It’s been over a decade since Thomasin signed her name in the Devil’s book. Since then, the conversation surrounding The Witch: Part 2—or more accurately, the spiritual and stylistic legacy of Robert Eggers' 2015 debut—hasn’t really stopped. People are still looking for more. They want to know what happened to the girl who flew into the trees. They want to know if Black Phillip is still recruiting.
Movies like this don't just go away. They linger.
If you’re scouring the internet for a literal, direct sequel titled The Witch: Part 2, you’ve likely noticed a distinct lack of trailers. That’s because Eggers isn’t a "franchise" guy in the traditional sense. He doesn't do "The Witch 2: Black Phillip’s Revenge." Instead, the sequel exists in the DNA of his subsequent films and the "folk horror" explosion he single-handedly reignited. To understand where the story goes next, you have to look at the historical accuracy, the psychological breakdown of the 17th-century mind, and the projects Eggers has tackled since leaving that New England farm behind.
The Reality of a Sequel That Isn't a Sequel
Let’s be real for a second. In the modern era of cinema, if a movie makes money, it gets a follow-up. The Witch (or The VVitch if you’re fancy) made roughly $40 million on a $4 million budget. That is a massive win. Usually, that leads to a trilogy. But Robert Eggers is obsessed with specific historical pockets. He spent years researching the dialect of the 1630s for the first film. He didn't just write a script; he curated a time machine.
A direct The Witch: Part 2 would almost feel like a betrayal of the first film's ending. Thomasin's journey was about liberation through transgression. Once she joins the coven, the "human" story ends and the myth begins. What would a sequel even look like? Thomasin trying to navigate the 1640s as a social outcast? It doesn't fit the tone.
Instead, the industry has given us "spiritual sequels." Think of The Lighthouse or The Northman. These are the chapters where the director explores the same themes—madness, isolation, and the supernatural—but in different settings. If you want the vibe of The Witch: Part 2, you’re actually looking for the upcoming Nosferatu. It’s the same focus on period-accurate dread and the feeling that something ancient is watching you from the shadows.
Why People Keep Searching for More
Folk horror is addictive. Honestly, it’s about the atmosphere. There is something fundamentally terrifying about the woods. In the first film, the family was exiled. They were alone. That isolation is a universal fear. When people search for a sequel, they aren’t necessarily looking for Thomasin; they’re looking for that specific feeling of "unbelonging."
Psychologists often point out that we use horror to process "ancestral trauma." The Witch tapped into the very real history of the Salem trials, even though it was set decades earlier. It showed how fear of the "other" can destroy a family from the inside out.
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- The religious hysteria of the 1600s wasn't just a plot point.
- It was the entire world these people lived in.
- Everything was a sign from God or a curse from the Devil.
There’s a nuance there that most horror movies miss. Most films just have a jump scare. Eggers gave us a theological nightmare. That’s why the demand for a second part remains so high. We want to see that level of detail applied to other legends.
The "Anya Taylor-Joy" Factor
You can't talk about a potential follow-up without mentioning Anya Taylor-Joy. This was her breakout role. She became the face of modern "elevated horror." Her career trajectory moved so fast—The Queen’s Gambit, Dune: Part Two, Furiosa—that the idea of her returning to a small-scale horror sequel seems unlikely. But fans still hold out hope. They want to see her character fully realized as the "Witch" the movie promised she would become.
The Real-World Folklore Behind the Narrative
To find the "continuation" of this story, you have to look at the actual records Eggers used. He pulled dialogue directly from 17th-century journals. He looked at the Malleus Maleficarum. He looked at the accounts of the Hartford witch trials.
Basically, the "part 2" of this story is history itself.
The 1600s were a brutal time for women who didn't fit the mold. If you were too independent, you were a witch. If you were too loud, you were a witch. If you knew how to use herbs to heal a fever, you were definitely a witch. The first film ended with Thomasin embracing the label that had been forced upon her. A sequel would logically have to deal with the expansion of these covens across the American colonies.
