The Witches movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Witches

Available on HBO Max

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 1 hour, 46 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B-

IN A NUTSHELL:

Timed perfectly for Halloween, this remake gives everyone something new and creepy to watch this season. The original The Witches (1990) starring Anjelica Huston was really scary, and this one is less so in comparison, but it’s still super scary for kids. The cast includes two Oscar winners: Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer. It’s getting mixed reviews from critics: some love it while others hate it with a passion.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

While this movie is being advertised as kid-friendly, it IS scary, so parents should preview it to decide if it’s something they want their kids to watch.
People die
Family
You see a boy in a bathtub but bubbles provide privacy.
Children are told very clearly to never take candy from strangers. That’s generally good advice, although it’s hard to follow at Halloween time!
There are some super creepy images that could definitely scare children.

THEMES:

“Sometimes life isn’t fair.” – Grandma (Octavia Spencer)
Darkness
“Life changes all of us.” – Grandma
“Never give up what you are inside.” – Grandma

THINGS I LIKED:

The screenplay was written by director Robert Zemeckis, Kenya Barris, and….wait for it…Guillermo del Toro, all based on the 1983 book by Roald Dahl. The movie is also produced by Guillermo del Toro, who originally wanted the film to be a stop-motion picture.
I’ve always loved Anne Hathaway. She looks like she’s really having fun with this role as the Grand High Witch. She gives an over-the-top performance as a sexy, truly evil leading witch.
Octavia Spencer can do no wrong. She was the perfect grandmother.
I love Stanley Tucci in anything. Unfortunately, he isn’t given much to do.
You’ll recognize Kristin Chenoweth’s adorable voice.
The makeup and special effects are really good.
All that good food and music in Act 1!
I laughed when I saw the plastic cover on the couch. I remember visiting my friends’ houses as a little girl and wondering why people did that.
Keep watching during the closing credits for the rest of the story.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

If you get queasy around mice, you’re definitely not going to enjoy this adventure.
There’s some bad CGI at times.
Act 1 introduces us to a world of witches, but Acts 2 & 3 feel smaller once only a handful of witches arrive at a hotel.
Cliched dance scene at the end of the movie.
The narrator usually states the obvious.
A lot of the action sequences look really cartoony.
The humor doesn’t really land for me.
The music by Alan Silvestri is often heavy-handed.
Anne Hathaway’s accent is odd and often hard to understand.
The witch we see in Act 1 is terrifying, yet we never really see her do anything again. Such a missed opportunity because she’s only used as a background witch in group scenes.
Chris Rock’s voice didn’t seem to fit the tone
The movie poster is too busy.

INTERESTING LINES:

“Sometimes when the good Lord wants to teach us something, it doesn’t come in the way we expect.” – Grandma (Octavia Spencer)
“Love will always triumph over evil.” – Grandma (Octavia Spencer)
“No one knows how much time they have on this earth.” – Grandma (Octavia Spencer)

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