Overview
A haunting tale of survival and resilience amidst the horrors of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- haunting
- devastating
- serious film night
- international cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a mature, intense, and clear-eyed war drama anchored by Rachel Mwanza's extraordinary performance and its empathetic portrayal of a child's nightmarish circumstances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Komona tells her story directly to her unborn child, creating an intimate retrospective frame.
The ghosts of those killed in the civil war haunt Komona's visions throughout her ordeal.
Komona is kidnapped, forced into the rebel army, and elevated as a witch after sensing enemy forces.
Komona's relationship with a newfound friend becomes the basis for attempting to leave rebel life.
Films like War Witch, and why
Beasts of No Nation
harrowing child-centered war drama, moral trauma, and survival under armed conflict
Sometimes in April
intense African conflict drama focused on a young protagonist enduring displacement and violence
Incendies
emotionally devastating war drama combining historical brutality with haunting spiritual imagery
The Killing Fields
serious international drama about war trauma, resilience, and fragile human connection
Movie Details
- Director
- Kim Nguyen
- Release Date
- 2012-02-17
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (114)
Cast
- Rachel Mwanza
- Alain Lino Mic Eli Bastien
- Serge Kanyinda
- Ralph Prosper
- Mizinga Mwinga
- Diane Uwamahoro
- Jean Kabuya
- Jupiter Bokondji
- Starlette Mathata
- Alex Herabo
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is War Witch about?
- A kidnapped girl becomes a rebel army’s mystical weapon while fighting to reclaim her body, memory, and future amid a brutal civil war.
- What is War Witch like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of War Witch as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is War Witch violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in War Witch as graphic.
- What did critics think of War Witch?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a mature, intense, and clear-eyed war drama anchored by Rachel Mwanza's extraordinary performance and its empathetic portrayal of a child's nightmarish circumstances.
- Which films are like War Witch?
- Films with a similar feel include Beasts of No Nation, Sometimes in April, Incendies, and The Killing Fields.
- How long is War Witch?
- War Witch runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch War Witch?
- In United States, War Witch is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
