smaet things

Sal3m witch documentary is a gripping and thought-provoking film that dives deep into the dark world of witchcraft and its effects on society. The documentary follows a young woman named Sal3m, who claims to possess supernatural powers and perform black magic. The film aims to shed light on the controversial topic of witchcraft in modern times and challenge popular misconceptions. Throughout the documentary, viewers are taken on a journey through Sal3m's life, exploring her background, upbringing, and the experiences that shaped her beliefs and practices. Interviews with Sal3m's family, close friends, and other individuals who have come into contact with her provide insights into the complexities of her character and the impact she has had on others. The documentary also delves into the cultural and historical context of witchcraft, drawing connections between ancient traditions and contemporary beliefs.

The multiple plot points of season two may make it messier than the first season, but it also provides the opportunity for some true highlights — such as when Carmen travels back in time and directs her enslaved friends to San Basilio de Palenque, a real-life Colombian village founded by African runaways who escaped their white captors. It is known as the first “free town” in the Americas.

If that weren t enough, Carmen contends with a curse that inverts her powers and a secretive classmate, Amanda Laura Archbold , who circulates a petition to forbid the practice of magic on campus. As Refinery29 s Ariana Romero explained in a breakdown of the Always a Witch slavery controversy, there were other ways of depicting Carmen and Cristobal s relationship without resorting to these racist tropes.

The documentary also delves into the cultural and historical context of witchcraft, drawing connections between ancient traditions and contemporary beliefs. It examines the fears and prejudices that surround witchcraft, showcasing the social stigma and discrimination faced by individuals involved in such practices. Sal3m witch documentary features real-life footage of rituals and spells performed by Sal3m, allowing viewers to witness the rituals and ceremonies firsthand.

‘Always a Witch’ can’t shake the weight of the problematic love story at its core

At first glance, Always a Witch (originally called Siempre Bruja ) looked like a worthy addition to the growing (and more inclusive) canon of fictional witches , one that is still largely white . It’s vibrant, dark without taking on the “gritty” or “realistic” color palette that other genres embody—to the benefit of its gorgeous showcase of Cartagena, Colombia—and it features an eclectic cast of characters, including a powerful Afro-Latinx witch front-and-center. But the central romance at the heart of this largely predictable supernatural teen drama (and all of the baggage it brings with it) casts a dark cloud over the series from the start.

RELEASE DATE: 2/1/2019
CREATOR: Ana María Parra
STREAMING: Netflix
A 17th-century witch who’s about to be burned at the stake travels to the 21st century, where she discovers that culture shock is the least of her problems.

Set in both 17th-century and present-day Cartagena, Always a Witch quickly introduces us to Carmen Eguiluz, a witch and slave from 1646. Accused of witchcraft in a time when the Inquisition flourished in colonial Colombia, Carmen is set to burn at the stake. Before the Inquisition fully carries out her execution, Carmen travels to 2019 after making a deal with imprisoned wizard Aldemar. She cannot use magic in the future, as it would alert Lucien (a powerful wizard who’s said to turn witches who won’t follow him into ash) of her presence.

But from Always a Witch ’s first episode, its entire premise starts to unravel. (If you want to remain completely unspoiled, turn away now.)

Because, as we quickly learn, the deal that Carmen makes with Aldemar is that if she can free him, he’ll prevent the death of Cristobal, the man she loves. He’s also a member of the family that owns her.

The fact that Cristobal is Carmen’s motivation to travel to the future isn’t a surprise; he’s featured in the trailers. But the trailer—which initially excited viewers by promising a new spin on TV witchcraft—did hide the true nature of the couple’s relationship. When people found out, after Always a Witch debuted on Netflix last week, they were pissed .

Always a Witch never questions the fact that Carmen and Cristobal love each other, but it largely tells us instead of showing us. What we see is a young white man showing a smidgen of kindness to a Black woman who’s up for auction, which somehow builds the foundation of a relationship sold to viewers as a 17th-century approximation of equal footing. A relationship between a master and a slave will always include an unhealthy power dynamic, no matter how much you try to write otherwise. It’s the kind of relationship that media and history have romanticized and fetishized for centuries; according to the AV Club’s Kayla Sutton , many of these botched depictions, written to be aspirational or romantic, come off as completely tone-deaf, often as a result of being written by white Latinx creators.

