The Craft

[_ocelott_]

This week I saw The Craft for the first time. I know, I know, I'm horribly behind the times, especially since I was a teenage girl when the movie first came out. It was just not something that was on my radar, I guess, until recently.

I have many thoughts about this movie. I will share them behind the cut.

Comments

[flying_girl73]

Nice review.

And cool, you watched the NChick vid on the film as well. I was gonna mention it until I saw the link.

I saw this film years ago, probably in the middle of my Buffy/Charmed years, and I liked it. Should probably check it out again, if only to test the "I wonder how many of those girls who love The Craft as teens still love it years later, after they've grown out of the awkward years" aspect.

[_ocelott_]

I love Nostalgia Chick. Her review is part of the reason why I saw the movie this week, actually. It reminded me that this movie has been on my list of stuff I keep meaning to get around to seeing, so when the kids and I made our weekly trek to the video rental place I actually searched it out.

It's interesting, pretty much every chick of my generation I've talked to about it have said something akin to "Oh man, I used to love The Craft! Haven't seen it in years, though." I actually think that's very telling.

[athenaprime]

When this movie came out, I was already slightly out of my teen years, but I was at that point firmly in the witchcraft camp. Everybody I knew was cringing and watching through their fingers, because we were prepared for the worst. Looking back, I think the fact that it didn't completely trash Wicca (it could have been so much worse) made many of us so giddy with relief that two thumbs automatically went up for that reason alone.

Also, the soundtrack is really kickass.

And totally agree with your review.

[_ocelott_]

Yes, they did a great job of walking the line there. There are enough elements of Wicca there to make their spellcasting ring true but they never directly state that's what they're practicing. It could (and probably does) borrow from several different branches of paganism and/or witchcraft, and it helps a lot that they explicitly say the magic itself is neutral, guided by the intent of the witch. It's a rough balance to hit, especially given the plot, but they pulled it off well.