Director
Nicholas Roeg
Cast
Anjelica Huston - Eva Ernst/ The Grand High Witch
Jasen Fisher - Luke
Mai Zetterling - Helga
Rowan Atkinson - Mr. Stringer
Charlie Potter - Bruno Jenkins
I'm six movies away from 50 on my journey through 1,000 days of horror. I wanted to do something memorable (more or less) for my 50th review, and The Witches was going to be that movie. But I changed my mind.
Though the purpose of this blog is to review B-horror and obscure thriller movies, and the like, I'm bending the rule and reviewing this one for the sake of those who weren't around when the movie was released, or haven't seen it, or worse, didn't know it existed.
It's certainly not an obscure movie, and it's definitely not a B-movie. But its popularity seems a bit pulled back.
So, think of this post as a sort of "in case you didn't know..." kind of write-up.
The most important aspect about The Witches (for anyone who didn't know) is that it's based on a book by children's author, Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox.)
After that tidbit of crucial information, this movie has a lot, and I mean a lot, going for it. It has a great and talented cast, especially Anjelica Huston. Critic Roger Ebert said this movie is almost worth seeing just for her performance as the "Grand High Witch." And, I agree.
There's very memorable visuals thanks in large part to Jim Henson's workshop. By the way, many argue this was the last film Jim Henson worked on before his passing.
Also, it has an original story line. And for a children's movie, it really doesn't water down the scares. Those scares aren't just in the form of ugly looking witches. There's an underlying theme of abduction in this movie.
I was nine-years old when this movie was released. And the idea - the possibility - of being permanently taken away from my family, depicted in the film, terrified me. No doubt my nine-year old self isn't alone in that regard.
The movie begins with a grandmother named Helga telling her grandson, Luke, who are living in Norway, about witches and how to identify one.
She explains that not only are witches ugly, and have distinct physical traits that non-witches don't possess. For instance, real witches always wear gloves because their hands resemble claws. They also wear wigs as they're bald. And those wigs give them rashes, so they're always scratching their scalps.
Their square feet have no toes, so they wear ordinary shoes. No sandals or open-toed shoes Their eyes have a purple tinge to them. In the book, their saliva was a blue color, which they often used in place of ink.
Above all, they hate children with a passion. So much so, their primary goal is to wipe out children! Witches always hold their noses around kids because to them the smell of a child is similar to a dog's droppings.
Even more frightening is the story Helga tells Luke about a girl she knew in her childhood named Erica who suddenly went missing.
As the story is played out, Erica is taken by a witch. And being witch, as Helga says, means never getting caught. When Erica finally turns up, it's in a very peculiar and unimaginable place that she cannot be rescued from.
Later that night, Luke's parents are killed in a car accident. Luke is now in his grandmother's care, and she decides to move out of Norway and into England.
It's at their new home that Luke has his first encounter with a witch. She tries to coax him down from his tree house, but Luke is no fool.
Later, on his birthday, Helga becomes sick from diabetes. The doctor advises them to take a seaside vacation, and to lay off sugar.
They check into a seaside hotel, operated by Mr. Stringer, played by the always funny Rowan Atkinson, who at the time had just finished his first episode of Mr. Bean.
But little do they know that the hotel is going to host a convention of all the witches England, including their leader, the Grand High Witch - Miss. Eva Ernst.
The witches disguise themselves as the "Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children" but their purpose is vastly far from their fake namesake.
Ernst has called the annual meeting of witches together to debut her brand new potion. Formula 86. This potion has the power to turn children into mice. And all the witches are instructed to quit their jobs, open up candy stores all around England, and eliminate all children once and for all.
Luke eavesdrops on their meeting, and witnesses the witches turn another boy named Bruno, whom he met earlier in the hotel dining room, into a mouse.
The witches catch Luke, and turn him into a mouse as well.
Now, Luke has to stop the witches before they all leave and execute their plan.
Huston's performance is so enjoyable to watch. Though, from what I've read about how difficult it was for her to perform in a full mask and heavy make-up and prosthetics underneath hot stage lights, it seems she's having a lot fun in her role as an evil witch.
In various interviews, she said it took five to six hours to apply her make-up, and another five to take it off.
Houston doesn't hold back on being scary. This is one of her best roles. And despite those harsh conditions, she puts her entire self into the character.
The make-up, visual and special effects are absolutely memorable. The hideous look of the Grand High Witch is well done. Her grotesque hag look contrasted with her seductive sleek black formal gown her character wears while wearing a mask to blend in with everyone else is just imaginative. The details in the mouse transformation is fantastic. Jim Henson's puppetry is unmatchable.
When it comes to children's movies, Witches is truly scary. In fact, there was a scene or two Director Nicholas Roag cut from the final film because he deemed them too scary based on reactions from his son.
When compared to the "scariness" of other children's films such as Return to Oz, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Watcher in the Woods, this one surpasses them.
Though many know and love this movie, I'm surprised it's not on the same level of "classic" as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. That could be due to the terrifying elements in the movie. But, then again, Wonka had that freaky tunnel scene that gave so many young people nightmares.
Still, like Wonka, The Witches has the same charming qualities (great visuals, casting, and performances). However, The Witches isn't a musical like Wonka.
This movie is actor Jasen Fisher's second film. He only acted in three according to IMDB.com. Before starring in this film, he played Kevin in the 1989 movie Parenthood. After The Witches, he starred as Ace in the 1991 movie Hook, which was actually filmed before The Witches.
The majority of his acting is through voice work since his character is a mouse, he still comes across a little too dry and scripted at times. Otherwise, he seems to also be having fun in the role, and the effort is truly there.
