The Witches (1990)

The Witches (1990)

6/10

Starring

Anjelica Huston

Mai Zetterling

Jasen Fisher

Rowan Atkinson

Directed by Nicolas Roeg

Before deciding to watch Anne Hathaway’s The Witches (2020 remake), I gave in to the urge to revisit the first adaptation, made in 1990 by Jim Henson Productions. The Witches is a dark fantasy children’s book written by British author Roald Dahl in 1983.

Funny enough, as soon as I started watching and got to the witches' cruel plan to transform all children, my childhood memories came flooding back. I realized I had seen this movie numerous times as a kid. Since I was five when it came out, I never knew the name of the film—just fragments of the plot stuck with me.

Although I haven’t read the book, I can safely say this isn’t a bad movie to watch. I was able to sit through it again and was surprised to discover that Rowan Atkinson had a role in it!

The movie features a grand performance by Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch, which is a standout element. This film has a firm cult following, and I vividly recall a childhood friend watching it repeatedly.

The story begins with Helga, a grandmother who tells her grandson Luke all about witches. These witches aren’t just women with magic, they also hate children. Helga warns eight-year-old Luke about them and even explains how to recognize them:

• They have claws instead of fingernails, which they hide by wearing gloves.
• They’re bald, so they wear wigs.
• They have no toes, which they hide by wearing shoes that aren’t pointed.
• Their eyes have a trace of purple in the pupils.
• Most notably, they despise the smell of children and will stop at nothing to get rid of them.

Early in the film, we see what witches are like when one tries to capture Luke. Using his grandmother’s warnings, he’s able to recognize her and avoid danger.

When Helga falls ill, they’re advised to take a seaside holiday. Coincidentally, the hotel they stay at is also hosting a convention for all the witches in England. To make matters worse, the Grand High Witch herself is visiting to unveil her master plan.

Luke ends up being caught by the witches and, along with another boy from the hotel, is used as a test subject for their evil scheme.

However, Luke manages to escape, finds his grandmother, and tells her about the Grand High Witch’s plans to target all the children in England. Together, they set out to stop her.

The special effects were great for the time, but they feel pretty dated now, especially the transformations. The tone jumps between a kid-friendly fantasy and something much darker, which might be a bit much for younger viewers.

The 1990 version of The Witches holds up remarkably well (except the effects), with its mix of dark fantasy and a touch of humor. The performances, particularly by Huston, make it a memorable watch even decades later.

As for the 2020 remake, it’s directed by Robert Zemeckis and co-written by Zemeckis and Guillermo del Toro. I’ll be watching it soon and hope it lives up to the original!