The new girl at a Catholic high school falls in
with a trio of girls who practice witchcraft. HORROR
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The Craft (1996)Directed by Andrew Fleming
Written by Peter Filardi and Andrew Fleming Starring Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, Rachel True, Skeet Ulrich, Christine Taylor, Assumpta Serna, Helen Shaver |
Here we are with another film which I have heard about all my life and have yet to watch. Until now, that is. Not like I was actively avoiding it or anything. I just never had the chance to sit down and watch. But, with the release of the long-belated sequel, I figured it’s time for me to finally revisit one of the most beloved cult classics of the 90's. One which has become a banner for young girls everywhere and a film which seems to define the 90's in all its glory. So, in today’s “woke” society, how does a film about teenage witches using their powers to get whatever they want without realizing the negative consequences age? In short, incredibly well actually.
As a lot of people know, I am not a huge fan of some more recent films which have decided to beat their agenda over head in lieu of a well-written story with great characters. Looking squarely at you, 2019’s Black Christmas. Instead, I prefer the traditional elements of a great movie with a well-placed message coming in second. Which is where I find The Craft comfortably sitting. Is this a female empowerment movie which will no doubt gather a rather large female audience? Definitely. But, it also has the universal theme of being careful what you wish for. You know, something we can all relate to. It also focuses on an engaging story and features a talented, committed cast. And Fairuza Balk is downright terrifying towards the end. Seriously, she becomes the stuff of nightmares. I mean this as a compliment, too. I can honestly see why this film has had such longevity. It’s a genuinely good movie which features a great cast, nice story, and universal themes. It doesn’t fall victim in some more recent horror efforts where it feels like the director and/or writer is screaming at me like a child. Instead, it does pretty much everything right. Therefore, making for a really fun time. Let’s hope the recently released sequel was able to pull off the same thing. |
The Craft is a cult horror flick from the 90's that has aged about as fine as the shitty soundtrack that the film is saddled with. That being said, the film is quite enjoyable thanks to the freaky spells and realistic depiction of dark forces. Most of the characters are irredeemable assholes who are only out for themselves, but hey, that's just L.A. in 1996. Overall, I found this film to be a 90's gem that is ripe for revisiting, if only for the bitchin' witch fight at the end.
Our hero is Sarah (Tunney), the new girl at a Catholic high school who is immediately singled out for being new and hit on by some jock douchebag named Chris (Ulrich, because if you've got a vaguely athletic dickhead in your movie in 1996, it was usually him). She finds comfort in three outcast girls, Rochelle (True), Bonnie (Campbell), and the unofficial leader Nancy (Balk). These three are a witch coven and they try to cast spells in their spare time. They learn that Sarah is a natural witch and with her, they actually manage to bring their spells to life. But magic has a price, and when it's time to pay the piper, Sarah must battle her now transformed former friends. It's quite exciting. You get drawn into the action pretty quickly, and Sarah is written so innocently that it's tough not to root for her. People who haven't seen The Craft are the people who should give it a watch. It's one of those films a lot of folks have heard about, but not many have actually sat down and watched. Most people know the "light as a feather, stiff as a board" scene, but the movie is so much more than that. It attempts a message at female empowerment, but that message gets lost around the time that Sarah is still pining for the cursed jock who tried to rape her. Regardless, the film is entertaining and a staple of 90's film culture. |