The horror genre, whether in movies or books, has long mirrored our cultural anxieties, adapting its themes over time to expose what lurks in our collective subconscious. Horror captures our shared fears, urging us to confront our darkest thoughts and our collective monsters.

During times of profound societal upheaval, horror beckons us to uncover the skeletons in our cultural closet and face the ghosts that haunt us. It also grants us a unique opportunity to  stare down our fears and to envision the unraveling of the status quo.

This Halloween, our team is delving into a report from the VML Intelligence titled ‘The Age of Re-Enchantment’ that captures the trends surrounding these powerful dynamics. The research reveals how the rise in dark and dystopian content reflects a deeper need to process complex emotions and, in some ways, prepare for future challenges. In a world marked by uncertainty and polycrisis, many turn to horror as a means to understand—and perhaps exert control over—the unsettling realities of modern life. By seeking dark comforts, horror allows us to confront chaos and confusion with a sense of agency, fostering resilience against mounting pressures and, paradoxically, providing comfort as we face the unfaceable.

In an article from Dazed, the team lists Trump: An American Dream (2017) as one of the most horrifying films of all time—”because, sometimes, reality truly is stranger than fiction.” For the sake of our mental well-being, though, we recommend skipping that one! Instead, keeping with the themes of horror and re-enchantment, we’re sharing another list here, diving into the many “seasons of the witch” in horror cinema. The article traces the evolving portrayal of witches in film, from early depictions as malevolent hags to modern icons of empowerment. Witches have shifted from embodying fears of powerful women to representing feminist rebellion and resilience. With each era, the witch archetype adapts to cultural shifts, reflecting society’s evolving views on gender, power, and autonomy. Today, witches continue to captivate audiences, reflecting both fascination with the mystical and ongoing debates on gender and independence. 

Since gender trends are one of our areas of expertise here at TrendsActive, we also recommend Penguin Books’ podcast, which explores horror tropes, rebellious women, demonic cats, and much more!