Historians like Emerson W. Baker, who wrote A Storm of Witchcraft, provide the real-world context that serves as a sequel to the themes Eggers established. The paranoia didn't stop with one family. It spread like a virus. It culminated in 1692 in Salem, where the "witch" became a tool for political and land-grabbing schemes. That is the true "part 2." It’s the transition from isolated family tragedy to a societal meltdown.
Examining the "Black Phillip" Phenomenon
The goat. We have to talk about the goat.
Black Phillip became a meme, sure, but he also represents a very specific type of cinematic antagonist. He rarely speaks. He’s just... there. Standing in the background. Looking.
In any theoretical The Witch: Part 2, the role of the animal familiar would have to be expanded. In New England folklore, the "Black Man" (a common name for the Devil in that era) often appeared as an animal or a tall, shadowy figure in a suit. The movie played with this beautifully. If the story were to continue, it would likely follow the Devil's influence as he moves from one broken household to the next. It’s an anthology of evil rather than a linear plot.
Where Does Folk Horror Go from Here?
If you're looking for movies that satisfy the itch for more of this world, the "sequels" are already out there. They just have different names.
- The Ritual (2017): Great if you like the "lost in the woods" and "ancient deity" vibe.
- Hereditary (2018): Focuses on the family breakdown and the inevitability of a dark legacy.
- Midsommar (2019): Takes the "joining the cult" ending of The Witch and turns it into a bright, sun-drenched nightmare.
- Gretel & Hansel (2020): Visually, it’s almost a twin to Eggers' work.
These films form a loose collective. They are the children of Thomasin’s flight. They share the same DNA: slow burns, heavy atmosphere, and an ending that doesn't necessarily offer "hope" in the traditional sense, but rather a dark transformation.
Actionable Insights for Fans of the Genre
Since a literal The Witch: Part 2 isn't hitting theaters tomorrow, you have to look elsewhere to get your fix. Here is how to dive deeper into the world that Robert Eggers built:
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Read the Primary Sources
Go back to the actual texts. Read Wonders of the Invisible World by Cotton Mather. It’s dense, it’s paranoid, and it’s exactly what the characters in the movie were terrified of. It gives you a much better understanding of why the father, William, was so broken by his pride.
Track the Director's Evolution
If you want to see where the "soul" of the movie went, watch The Northman. It takes the same gritty, "living history" approach and applies it to Viking lore. It’s much more violent, but the attention to detail is identical. Then, prepare for his Nosferatu. Early reports suggest it’s the most "pure horror" thing he’s done since 2015.
Explore the Geography
If you’re ever in New England, visit the locations that inspired the film. Not just Salem, but the smaller towns in New Hampshire and Maine. The "Great Woods" are still there. You can feel the weight of the history when you're standing under those hemlocks at dusk.
Support Indie Folklore
The "Part 2" of any cult hit is usually found in the indie scene. Look for short films on platforms like Shudder or A24’s deep catalog. Directors like Ari Aster and Robert Eggers opened the door for weird, specific, historical horror that doesn't rely on jump scares.
Ultimately, the story of The Witch is complete. It doesn't need a post-credits scene or a cinematic universe. It’s a perfect, self-contained nightmare about the moment a girl decides she’d rather "live deliciously" than suffer in a world that hates her. That's a powerful ending. Sometimes, the best way to honor a great movie is to let it sit in the dark, undisturbed, while we look for the next thing that makes us afraid of the trees.
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To keep the spirit of the film alive, focus on the themes of isolation and the breakdown of traditional structures. The horror isn't just in the magic; it's in the silence between people who are supposed to love each other. That’s a story that never really ends.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Research the Hartford Witch Trials of 1662 to see the real-world events that predated Salem.
- Watch the "Making of" documentaries for The Witch to see how they built the farm using only period-accurate materials.
- Follow the production updates for Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu for the next evolution of this specific filmmaking style.