20 best film witches of all time

The Three Mothers (Suspiria, Inferno, Mother of Tears)

Sometimes, witches are just straight up villains.

It makes sense, from a folkloric perspective. Think of all the fairy tales you heard as a child, wherein a witch is constantly hoping to eat someone or divest them of their souls, skin, or livelihood. No one in the world of legend or folklore is super excited about being friends with a witch. It follows that movies — which are, in many cases, folktales writ large — would do the same.

If you want a thoroughly villainous witch figure in your movie, then follow the trilogy of Suspiria, Inferno and The Mother of Tears, all directed by Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. Together, the three films are sometimes called The Three Mothers.

The titular mothers are actually three sisters, who join forces at the beginning of the 11th century to create witchcraft. No big deal.

Over the following centuries, the sisters traveled the world and amassed great power and influence. They also commissioned an architect to create three buildings for them, which act as strongholds for each sister. It also happens that the land on which these buildings were erected became poisoned.

Helena Markos, also known as the Mater Suspiriorum (Mother of Sighs) is the eldest and wisest of the sisters. She eventually founds a dance academy and becomes its director, as shown in Suspiria. Though she’s protected by a coven, Markos is defeated by a frightened American, Suzy Bannion. When Markos dies, her home crumbles to the ground.

The Mater Tenebrarum (Mother of Darkness) is unnamed, though we know she is the youngest of the sisters and the most vicious. She’s defeated in Inferno. The similarly unnamed Mater Lachrymarum (Mother of Tears) is the most powerful of the trio and the most beautiful. She makes an appearance in the other films, but is featured in The Mother of Tears. She goes into hibernation after her sisters’ deaths, but is awakened when someone uncovers a red tunic belonging to her. That same tunic, which represents her powers, leads to her destruction when the descendent of a good “white witch” rips it and defeats her.