Earwig and the Witch Ending Explained [SPOILER!]

SPOILER ALERT: the following article contains massive spoilers, including the ending. If you have not yet seen the movie, proceed at your own risk, or better, come back to this article later!

Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch. As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells and potions and a mysterious song that may be the key to finding the family she has always wanted.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Earwig and the Witch Plot Summary and Synopsis

In late 20th century England, a witch leaves her child Earwig at St. Morwald’s Home for Children. The matron head of the home thinks that the name is unfit for a child, and changes it to Erica Wig. Years later, Earwig is a rambunctious 10-year-old with a propensity for pranks. She likes living at the orphanage with her friend Custard and doesn’t want to get adopted.

One day, the strange Bela Yaga and Mandrake adopt Earwig against her wishes. When they get home, Bela Yaga tells Earwig that she is a witch and that she only adopted Earwig for “an extra pair of hands” to help around the house. Earwig agrees to help, only if Bela Yaga teaches her magic in return. Later, Earwig attempts to escape, only to find that all the exits have been magically sealed by the Mandrake. She becomes further frustrated because Bela Yaga never teaches her magic.

Earwig begins to listen to tapes from an old band called Earwig and discovers that Bela Yaga’s cat familiar Thomas can talk. The two of them enter Bela Yaga’s workroom at night to create a spell to make them resistant to magic, making them immune to Bela Yaga’s punishments. They also work on a spell to give Bella Yaga a literal “extra pair of hands” on her body so Earwig would be dismissed from her work. 

The spell is a success and Bela Yaga is furious at her extra pair of hands and sends magical worms after Earwig. Because of Earwig’s magical resistance, the worms are harmless and she sends them after the Mandrake as a prank. In the ensuing chaos, Earwig breaks into Mandrake’s room and discovers he and Bela Yaga were members of the band Earwig. 

Earwig and the Witch Ending

Through her new power, Earwig is able to take over the house and have the others do what she wants. She even manages to get her friend Custard to come over for Christmas. When he arrives, Earwig’s mother, another member of the band Earwig, drops in for a surprise visit.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0).