The ten best movie witches
Hollywood's most notable hocus pocus hags
Tue Feb 12 2013
Vampires are dead: 2013 is officially the season of the witch. As ‘Beautiful Creatures’ (aka ‘the new “Twilight”’) opens, Cath Clarke and Tom Huddleston pick the best screen sorceresses.
Morgana (Helen Mirren)
Film
‘Excalibur’ (1981)
Appearance
Scantily clad. This was back in Helen Mirren's sex-kitten days, and given writer-director John Boorman’s fixation with medieval rumpo it’s hardly surprising that the national treasure spends much of her time in see-through silks.
Evil deeds
Inveigling her liege lord and estranged brother Arthur into a spot of uninvited incest (to be fair, he doesn’t put up much of a struggle), thereby birthing his son and nemesis, Mordred. Oh, and sealing Merlin in magic ice.
Scare factor
2/10. Unless you’re a medieval king or have an irrational fear of Helen Mirren’s nipples, you’re on safe ground.
Wyrd words
‘I have conceived a son, my king… my brother!’
More Time Out film features that'll make your skin crawl
The 100 best horror films
Time Out proudly presents the 100 best horror films, as chosen by those who write in, direct, star in and celebrate the genre.
50 terrifying movie moments
A round-up of the horror scenes that have made us cower in our boots, dash for the exit sign and weep for the very future of humankind.
