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George A. Romero’s Season of the Witch Explored

Between iconic horror projects, director George A. Romero shifted focus toward a slow-burn feminist occult drama that initially struggled to find its footing.

Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer

Published: October 12, 2026 · Updated: October 12, 2026 · 3 min read

George A. Romero’s Season of the Witch Explored — Image: The Verge

From Zombie Pioneer to Occult Drama

While [George A. Romero] is best known as the father of the modern zombie movie, his directorial catalog extends far beyond the undead. Between inventing the genre with [Night of the Living Dead] and directing his outbreak horror feature, The Crazies, Romero helmed two lesser-known motion pictures: There’s Always Vanilla and Season of the Witch.

Originally released under the title Hungry Wives, the movie was intended to be an exploitation film. The studio attempted to market it as softcore porn, but the strategy failed to capture an audience due to the production featuring minimal nudity, a single sex scene, and heavy dialogue. Upon its release in 1973, it was an undeniable box office flop.

A Flawed Theatrical Release and Restorations

The distributor ultimately butchered the theatrical run by cutting roughly 40 minutes of footage. Sadly, Romero’s original 130-minute cut of the film remains lost. However, subsequent recovery efforts have restored portions of the cut content, expanding the 89-minute original release up to 104 minutes.

The feature eventually received a rerelease under the title Season of the Witch following renewed commercial and critical interest sparked by Romero’s Dawn of the Dead.

Plot and Feminist Themes

Beneath the marketing missteps, the project functions as a slow-burn feminist drama where occult elements play an almost incidental role in the overarching narrative.

The story centers on protagonist Joan Mitchell, who feels trapped inside an abusive marriage and dissatisfied with her conventional role as a submissive housewife. In an attempt to break away from her monotonous daily life, she begins pursuing therapy before eventually turning to witchcraft.

Production Values and Performance

Season of the Witch features notably low production values, having been produced on a budget of just $100,000, which amounts to approximately $800,000 when adjusted for modern inflation.

The acting performances are wildly uneven throughout the feature. While lead star Jan White delivers an excellent performance, supporting cast members exhibit varying degrees of quality, with some appearing to read directly from cue cards while others embrace campy delivery styles.

Atmosphere and Streaming Availability

Despite structural flaws and a heavy reliance on dialogue rather than fast-paced action, Romero's direction maintains a tense and occasionally hallucinatory atmosphere. The narrative ultimately culminates in a predictable yet satisfying conclusion.

Modern audiences interested in exploring this piece of horror history can find Season of the Witch available to stream online via platforms like [Mubi] and [Kanopy].