Synopsis
The events in The Witches take place in Alabama during 1967, where a boy is orphaned and sent to stay with his grandmother who is warm-hearted. Everyone went through a tough time with the loss of the boy’s parents and especially the boy. He, however, enjoys his grandma’s love despite her eccentricity. Then they run into a group of beautiful women, who may be witches seeking to destroy everything in their path.
The daughters of darkness, headed by the evil Shrewd Witch (Anne Hathaway) have joined forces with the third daughter of darkness to devise a spell aimed at transforming all youth into rats ending needless to mention, her vivacious plans are topnotch — which in fact does involve lots of hard work and complete attention to detail. The young boy must face his phobia in order to stop the plan that aims at the destruction of all humanity from being achieved. Meanwhile, it also incorporates family, perseverance, and care about others.
Awards & Wins
Catch my attention the most was the Witches (2020) movie yet it was not awarded any major industry prizes. But the efforts of artists were acknowledged in terms of the design of its visual effects and costumes. The discussions on the need to turn classic literature into motion picture were also stirred by the film’s adventurous re-interpretation of the story.
Cast & Crew
- Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch
Hathaway’s portrayal of the villainous witch is theatrical and flamboyant, bringing a mix of menace and humor to the role. - Octavia Spencer as the Grandmother
Spencer’s performance as the nurturing, witty, and courageous grandmother provides the emotional core of the story. - Jahzir Bruno as the Boy
Jahzir delivers a heartfelt performance, capturing the innocence and determination of the young protagonist. - Stanley Tucci as Mr. Stringer
Tucci brings his signature charm to the role of the hotel manager, adding a touch of humor to the narrative. - Chris Rock as the Narrator
Rock’s narration provides a reflective tone, tying the story together with moments of levity and warmth.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Famed for his work on masterpieces such as Forrest Gump and Back to the Future, Zemeckis’s latest film combines visual wonder and emotion into one art form.
Screenplay: The screenplay was co-written by Zemeckis, Kenya Barris (Black-ish), and Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) and gives a contemporary view of the dark fantasy work of Roald Dahl, without erasing its fairytale’s sense of humor.
IMDb Ratings
The IMDb rating of the film stands at 5.3, out of 10, and is based on thousands of users’ reviews. Its special effects and acting, however, received favorable reviews from some spectators, who considered the adaptation lighter and less darkly nuanced than both the book and its 1990 film version.
Personal Insights
The Witches (2020) is a bold reinterpretation of Roald Dahl’s classic telling. It does, however, have it’s own creative points which distinguishes it from the rest.
Hathaway’s Grand High Witch is a scene thief because she possesses both menace and charm topped off with an Eastern European accent and very physical acting. There is division over how the viewers have received her role. Some have found it excessive and campy while some think it such attitude is not in keeping with the original dark and scary nature of the character.
What was believable in the film was the performance of Octavia Spencer as she infused warmth into the character of the grandmother. Her scenes with Jahzir Bruno’s Boy infuse warmth and realism into the tale which makes their association believable and relatable.
The film is too visually appealing. The sets and costumes are able to recreate the opulence of America in the 1960s while the disgusting effects comes from the impressive CGI depicting the witches. Some audiences have noted however that there is quite a dependence on the computer graphics angle, feeling more aligned to the practical effects shown in the 1990 version.
Cultural Significance
This reinterpretation of The Witches is more distinct than the rest of them due to its attempt to bring the story to a more modern time period. It brings a fresh outlook while also highlighting more cultural diversity by setting the plot in the 1960s in Alabama and having primarily a black cast. The choice of the Southern American location also sprinkles the characters with some context, defining grandmother as a strong woman who experienced her own struggles.
However, the motion picture received criticism over the depiction of physically impaired individuals, especially over the claws that the witches had for hands which were considered by some to be negative portrayals. Warner Bros. later offered an apology but this scandal also provoked a quest on a larger scale impact for the depiction of Jews in movie media as well as the sensitivity in today’s world regarding adapting stories.
Comparison to the 1990 Adaptation
The Witches (2020) has its distinct twist in the narrative. However, it certainly invites inevitable comparisons to Nicolas Roeg’s version released in 1990 which has cult status. The previously released work featuring Anjelica Huston, explored much deeper and murkier aspects of Dahl’s works. In contrast, Zemeckis presents a version that is more suited for the entire family audience.
However, the 2020 version is closer to the real book including its closure. Still the fans of the original movie and its use of practical effects would be slightly disappointed due to the rather more positive vibe and CGI centric design language.
Final Thoughts
The Witches (2020) is an awesome family adventure film that brings a classic story to the younger audience. To be fair it doesn’t get the full flavor of Roald Dahl’s themes or the creepy yet charming nature of the 1990’s feature but it does put its own spin on the story and this is thanks mostly to the cast including Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer.
This adaptation is worth seeing if such children’s fantasies with a scary side to them or simply interesting images on the screen suit your taste. But still, enthusiasts of works by Dahl or the original movie may be disappointed by the lack of narrated story if not mood itself.
