In this episode, we discuss the lesser-known Hammer horror film The Witches (aka The Devil's Own), starring Joan Fontaine as an uptight English teacher who comes into the small town of Heddaby to teach at a private children's school run by local siblings Stephanie Bax (Kay Walsh), a well-known journalist, and Alan (Alec McCowen), a wannabe vicar. Very soon, Gwen starts getting inklings that things are not as they seem in the seemingly idyllic village.

The film is surprisingly conservative, and Anna is joined by Professor Marion Gibson to discuss its themes and legacy. It's a fascinating precursor to The Wicker Man, its elements of folk horror, witchcraft as intellectual ambition, trauma, elitism, stereotypes of older single women and dance horror. 

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The Final Girls are a UK-based film collective exploring the intersections of horror film and feminism.

We will be focusing this first series of our podcast on exploring all things witchcraft on film. Each episode, we will dive deep into films and TV shows that we can’t necessarily screen. Each episode, we’ll be joined with special guests to dissect and discuss a film or show, its legacy and the way witches are represented.

Find out more about our projects here: thefinalgirls.co.uk

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Follow Anna on @annabdemented and Olivia is on @livihowe 

Our special guest this episode is Professor Marion Gibson, follow her on @witchesetc