The Craft movie review- Witches be crazy

 Now, where do I sign up to be a part of a catholic high school coven?

Director: Andrew Fleming

Writer: Andrew Fleming, Peter Filardi 

Cinematographer: Alexander Gruszynski

Cast: Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell, Rachel True, Skeet Ulrich

Year: 1996

After moving to a catholic high school in Los Angeles, Sarah (the amazing Robin Tunney) becomes friends with three wannabe witches, who happen to be looking for a fourth member to complete their rituals. Bonnie (the wonderful Neve Campbell), Rochelle (the fabulous Rachel True) and Nancy (the breath-taking Fairuza Balk), like Sarah, all have troubled pasts, leading their newfound mystical powers to have dangerous consequences. Soon the girls become power-hungry as minor spells turn into large ritualistic seances. 

Now that we are in the midst of spooky season, I thought it best if I went back and looked at one of my favourite witchy flicks from the 90s. Although films about witchcraft and supposed Devil worship have always been around, there was undoubtedly a peak in the 90s due to a response to the Satanic Panic that took the whole of the US by storm. Although it never reached such hysteria as Salem, it still became a big deal to fundamentalists and conservatives, with popular teen tv series like Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Charmed flashing across the screens of suburban households' TVs. But of course, it wasn't just the tv shows, as movies took these worries and ideas to a whole new level. The Craft is a total 90s campy time capsule. Fleming's exploration of female rage and female companionship is expertly crafted as our four central teenage witches have to deal not only with the hardships that magic encroaches upon them but also the trials and tribulations of the real world: abusive stepfathers, racist classmates, self-harm, self-esteem, bullying and BOYS. Why is it so bad that these grungy witches do spells to enhance their social status? I, too, would practice witchcraft so Skeet Ulrich could be obsessed with me. To be honest, everyone they hexed deserved it; I don't see what the big deal is. Although the film is about women, it is written from the male perspective; if women were to have such power in their hands, Fleming and Filardi believe that in the end, the power won't be used for good but instead will be used out of rage, jealousy and to submerse others in toxicity. It seems like Fleming is instilling the idea that when women are angry, they no longer have control; instead, their emotions and desires do (which apparently is a bad thing?), making our teenage witches hysterical, impulsive and power-hungry.  Although parts of the film are transgressive, the ending sadly takes upon itself to be regressive; Nancy is punished for her crimes against the hetero-patriarchy whilst the other girls are condemned for their selfish use of their powers. They just had to ruin every almost-perfect female-led movie with a stupid ending, didn't they? The way that the first half of this film is peak feminism and the second half is kinda misogynistic...I just kind of wish we would stop pitting women against each other; why couldn't the coven just live happily ever after in a cute condo in LA? Why should we be punishing women for standing up for themselves? After all, the magic they hold is just a metaphor for gaining a voice to be heard by those who will not or don't listen. They stand up against racism, rape culture and abuse, yet in the end, they're squeezed into the villain archetype and fitted into a straight jacket. Why is a strong woman so scary? I would have loved this film 10,000 times more if the moral of the story was all about sisterhood and taking down men and not so much about the power in the coven and the fact that everyone wants to fuck Skeet Ulrich (I mean, I get it, that man is a god amongst men, but in this movie, yeah nah it's a hard pass). 

No, don't use magic for evil; you're so sexy, aha

But I'm still making this film my whole entire personality for the next few months. Like, where tf do these girls shop? I need access to their wardrobes and FAST! I really don't think there's ever been a movie wardrobe I've wanted more than the girls of The Craft. Aesthetically this movie just destroys me; it's such a feast for the eyes. Yeah, they do go absolutely ham with the special effects, but god damn, I'm just a sucker for 90s CGI and special effects; it's just so amazingly funny and campy. Probably not the intentions of Fleming, but I'm not going to deny that there were many points in the film where I was actually scared. But also, The Craft is one of those 90s teen dramas that are beautiful to look at; there's something about the cinematography that I encounter with a lot of other 90s teen movies. The sweeping landscape shots, the grain, maybe it's just the nostalgia, but this movie really is intricately beautiful whilst mixing catholicism with witchcraft, focusing in on the delicate and also violent nature of femininity. Hormonal 90s teens always called for the best drama! This fun 90s thriller is packed with a cast that has explosive chemistry and characters who are both compelling and engaging. Boasting a roster of big 90s actors, this film really comes to show off. I never once felt a need to look away as my eyes were just transfixed on the screen. The Craft really is the perfect 90s witchy movie to watch alongside Practical Magic and Witches of Eastwick. The power Neve Campbell and Skeet Ulrich have over me are immeasurable; they really were dominating the 90s horror movie scene in1996 with this and Scream. The Craft is just goth Mean Girls, 90's witchy answer to Lost Boys, maybe even lesbian Harry Potter or Clueless on crack...the movie version of Lay All Your Love On Me by ABBA. The soundtrack is amazing as well, with Love Spit Love's cover of "How Soon is Now?" and 90s rock and grunge filtered through each scene. When a film has got a good soundtrack, good visuals, good costumes and good actors, you know you're in for a real treat. 

Female empowerment and strength through friendship with witchcraft, The Craft really is the perfect product of 90s supernatural teen cinema. High school bitches and witches, what more could you really want? The teenage power dynamics at play are sometimes even scarier than the horror elements themselves, but that's real life, after all. Light as a feather, stiff as a board. I desperately want to be a manic witchy dream girl; someone invite me to be part of their coven <3

Rating: 4.5/5

Favourite quotes:

"You know, if I were as pathetic as you are, I would have killed myself ages ago. You should get on with it"

"You know in the old days, if a witch betrayed her coven...they would kill her."

"Watch out for the weirdos, girls"

"We are the weirdos, mister."

"You know how to use the candles?" 

"Yeah, you light the wick."