2/10 for gore — expect almost no gore.
- How long is The Witch?
- The Witch runs 92 minutes (1h 32m).
- What is The Witch rated?
- The Witch is rated R by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 4/10 for jump scares, 2/10 for gore and 10/10 for dread — the R tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch The Witch (2015)?
- As of our last update, The Witch is streaming on Paramount+ and Shudder in the US (checked 2026-09-14). Availability changes, so check your service before settling in.
