Candis Cayne Casts Real Magic: ‘Witchy Ways’ and the Power of Queer Chosen Family

If you’ve ever wished for a movie that feels like a hug from your queer aunties, "Witchy Ways" is here to grant that wish with a flick of its wand and a cackle of delight. The 2024 supernatural romance from director Jane Clark conjures more than just magic—it crafts a world where queer love, chosen family, and unapologetic self-acceptance are the real sources of power. And at the center of this enchanting brew stands Candis Cayne, who brings both glamour and gravitas to the role of Penni, a character as warm and wise as the actress herself .

The film’s premise is deliciously familiar to anyone who’s ever been obsessed with the likes of "Practical Magic", "The Craft", or "A Discovery of Witches": Eve, a driven New Yorker played by Diora Baird, retreats to her late mother’s supposedly magical cottage, only to find herself entangled with Danni (Marem Hassler), a neighbor whose witchy secrets challenge everything Eve thinks she knows. Their reluctant friendship quickly simmers into romance—complete with supernatural shenanigans, a vengeful neighbor, and enough ghostly secrets to fill a cauldron .

Clark’s vision, inspired by both classic witch tales and the realities of queer existence, is to create a romance where “queer women aren’t just included but celebrated. This is a story about love, courage, and believing in something greater than ourselves” .

And celebrated they are. The love story between Eve and Danni is neither tokenistic nor tragic; it’s playful, sexy, and unashamedly queer. Their queerness isn’t the central conflict—it’s the magical context in which everything else unfolds. For LGBTQ+ audiences so often starved of happy endings, "Witchy Ways" is a welcome departure from the usual tragic tropes, offering instead a sapphic supernatural rom-com where love really does conquer all .

But the real magic might just be Candis Cayne herself. As Penni, she’s the kind of queer elder you long to see more often on screen: wisecracking, compassionate, and deeply invested in the happiness of her found family. Off screen, Cayne amplifies that warmth. In a recent interview, she offered a message that’s already echoing across the community: “Your aunties are here” .

This is more than a throwaway line. For trans youth—and, let’s be honest, queer folks of all ages—Cayne’s words are a rallying cry. In a world where anti-trans rhetoric and legislation continue to make headlines, Cayne’s message feels like a loving spell of protection. It’s a reminder that LGBTQ+ people have always relied on chosen families, and that the elders of our community are fiercely invested in the next generation’s joy and survival .

Cayne, who has long been at the vanguard of trans visibility in film and television, told Out.com which spell she’d conjure if she could: “Love and acceptance for all trans youth. That they could wake up, look in the mirror, and love themselves exactly as they are” . It’s a sentiment that feels perfectly in tune with *Witchy Ways*: magic, yes, but also the everyday miracles of affirmation and chosen kin.

Witch narratives have always offered a rich metaphor for queerness: the outsider community, the secret powers, the subversive joy of living by your own rules. "Witchy Ways" taps into this lineage, but with a distinctly modern, queer sensibility. The film’s cast—Baird, Hassler, and Cayne—are all proud members of the LGBTQ+ community, and their lived experience infuses every scene with authenticity . The result? A story where the supernatural and the sapphic are seamlessly intertwined, and where the central message is clear: you are not alone, and you are not too much.

Director Jane Clark, herself a queer filmmaker, set out to “create a supernatural romance where queer women aren’t just included but celebrated.” Her inspiration came from the stories of women who, like witches throughout history, have had to carve out space to live authentically. “As I researched witchcraft, I discovered a community historically unable to live freely as themselves, a theme that resonated deeply,” Clark explains. Danni, the film’s central witch, embodies both that history and a future where authenticity is celebrated .

The film also sidesteps the tired tropes of queer pain and instead revels in queer joy—something that feels especially vital in the current cultural climate. When Eve and Danni choose each other, they’re not just falling in love; they’re forging a new kind of family, one that’s as magical as any spell.

At its core, "Witchy Ways" is a love letter to the power of chosen family. This is where the film’s queer heart beats loudest: in the moments where laughter, love, and loyalty become the real magic. Penni, as portrayed by Cayne, is both mentor and mischief-maker, the “auntie” everyone deserves. Her presence in the film—and her message to trans youth—serves as a reminder that the LGBTQ+ community is a vast, interconnected web of support.

The world of "Witchy Ways" is one where queerness is met with delight, not derision; where supernatural powers are a metaphor for the everyday courage it takes to live openly and love audaciously. As queer representation continues to evolve, this film stands out not just for its inclusivity, but for its insistence that queer stories are magic in themselves.

For any queer viewer who ever turned to witchy stories for comfort or possibility, "Witchy Ways" is a balm and a celebration. And for trans youth—especially those searching for a sign that they belong—the message could not be clearer: “Your aunties are here.” You are seen. You are cherished. And you are, in every way, magical.