First “Killer Clowns,” now “Psycho Witches”: new Italian video hijinks

Last updated on: February 15, 2015 at 5:44 pm by Peg Aloi

First “Killer Clowns,” now “Psycho Witches”: new Italian video hijinks 2015-02-15T17:44:48+00:00 Peg Aloi

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

from movie pilot.com

Remember the Italians who made the videos about the psychotic killer clowns? They feature killer clowns chasing people in public places that are mostly empty late at night (train stations and parks,mostly). As if clowns were not having a hard enough time, after American Horror Story: Freakshow decided to feature an evil, psychot ic killer clown, played by John Carroll Lynch. Clowns across America protested and encouraged boycotting of the show.

Now they’ve made a new group of videos that feature a “psycho witch” who engages in apparent acts of torture, murder and mayhem.

The “witch” is a bulky guy in a black sweatshirt and skirt and a really bad long Hallowe’en wig. He engages in a variety of threatening acts, including apparently killing someone using a “voodoo doll” (a baby doll with plastic straws), burning a hanging effigy, and chasing after someone with a flaming torch. The effects are fairly crude.

I mean, if you’re going to do a prank involving a witch, why not go for some REALLY good effects, like these Italians did with the “Witch with Super Powers” video in the coffee shop? Obviously inspired by Stephen King’s character Carrie about a teenage girl with telekinetic powers (not a witch, really). This one is so amazing I am surprised none of the customers had a heart attack.

Or this one, obviously inspired by The Blair Witch Project (and possibly The Wizard of Oz).

Image from http://curious.mayaiv.com

Some people like labeling these kinds of pranks “social experiments” (like this one in which the reactions of a wide variety of people to an apparent murder in progress are very telling–some run away, some try to get help, some try to intervene). But I think the ones with the over-the-top costumes are trying also to see if people actually believe what they’re seeing (come on, what are we supposed to think about that “witch” in the bad costume? That it’s a “real witch” or that it’s some psychopath who likes to dress up and laugh maniacally while they kill people?), and it’s the reactions that make for good video, I suppose.

In this age of user-generated content and the use of social media to push products and make money, it’s little wonder that video pranksters do what ever it takes to go over-the-top, continue to be more outrageous than their previous efforts, and generate millions of hits so they can go viral and hopefully, make money. But are these pranks a good idea? What if the “victims” gain the upper hand? (I know it is possible and even likely that some or possibly all of these “victims” are themselves in on the joke, but most of the time the reactions look genuine). I can’t see such pranks gaining a foothold in the US, because we have too many actual psychopaths and people carrying weapons in public places; there would inevitably be a catastrophe. But American consumers certainly enjoy the Italian videos, if the comments sections on Youtube are any indication.

But I find myself wondering where this “psycho witch” idea originates. I mean, Italians are familiar with their own folk witchcraft tradition, so this black-clad version with bad hair seems to be Hollywood-inspired. But it’s so cheap and crude. Where’s the glamour and mystery?

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 13, 2015

Valentine's Day, or Lupercalia? A Pagan Dilemma

Next Post

February 22, 2015 Bruce Sinofsky, co-director of PARADISE LOST films, dead at 58

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category American Horror Story: COVEN American Horror Story: FREAKSHOW Beltane Faery magic News & Reviews occult pagan festivals Paganism Review Reviews ritual Sabbats Samhain Satanic Panic Tuesday Muse News & Reviews TV Uncategorized Wheel of the Year witches in film witches on TV

Select a Month February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which tribe first accepted David as king after Saul's death?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ephraim Dan Judah Benjamin