Robert Zemeckis' adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic, The Witches, is an opportunity for the director to show off his signature visual style. Filled with vibrant colour, lush art direction, lovely costumes, and eccentric special effects, The Witches is a treat to watch. I've always found this story rather disturbing for a "children's story" and Zemckis, for all his attempts to make it fun, still captures the horror underlying the story, with the help of co-writer Guillermo Del Toro.
I've always understood this story to an analogy, about a secret society plotting the domination of and extermination of another group of people. How groups like this walk around among us looking normal and espousing unthreatening values while advancing their evil plans. As I've grown I've seen just how real world such a situation is. This film adaptation, with it's 1960s setting and casting of a black central protagonist, highlights this analogy, making it even more poignant and frightening.
The film leans into its family horror esthetic. The witches here are horrifying with their claws, their sore bald heads, and especially their toothy, humungous mouths. The designs here will be frightening for younger children, especially with Hathaway, clearly enjoying herself, camping up her villain role, chewing the scenery with those disgusting teeth. She and her witches are true monsters, designed to look like regular people, but truly evil in every way.
This does remain a story of triumph over evil, and it does remain a story filled with adventure and fun. The second act is more of a focus on the fun side so while the first half may be a bit intense for younger kids, the movie on a whole remains accessible and has important messaging. This is the sort of story that teaches children they can overcome. I love how Grandma is demonstrated to be a force for justice and vengeance. I also love the message of being true to you are inside regardless of the way you look outside or how the world sees you. All in all, The Witches captures this story in a wonderfully entertaining way.
The Witches
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Jahzir Kadeem Bruno, Stanley Tucci, Chris Rock, Kristin Chenoweth
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Guillermo Del Toro, Kenya Barris, Robert Zemeckis
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