I often get asked if I can recommend my favourite witch themed films so I have a top three to share with you on today’s blog post. There are probably hundreds out there that are much more occultist and cool, however my small list of three are not only my favourites because of the soundtracks but simply because of the use of magic, storyline and feel good factor and where I was at the point in my life at the time of watching.
Teen Witch – 1989
In 1989 I was eight years old and this movie made such an impact on me, so much so that once it ended, I cleared out my mums broom cupboard under the stairs to turn into my very own witch area for casting spells and making magic (a sign of things to come I wonder?).
This light-hearted fantasy comedy is perfect for young witches to watch as a start to magic and what can happen once a young girl gains her power when she comes of age. On her sixtinth birthday, Louise Miller discovers she is in fact a witch and has had hidden powers her whole life but they have been laying dormant. She is under the mentorship of Madame Serena, a Seer, and through her, Louise understands the do’s and don’ts of intention and magic work and eventually that gaining power isn’t all it is cracked up to be.
In my opinion, it’s a funny and harmless film, with the use of poppets (to torment her horrible teacher Mr Weaver) and some fun spells like turning her tormenting younger brother into a dog.
Louise manages to increase her popularity (the actual plot of the film) and of course the message is that as people we don’t need magic to gain friends, we can do that through our own confidence and integrity.
In my opinion this film is a light-hearted take on kids magic and is a fun watch and the one film that peaked my interest in intention, glittery things and publicly humiliating adults who try to embarrass you first (just kidding). It’s certainly worth a watch if you have a young teen interested in witchcraft.
The Craft – 1996
Now lets move on to a film a little darker and certainly not for your eleven-year-old, but your sixteen year old will thank you for it. The original of this movie was released in 1996 and I was fifteen and went straight to the cinema to watch (avoid the new version release, you will be disappointed). If not for the cool soundtrack, this film has such an awesome nineties cast and it just takes me back to the height of my middle teen years (maybe I’m being nostalgic and it wasn’t’ that good – but really, it IS). For anyone that want’s to begin their craft journey, it lays out the do’s and don’ts in a way that shows you the two sides of any journey in life…..the duality of the good and bad in all things.
This is a (mild) supernatural horror at its best. Sarah Bailey is a teenage girl who moves to a new area in LA with her dad and step mum and forms a friendship with a group of girls at her new school.
Sarah already has her own set of spiritual abilities (this is why I love the film, as I recognise a lot of myself in her, ok, I can’t move stuff with the power of my mind, but I’m not in a Hollywood movie, however you know where I’m going with this…..).
The girls she ends up with are already in a coven and they are looking for their fourth member to complete the group and Sarah will fit in perfectly. Each of these girls have their own problems and insecurities that they are trying to overcome.
Nancy Downs, one of the most famous movie witches out there, has the biggest issues and it is quite obvious from the outset that she is unhinged.
Without giving to much away, Sarah joins this group, they visit a “new age” shop (hate that term!) ritual begins and so does intention. What follows is a manipulation of energy around them, at first for the greater good which makes everyone, including the watcher feel amazing.
Things start to go wrong quickly, and we begin to see the perils of using energy for the wrong reasons and how it can harm not only others, but ourselves and ethics come into play very quickly. Nancy Downs is the archetypal dark witch, Sarah Bailey being the light one (of course!) – but this is no Wizard of Oz movie. It never loses its edge through-out. It is as cool as F and with one of the best lines ever in a witch film “We are the Weirdo’s Mister!” I implore you to add this to your witch film list!
Practical Magic – 1998
Ah, but if you want a feel good, snuggle up on the sofa, with a hot chocolate and some icandy for good measure (including an epic soundtrack) – film…….this is the one for you! Yes it’s my absolute favourite witchy movie of all time, Practical Magic.
This film has a top cast, Sandra Bulluck and Nicole Kidman are the sisters and Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing are the two aunts and we get ultimate icandy in Aidan Quinn and Goran Visnjic.
The reason why I adore Practical Magic so much is because of the subtle witchcraft involved. It is “practical magic” in the truest sense of the words. The only time that we see anything that happens that is remotely “out there” is at the very end of the film. The rest is very realistic, with more references around intention, wishes, botanicals, plant magic and herbs.
Two sisters who grow up with their aunts (in the most stunning house you can imagine) – one makes a wish on a full moon that is very specific to meet a certain man in the future. You don’t realise how important that part is going to be until much later in the movie.
The main plot of the film is that a love curse has been put on the Owens sisters, descended from a long line of witches. Every man an Owen sister falls in love with, will end up dying. It sounds morbid but this film is inspired, it is a real mix of romance, humour but most of all, beautiful, majestic witch craft. The ending hits you in all the feels and I watch this movie every single Samhain season, without fail!
I mostly love Practical Magic because I watched it as an adult, when I had came “out” as a fully fledge witch myself, so it has a deeper meaning and understanding to me.
So there you have it, if you fancy a wintry night in with a good film about real magic, I would recommend one of my favourite films…
Until next time,
Tanya
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