Salem Horror Fest: George Romero's Season of The Witch (1973)

In this episode, we will discuss how Season of the Witch is representative of the dual nature within women seen in the archetypes of The Witch versus The Wife. We will explore the role of the wife in western culture and the societal expectations placed upon women in the 1970s. Also popular during this time was the rise of occultism and witchcraft among these (primarily) white women due to the independence it created. As well, we will examine the image of the witch as representative of feminism and sexual freedom that could be seen taking place during the Sexual Revolution (1960-1980) in which Season of the Witch takes place. As we watch Joan move from the role of a desperate, constrained housewife/mother to a sexually liberated witch, Season of the Witch suggests that she potentially traded one gilded cage for another. How does Romero’s perspective about these roles compare to that of two alternative women living their unconventional lives in 2021? This is what we intend to find out in probing the more obscure and underrated 1973 film. Enjoy and welcome to our dark side... Intro Music: Robeast by Dance with the Dead Artwork by: Jess Hrycyk Editing work by Jessica