The Witches
Ratings: 3/5
Duration: 01 Hr 44 Mins
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Jane Goldman, Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse, Daphne Du Maurier
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Release Date: 22nd October 2020
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Star Cast: Chris Rock, Jahzir Bruno, Octavia Spencer, Brian Bovell, Joseph Zinyemba, Josette Simon, Jonathan Livingstone, Miranda Sarfo Peprah, Ashanti Prince-Asafo, Lunga Skosana, Vivienne Acheampong, Sobowale Antonio Bamgbose, Ken Nwosu, Arnaud Adrian, Charles Edwards, Morgana Robinson, Codie-Lei Eastick, Stanley Tucci, Anne Hathaway, Orla O'Rourke, Eurydice El-Etr, Ana-Maria Maskell, Eugenia Caruso, Abi Adeyemi, Lai Bing Rafice, Jianjian Cao, Lynne Carrington Brown, Nyinomugisha Crombach, Elena De Paz Toldrà, Fabienne Descamps, Grace Frohlich, Kailing Fu, Christianna Grant-Phillips, Sapphire Griffiths, Charlotte Grisley, Nilgun Gunay Freeman, Katie Hardwick, Maria-Teresa Harmer, Keiko Hewitt-Teale, Van Hu, Isabelle Hunn, Hiba Ismail, Nadia Ismail, Angie James, Aline Jewell, Penny Lisle, Kat Marié,Christiana Marsella, Sara Meucci, Beverley Mills, Wai Mun Tsang, Uzoamaka Ojukwu, Louise Port, Alo Raptopoulos, Neelambika Shan, Linnea Skoglosa, Ashleigh Smitham, Nikki Steggles, Terry Stringer, Nasim Strong, Sarah T. Cohen, Julia Tee, Rima Theisen, Anastasia Zabarchuk, Kristin Chenoweth, Philippe Spall, Simon Manyonda, Kevin Fleming, Melanie Palmer, Me'sha Bryan, Dempsey Bovell, Paul Leonard, Angus Wright, Cyril Nri, Debbie Bridge, Amber Flanagan, Kenny-Lee Mbanefo, Jon Prophet, Rachel Sophia-Anthony,Jimmy Star, Zeke Taylor
Plot: The story of ‘The Witches’ is based on Roald Dahl's 1983 classic book of the same name. It is a scary, funny, and imaginative tale of a seven-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real-life witches.
Review: It is that time of year again when everyone is looking for the spookiest movies to watch in that lead-up to Halloween. Undoubtedly, there are already countless options available for audiences, whether one is looking for something bone-chillingly terrifying or a bit more subdued.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this new iteration of The Witches will surely enchant and frighten young viewers, though their parents might wish for more padding within the story.
The director has utilized special effects and the fantasy genre throughout his career, for instance - Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Death Becomes Her, and The Polar Express, to name a few. Hence, with an emphasis on heavy VFX and less practical effects, the director thinks bigger is better when it comes to reimagining his 1983 classic ‘The Witches’.
When it comes to performances, Anne Hathaway gives a larger than life performance, which is easily the most entertaining part of The Witches.
Beyond Anne Hathaway, the always-excellent Octavia Spencer makes for a grandmother that is both kind-hearted and unflinching in the face of absolute evil. Even the two-child performers, Jahzir Bruno, and Codie-Lei Eastick are both charming and adorable. Whereas, Chris Rock is an effective narrator, but could have been used a bit more.
‘The Witches’ is certainly bolstered by its performances and visuals, and while its speedy story will win over young audiences, it could have reached new heights, if some more additions were made into the plot.
Overall, ‘The Witches’ maintains a ripping pace and offers compelling set pieces for younger audiences, but it ultimately does not offer anything new!
