This film is not good. It might be outright bad. It's stupid, awkward, cliched, ridiculous, and cheesy. I entered this with a critical mind and low expectations, and I can totally see why this film got panned.
This movie could have been plain bad, but instead it's a camp classic. There are so many tired old tropes in the story, some incredibly Large Ham performances, and some really weird and uncomfortable moments, but everybody is having a damn good time and so are you when you watch it. Some things miss hard, others land perfectly, and that's part of what makes it so delightful in the end. I didn't need to grow up watching it (and I didn't) for the film to take a very special place in my heart. It's just a total blast all the way through, and I wouldn't like it nearly as much if it were a "good" movie. The performances, the weirdness, even the slightly dodgy SFX at times, all contribute to a perfect cult film that you just can't hate.
The witches and concepts of witchcraft are just great. There's Winifred, the extra as hell evil leader who feels tied down by her sisters. Mary is meek and eager to please, and can sniff out children, a cool power that shows up sometimes with witches. Sarah is a sexy psychopath with the mind of a child, and makes Harley Quinn look downright normal. What I really love besides their legendary performances is that they're "authentic" Salem witches. They're human, speak in an antiquated fashion, wear plausible old-timey outfits, have Satanic connections and really unique powers. The best idea, used multiple times, is the idea of compelling or cursed song. The best scene in the movie and the creepiest scene in the movie use this gimmick in very different ways. There are also magical rules and restrictions that show research into beliefs of the time, played real here. I love it.
It's definitely a kids' movie, but while it doesn't ask much of its audience, it doesn't disrespect them, either. It just invites you to join in on the fun everybody is having. I also like the sibling relationship portrayed in the film's protagonists.
Cult classic? Yes. Guilty pleasure? For some, maybe, but I am proud to recommend this to anyone seeking some spooky fun in the Halloween season.
Just a bunch of hocus-pocus?
This film is not good. It might be outright bad. It's stupid, awkward, cliched, ridiculous, and cheesy. I entered this with a critical mind and low expectations, and I can totally see why this film got panned.
And it's one of the most enjoyable things I have ever watched.
This movie could have been plain bad, but instead it's a camp classic. There are so many tired old tropes in the story, some incredibly Large Ham performances, and some really weird and uncomfortable moments, but everybody is having a damn good time and so are you when you watch it. Some things miss hard, others land perfectly, and that's part of what makes it so delightful in the end. I didn't need to grow up watching it (and I didn't) for the film to take a very special place in my heart. It's just a total blast all the way through, and I wouldn't like it nearly as much if it were a "good" movie. The performances, the weirdness, even the slightly dodgy SFX at times, all contribute to a perfect cult film that you just can't hate.
The witches and concepts of witchcraft are just great. There's Winifred, the extra as hell evil leader who feels tied down by her sisters. Mary is meek and eager to please, and can sniff out children, a cool power that shows up sometimes with witches. Sarah is a sexy psychopath with the mind of a child, and makes Harley Quinn look downright normal. What I really love besides their legendary performances is that they're "authentic" Salem witches. They're human, speak in an antiquated fashion, wear plausible old-timey outfits, have Satanic connections and really unique powers. The best idea, used multiple times, is the idea of compelling or cursed song. The best scene in the movie and the creepiest scene in the movie use this gimmick in very different ways. There are also magical rules and restrictions that show research into beliefs of the time, played real here. I love it.
It's definitely a kids' movie, but while it doesn't ask much of its audience, it doesn't disrespect them, either. It just invites you to join in on the fun everybody is having. I also like the sibling relationship portrayed in the film's protagonists.
Cult classic? Yes. Guilty pleasure? For some, maybe, but I am proud to recommend this to anyone seeking some spooky fun in the Halloween season.