X
- 1990
- PG
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 31 m
- 1990
- PG
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 31 m
Summary A young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.
Directed By: Nicolas Roeg
Written By: Roald Dahl, Allan Scott
- 1990
- PG
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 31 m
- 1990
- PG
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 31 m
The Witches
78
7.8
Where to Watch
Summary A young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.
Directed By: Nicolas Roeg
Written By: Roald Dahl, Allan Scott
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 25 Critic Reviews
78
100% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 25 Critic Reviews
78
100% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Magical, sinister and prankish, The Witches is a triumph.
This ranks among the most mercilessly creepy children’s films I’ve seen.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 29 User Ratings
7.8
76% Positive
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
24% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 29 User Ratings
7.8
76% Positive
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
24% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
A fantasy comedy that is surprisingly good while being also dark and scary. As child this movie impressed me. The title already gives away the premise. Witches exist but hide this fact from society. They hate all children and are always trying to kill them or trap them in something worse like curses where you wished you were dead instead (A good example is shown in the movie with a painting). The protagonist the 8 year old boy Luke is warned about this by his grandmother Helga and has a disturbing experience. However when he has to move to England he is draw into much bigger events. I tried to keep it spoiler-free here. The story is excellent and draw me in immediately. It is scary, intense and kept me engaged through the whole story. They succeed with the atmosphere they create, remarkable cast and creativity. I recently discovered it is based on a book of the same name by Roald Dahl. Because I did not read this book I can make no assumption if it is a good adaptation. Because the movie itself is great enough on itself I would give a free pass if not. I must also praise the effects, costumes and mask. Of cause this is thanks to Jim Hanson aka Jim Hanson Productions. The witches look disturbing and really scary especially the main antagonist is nightmare fuel. I think these even age really well. The cast did an amazing job to deliver their characters and enhance the story. Lets begin with Jasen Fisher as Luke. Good child-actors are rare and he delivers a great performance that I praise. Sadly he never made a career later on in the movie business. Anjelica Huston as Eva is truly amazing. She is truly scary and a highlight. Mai Zetterling as Helga / Lukes grandmother also delivers a praiseworthy performance. The support cast is excellent too and the total performance makes this excellent. I should also praise director Nicolas Roeg and writer Allan Scott. Overall this is an interesting movie I would recommend. It is nearly forgotten but praised by most who I talked about. I recommend it for the ideas, story and scary effects. It barley mosses the 10/10 mark for me.
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I loved Roald Dahl's books as a kid, and I still do. I have also throughly enjoyed the film adaptations especially Matilda, James and the Giant Peach and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. And while I admit I was frightened of it as a kid, I enjoy the Witches now. While Nicolas Roeg's direction could have done with more subtlety, the film is very well made, with incredible special effects particularly in the scene when the Grand High Witch turns the boy into a mouse. The script is offbeat and funny,the music is deliciously dark and the film moves quickly. And the acting is excellent, with Jasen Fisher likable as the boy and Mai Zetterling memorable as his granny. Anjelica Huston is superb though as the Grand High Witch, almost unrecognisable she was. Gene Wilder and Pam Ferris, look out, Anjelica gives you a run for your money. Overall, very dark, perhaps scary but very well done and enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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Deliciously cruel to children, Roeg remains true to Dahl's underlying sense of real horror.
The one really solid performance is turned in by Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch. [15 Feb 1991, p.16]
The Witches weaves many classic childhood fears into its entertaining--and genuinely eerie--action.
An intriguing movie, ambitious and inventive, and almost worth seeing just for Anjelica Huston's obvious delight in playing a completely uncompromised villainess.
The Witches feels like a throwaway feature rather than a fully-realized fantasy adventure.
It's classic and unforgettable but I think it doesn't a lots great like that.
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I appreciated it going for it as much as it did. Didn't take itself too seriously to its benefit.
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In this light and familiar comedy, a boy travels with his grandmother to a secluded hotel so that the lady can recover her health with a few days of rest. However, he discovers that the hotel is hosting an annual witches' convention, under the guise of a different event, and that the national leader has evil plans to magically convert every child in England into mice.
The film is slightly inspired by a Roald Dahl short story and works quite well. The story it brings is good and fun, and the film is light, unpretentious, funny and suitable for the whole family. Directed by Nicolas Roeg, the film can sometimes be a bit intimidating, mainly because of the witches' visual aspect, but I handled it well. There's a slight tension that runs through the entire film, but it's nothing to stop a child from seeing this unless they're really weak in spirit.
The best part of the film is, without any great doubts, the excellent performance of Anjelica Huston, which people will recognize more easily, from her participation in the “Addams Family” movies. The actress is pleasantly dark, and her presence is dominant, stealing attention and giving us the feeling of a secure woman, but also menacing. Mai Zetterling has also done a pretty good job of it, and Jasen Fisher has known how to untangle herself from the challenges she faced, even though she's an underdeveloped character.
On a technical level, the film stands out for the good special effects used, which include purple smoke, a very diverse list of challenging characterizations and other creative effects. In addition, the film also features good cinematography and excellent filming and editing work. The soundtrack, gothic with a touch of suspense, works reasonably well.
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Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 5 Nominations
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
