The Craft (1996) Review
Written by: Venomous Nightshade
I love this movie! That's the first words to sum up my entire feeling in relation to this movie. Having realised there is only one other review for this movie I felt the need to review a movie that still means alot to me even now.
The story has many people know begins as such: Sarah Bailey (played by Robin Tunney) a sixteen year old troubled teenager with a hurt past and a history of suicidal tendencies and hallucinations, moves to L.A. with her father and stepmother to start a new life - and is enrolled into a Catholic school. It is at school that she comes into contact with three unlikely friends, Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Bonnie (Neve Campbell) and Rochelle(Rachel True), all who are socially outcast with various problems in their lives that they wish they could fix. Nancy, Bonnie and Rochelle dabble in occult practices, and when they notice Sarah has the powers of a natural witch, they talk her into joining their coven. When Sarah joins, they soon realize that with a fourth witch in the coven they can begin to cast spells they couldn't before, and begin to amend all the things wrong in their lives - but like everything else in life - things come at a price. A greater price than they could imagine.
A film centres around the wrath girls can incur when wronged and does it beautifully given that it is, for the most part, a teenager's movie.
The special effects for the time were wonderfully done and fitted perfectly within the construct of the movie. Lighting is dark, moody and atmospheric as ever and just works simply.
I also love how they deal with the theme of bullying and the consequences for both parties when things come to a head. It never contrived or attempted to manipulate the situation and showed us in the truest light how devastating it can be.
However the star of the film is Robin Tunney who plays the part of a troubled and lost teenager perfectly. You empathise with her and understand everything she feels because at one time another every teenager has been in her shoes.
Trio including Campbell, Balk and True play their roles elegantly too. The biggest relevation was Fairuza Balk who manages to switch our opinions of her throughout the course of the movie. In the beginning we love her ever so but as the movie progresses our love for her slowly moves towards hatred. Such is the power of her character.
Each character brings their own to the role and toy with each and every one of our emotions. It also deals with a universal theme of teenagers who try to dabble with the darkside knowing it will go against their advantage.
Director, Andrew Fleming constructed a great movie meant for teenagers but that appeals to a much wider fanbase, whilst sticking true to what he attempted. Dark, broody, emotional, electric, emotional and deep for a movie of its course, The Craft is a worthy addition to any fans film base. Wonderfully constructed.