Over several flashbacks scattered throughout the season, the show attempts to take the “forbidden romance” route via stolen moments and secret meetings in Cristobal’s family’s home and around Cartagena. As she navigates the 21st century, Carmen is motivated to return to her time—and to Cristobal—even though doing so would mean returning to her life as a slave. Although Carmen eventually finds a way to challenge 17th-century Colombia’s patriarchal and racist society, the moment is too little, too late to redeem the racist tropes introduced in the very first episode. Even in the best light, the execution is clunky and cringeworthy.

As Refinery29’s Ariana Romero explained in a breakdown of the Always a Witch slavery controversy, there were other ways of depicting Carmen and Cristobal’s relationship without resorting to these racist tropes. They still would’ve had similar results: They’re discovered and condemned by a racist society because of their interracial relationship; Carmen is accused of witchcraft; Cristobal gets shot trying to defend Carmen; Carmen is convicted and sentenced to burn at the stake.

Once Carmen arrives in 2019, Always a Witch doesn’t fare much better. In a classic fish-out-of-water story, Carmen faces massive culture shock after discovering modern technology like smartphones, fashion, and a society where women are not only allowed to get an education but also attend university. (Not to mention the lack of slavery, which gets covered less than other areas; or the fact that she takes up her old room in her house, which has been turned into a hostel.) When her contact from the future mysteriously disappears, Carmen is on her own.

As Carmen tries to find the woman who will help send her back to her own time, she befriends a group of students who are largely kept in the dark about her origins, as well as the scene-stealing Jhony Ki, the grandson of the woman who owns her former masters’ home. Carmen also becomes closer to a substitute professor named Esteban, which not only sets up a central love triangle but another unhealthy power dynamic that bothers absolutely none of the characters. While some of the show’s brighter moments come from this team working together, its takes on modern issues like revenge porn, catfishing, and online dating feel clumsy and regressive.

Then again, many of the show’s moments fall flat. You can spot one of the season’s biggest twists from a mile away. At times, it’s hard to keep track of which characters can use magic or who’s bewitched. A side plot involving a detective trying to solve Carmen’s sudden appearance and her potential link to a serial killer bookends the season but is barely visited.

Always a Witch has several pieces that could’ve worked with proper execution, and the makings of a story that could’ve hooked viewers. Instead, clunky storytelling and problematic tropes will likely lead viewers to mourn what could have been.

Still not sure what to watch tonight? Here are our guides for the absolute best movies on Netflix , must-see Netflix original series , documentaries , docuseries , and movies .

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Michelle Jaworski

Michelle Jaworski is a staff writer and TV/film critic at the Daily Dot. She covers entertainment, geek culture, and pop culture and has covered everything from the Sundance Film Festival, NYFF, and Tribeca to New York Comic Con and Con of Thrones. She is based in Brooklyn.

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“Siempre Bruja” gives a nod to Paula Eguiluz’s life and to other Africans persecuted during the Cartagena witch trials, but viewers outside Colombia — and especially those in the United States, where events like the Salem witch trials are typically framed as white Puritan phenomena (Tituba’s predicament notwithstanding) — aren’t likely to know about the black victims of the witch trials that took place in the Americas during the same era.

These scenes are both intriguing and unsettling, presenting a visual representation of the occult practices that have been historically associated with witchcraft. In addition to exploring the personal journey of Sal3m, the documentary offers a broader exploration of the psychological and sociological factors that contribute to the persistence of witchcraft beliefs in contemporary society. It examines the role of superstition, fear, and the search for meaning in individuals' attraction to occult practices. Sal3m witch documentary is a thought-provoking and often controversial film that challenges viewers to question their own beliefs and perspectives on witchcraft. By providing an intimate look into the life of Sal3m and the cultural context in which witchcraft exists, the documentary aims to promote understanding and empathy, while also stimulating broader discussions around spirituality, religious freedom, and the limits of tolerance in modern society..

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