They’re the latest in the direct-to-video saga that began way back in 1988.
Filmmaker Jason Paul Collum got in touch with details on WITCHCRAFT XIX: OUR FATHER and WITCHCRAFT XX: 40 YEARS LATER, which filmed this past summer. (You can also see a teaser for WITCHCRAFT XIX below.) With WITCHCRAFT XXI: BROTHERHOOD OF SAINTS, which shoots in early 2027, they give this franchise the most sequels in horror history. Collum is joined on the trilogy by veteran SOV producer David S. Sterling; XIX and XX star fright favorite Brinke Stevens, Michael Newby, Tina Ona Paukstelis, Aurelia Despin and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD’s Judith O’Dea.
“Each sequel follows its own themes, but with a through-line,” Collum tells us. “WITCHCRAFT XIX: OUR FATHER is about mother/daughter relationships, particularly when a father isn’t present, and how the anger that causes amongst the children becomes directed at the person who cares for them the most. WITCHCRAFT XX: 40 YEARS LATER directly responds to how the actions of Will Spanner [here played by Newby] throughout the franchise have affected his immediate family—the Sins of the Father—and whether forgiveness can be found with his child Miracle [Despin], a burgeoning witch, and wife Elia [Paukstelis]. Finally, the story concludes with WITCHCRAFT XXI: BROTHERHOOD OF SAINTS, which shows what happens to parents who become empty nesters—what is their new purpose, and who they can lean on when really bad things start to happen. It also brings back a number of actors/characters from the franchise who longtime followers will be thrilled to see.
“This trilogy has easter eggs galore,” he adds. “We honor not only this franchise, but many other horror favorites like THE BOOGEY MAN [1980], DEADLY BLESSING, WHEN A STRANGER CALLS [1979], THE EXORCIST, ROSEMARY’S BABY—which heavily influenced the 1988 original—and many others. And I think true fans of the WITCHCRAFT movies, especially Parts II-V, are going to go crazy when they see who we’re bringing back. We also give a loving nod to WITCHCRAFT IV: VIRGIN HEART star Julie Strain, who passed away in 2021.”
Despite these references, Collum says his movies attach more directly to the original WITCHCRAFT. “We don’t deny that there have been 18 other WITCHCRAFT movies. We don’t spend a ton of time worrying about the other stories, but we don’t say they didn’t happen. That said, you can watch these new films without seeing the prior films. We give you the necessary information where needed.”
Collum further notes that his movies are not connected to WITCHCRAFT XVIII: THE LANTERNE OF LIGHT, which is currently in the works. “I recently spoke with Lisa Wilcox [A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4 and 5] and she confirmed she had filmed her scenes. I just don’t know what stage of production they’re in. I know it’s a found-footage movie. I just don’t want to release Part 19, then Part 18 comes out, then Part 20 comes out, and viewers are thrown off by the differing casts and storylines. But we’ll see.” Collum’s WITCHCRAFT trilogy will first release exclusively through MakeFlix.com, followed by Amazon and other streamers thereafter. WITCHCRAFT XIX is scheduled for early 2027, with WITCHCRAFT XX arriving in January 2028 and WITCHCRAFT XXI coming July 28. Limited theatrical play and physical-media releases are being planned as well.
“My main goal is to read reviews from critics that say, ‘These new entries are better than they have any right to be at Parts 19, 20 and 21,’” Collum laughs. “We shot in 4K, brought in young talent from Chicago in addition to some classic screamers like Brinke Stevens, Judith O’Dea, Michelle Bauer and Tina Ona Paukstelis, and worked more depth and emotional elements into the scripts. There are some genuinely touching moments for the Will Spanner family and other families affected by them in these films. So while we deliver the gore, some great scares and suspense amongst the magic, I hope viewers will remember these characters long after the end credits have rolled.” You can keep up with the trilogy at its Facebook page.