English actor, Bill Paterson, plays Bruno's father. He's perfect at adding a little comedy as he tries to be both dignified yet gluttonous, which is were is overweight son clearly gets his own love of food.
Like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl didn't like this adaptation either. He called the movie "utterly appalling" as the movie had a different, and happier, ending than his book. Sorry, Mr. Dahl. I completely disagree.
Also, comedian and Monty Python member Michael Palin has a cameo as one of the witches present at the meeting. Though he's wearing a dress and a wig, he's pretty easy to spot. Other men were used to dress as witches during the conference scene to bolster up the ugliness.
This movie deserves much more recognition because it's one of the best Roald Dahl movies out there. Since it's one of my personal favorite movies, I had to include it in this blog!
There's very memorable visuals thanks in large part to Jim Henson's workshop. By the way, many argue this was the last film Jim Henson worked on before his passing.
Also, it has an original story line. And for a children's movie, it really doesn't water down the scares. Those scares aren't just in the form of ugly looking witches. There's an underlying theme of abduction in this movie.
I was nine-years old when this movie was released. And the idea - the possibility - of being permanently taken away from my family, depicted in the film, terrified me. No doubt my nine-year old self isn't alone in that regard.
The movie begins with a grandmother named Helga telling her grandson, Luke, who are living in Norway, about witches and how to identify one.
She explains that not only are witches ugly, and have distinct physical traits that non-witches don't possess. For instance, real witches always wear gloves because their hands resemble claws. They also wear wigs as they're bald. And those wigs give them rashes, so they're always scratching their scalps.
Their square feet have no toes, so they wear ordinary shoes. No sandals or open-toed shoes Their eyes have a purple tinge to them. In the book, their saliva was a blue color, which they often used in place of ink.
Above all, they hate children with a passion. So much so, their primary goal is to wipe out children! Witches always hold their noses around kids because to them the smell of a child is similar to a dog's droppings.
Even more frightening is the story Helga tells Luke about a girl she knew in her childhood named Erica who suddenly went missing.
As the story is played out, Erica is taken by a witch. And being witch, as Helga says, means never getting caught. When Erica finally turns up, it's in a very peculiar and unimaginable place that she cannot be rescued from.
Later that night, Luke's parents are killed in a car accident. Luke is now in his grandmother's care, and she decides to move out of Norway and into England.
It's at their new home that Luke has his first encounter with a witch. She tries to coax him down from his tree house, but Luke is no fool.
 |
| Jasen Fisher and Mai Zetterling |
They check into a seaside hotel, operated by Mr. Stringer, played by the always funny Rowan Atkinson, who at the time had just finished his first episode of Mr. Bean.
But little do they know that the hotel is going to host a convention of all the witches England, including their leader, the Grand High Witch - Miss. Eva Ernst.
The witches disguise themselves as the "Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children" but their purpose is vastly far from their fake namesake.
Ernst has called the annual meeting of witches together to debut her brand new potion. Formula 86. This potion has the power to turn children into mice. And all the witches are instructed to quit their jobs, open up candy stores all around England, and eliminate all children once and for all.
Luke eavesdrops on their meeting, and witnesses the witches turn another boy named Bruno, whom he met earlier in the hotel dining room, into a mouse.
The witches catch Luke, and turn him into a mouse as well.
Now, Luke has to stop the witches before they all leave and execute their plan.
Huston's performance is so enjoyable to watch. Though, from what I've read about how difficult it was for her to perform in a full mask and heavy make-up and prosthetics underneath hot stage lights, it seems she's having a lot fun in her role as an evil witch.
In various interviews, she said it took five to six hours to apply her make-up, and another five to take it off.
Houston doesn't hold back on being scary. This is one of her best roles. And despite those harsh conditions, she puts her entire self into the character.
The make-up, visual and special effects are absolutely memorable. The hideous look of the Grand High Witch is well done. Her grotesque hag look contrasted with her seductive sleek black formal gown her character wears while wearing a mask to blend in with everyone else is just imaginative. The details in the mouse transformation is fantastic. Jim Henson's puppetry is unmatchable.
When it comes to children's movies, Witches is truly scary. In fact, there was a scene or two Director Nicholas Roag cut from the final film because he deemed them too scary based on reactions from his son.
When compared to the "scariness" of other children's films such as Return to Oz, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Watcher in the Woods, this one surpasses them.
 |
| Anjelica Huston |
Still, like Wonka, The Witches has the same charming qualities (great visuals, casting, and performances). However, The Witches isn't a musical like Wonka.
This movie is actor Jasen Fisher's second film. He only acted in three according to IMDB.com. Before starring in this film, he played Kevin in the 1989 movie Parenthood. After The Witches, he starred as Ace in the 1991 movie Hook, which was actually filmed before The Witches.
The majority of his acting is through voice work since his character is a mouse, he still comes across a little too dry and scripted at times. Otherwise, he seems to also be having fun in the role, and the effort is truly there.
English actor, Bill Paterson, plays Bruno's father. He's perfect at adding a little comedy as he tries to be both dignified yet gluttonous, which is were is overweight son clearly gets his own love of food.
Like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl didn't like this adaptation either. He called the movie "utterly appalling" as the movie had a different, and happier, ending than his book. Sorry, Mr. Dahl. I completely disagree.
Also, comedian and Monty Python member Michael Palin has a cameo as one of the witches present at the meeting. Though he's wearing a dress and a wig, he's pretty easy to spot. Other men were used to dress as witches during the conference scene to bolster up the ugliness.
This movie deserves much more recognition because it's one of the best Roald Dahl movies out there. Since it's one of my personal favorite movies, I had to include it in this blog!
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