The longest-running interconnected B-horror franchise in history is preparing for its most ambitious chapter yet with Witchcraft XVIII: The Lanterne of Light. Spearheaded by independent filmmakers Carissa and Andrew Pierson, this upcoming 18th installment marks a massive stylistic shift for the straight-to-video series. Moving away from the traditional softcore erotica-thriller roots of the legacy films, The Lanterne of Light pivots into a raw, psychological found-footage nightmare designed to blend the atmospheric dread of The Conjuring with the shaky realism of The Blair Witch Project.
The narrative of Witchcraft XVIII: The Lanterne of Light centers on a modern-day paranormal investigation crew shooting an episode for a television series titled Unmasking the Paranormal. The team travels deep into the isolated woods of Madison, North Carolina, to investigate local legends.
There, they stumble upon a forbidden 1409 manuscript tied to an exiled priest and a brutal pagan cult known as “The Children of the Hollow”. Central to the terror is a cursed lantern that demands blood sacrifices to stay lit. As the crew is targeted by rituals based on the Seven Deadly Sins, their investigation turns into a lethal trap.
Breaking the Fourth Wall
To elevate the immersion, the movie employs a unique framing device. The found footage is presented through a late-night, live true-crime broadcast called Murder in a Minute. Media personality Kato Kaelin hosts the broadcast, reacting to the “forbidden footage” in real time alongside the viewing audience as they witness the crew’s sudden disappearance.
Cast and Production Details
Produced by Deathstalker Productions, Vista Street Entertainment, and Sterling Entertainment, the film features an impressive lineup of horror veterans and cult icons:
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- Andrew Pierson returns as the franchise’s central warlock protagonist, William Spanner, following his debut in Witchcraft XVII: The Initiation.
- Kristina Lafser reprises her role as Keli Jordan.
- Marc Price (the ’80s horror icon from Trick or Treat) plays Blake, a reporter covering the investigation team.
- Eric Roberts, Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street), and Sandy Johnson (Halloween) round out the star-studded indie cast.
- Principal photography is scheduled to commence in October 2026.
The Legacy: History of the Witchcraft Movies
To understand how the series reached this point, one must look at the expansive history of the Witchcraft franchise, which began in 1988. For nearly four decades, the series has tracked William Spanner, a man born to a dark covenant who chooses to use his magical powers to defend humanity from evil.
1. The Early Years & The Awakening (I–III)
Witchcraft (1988): Directed by Rob Spera, the movie introduces Grace Spanner, who realizes her husband’s family is a coven of witches trying to sacrifice her newborn baby, William.
Witchcraft II: The Temptress (1990): A teenage William is adopted by a normal family but is targeted by a seductive witch trying to awaken his dark heritage.
Witchcraft III: The Kiss of Death (1991): An adult William rejects his lineage entirely, using his emerging powers to defend his girlfriend from an evil warlock.
2. The Noir, Detective, and Erotic Thriller Era (IV–VII)
During the 1990s direct-to-video boom, the series leaning heavily into late-night cable erotica tropes while expanding its mythology.
Witchcraft IV: The Virgin Heart (1992): William acts as a defense attorney for a musician who inadvertently sold his soul to a Faustian record producer.
Witchcraft V: Dance with the Devil (1993): Spanner fights a demonic warlock who uses a dance club to collect souls.
Witchcraft VI: The Devil’s Mistress (1994): William becomes an occult consultant for LAPD detectives Lutz and Garner to track down a ritualistic serial killer.
Witchcraft VII: Judgement Hour (1995): Spanner goes to war with a coven of vampires operating out of a sleek corporate office.
3. Ghost Lore and International Bloodlines (VIII–XIII)
Witchcraft VIII: Salem’s Ghost (1996): The franchise takes a historical turn when a ghost of a Salem witch re-emerges to terrorize a modern household.
Witchcraft IX: Bitter Flesh (1997): Detectives Lutz and Garner return to help William handle an ancient spirit possessing local women.
Witchcraft X: Mistress of the Craft (1999): The franchise moves across the Atlantic as British satanists and a crew of lesbian vampires team up in London.
Witchcraft XI: Sisters in Blood (2000): A group of young women inadvertently resurrect an ancient, bloodthirsty coven.
Witchcraft XII: In the Lair of the Serpent (2004): William helps a family friend who has been brainwashed by an ancient coven worshipping a snake god named Malleus.
Witchcraft 13: Blood of the Chosen (2008): A killer targets regional warlocks, forcing a battle over a global magical balance.
4. The Hollywood Regeneration & Modern Era (XIV–XVII)
Following a long hiatus, producer David Sterling resurrected the franchise for a new generation.
- Witchcraft XIV: Angel of Death (2017): The series moves to Los Angeles, introducing a deadly new entity hunting down local spellcasters.
- Witchcraft XV: Blood Rose (2017): A secret cabal of dark witches attempts to sacrifice innocent blood to gain immortality.
- Witchcraft XVI: Hollywood Coven (2017): Movie executives and elite directors are revealed to be part of a Hollywood coven looking to bring about an apocalypse.
- Witchcraft XVII: The Initiation (2025): Directed by B-movie maestro Dustin Ferguson, this film passes the torch to Andrew Pierson’s version of William Spanner, setting up the direct narrative links for The Lanterne of Light.
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