THE WITCHES

This 2020 dark Fantasy-comedy was written by Robert Zemeckis, Guillermo del Toro, and Kenya Barris. It is the second adaptation of popular novelist and legendary children’s author, Roald Dahl’s The Witches. Its first feature length film was released in 1990.

The story, which most people already know, is about a young boy who lost his parents in a car accident. Subsequently, he goes to live with his firm but loving Grandma. Soon after, the boy discovers that he’s being stalked by a witch. As it turns out, his Grandma knows a lot about witches and has her own story to tell. According to her, witches are demons in disguise who absolutely hate children. In this 2020 version, to protect her grandson, Grandma whisks him and his pet mouse away with her to stay in a grand hotel.

Incidentally, witches are at the hotel masquerading, ironically, as the Royal Society for the Prevention of cruelty to Children. Their real agenda, headed by the Grand High Witch, is to hatch a diabolical plan to turn children around the world into mice by spiking candy and sweets with an evil potion. Unfortunately, the boy and Bruno Jenkins, an English boy who was also staying at the hotel with his parents, were transformed into mice by the wicked witches. Of course, notwithstanding the unfortunate occurrence, the boys, with the help of Grandma, set out to foil the evil plan by bringing down the Grand High Witch and destroying the witches.

It’s truly an exciting story with it’s scary but comical elements. There were a number of noticeable differences and variations between the current film and the one from 30 years ago. The Witches, 2020 was mostly set in Alabama where the boy’s grandmother lived. The Witches, 1990, on the other hand, was set in Norway, with the Grandma being Norwegian and the boy being American. There were other changes in the 2020 adaptation, one being a third unfortunate mouse thrown in the mix, and another being the ending; there is a slight but major difference, which I will not reveal for those who are yet to see either or both films.

The Witches 1990

Casting was very pivotal in 2020’s version, and It’s to be noted that certain names were changed in 2020’s edition. Having Octavia Spencer play the role of Grandma was pure genius. I think she did an even more enjoyable job than Mai Zettering who played Grandma Helga Eveshim in 1990. The more recent adaptation’s Jahzir kadeem Bruno as Hero Boy brought a lot more colour and life to the character compared to his counterpart, whose name was, Luke Eveshim and was played by Jasen Fisher in 1990. Stanley Tucci’s clueless Mr Stringer, the hotel manager in 2020 was a great choice but nothing beats Rowan Atkinson’s unique serious yet humorous performance. Anne Hathaway is such a talented actress, but even she couldn’t hold a candle to Angelica Houston’s terrifying yet graceful execution of 1990’s Grand High Witch. Funny man, Chris Rock as the narrator/voice of older Hero Boy in 2020 was a welcomed and entertaining touch.

Robert Zemeckis’ writing and direction of 2020’s The Witches was typical of what you would expect from one who is famous for and skilled in visual special effects. His deliverance of the tale with its modern day technology and CGI almost succeeded in outshining 1990’s The Witches, which was directed by Nicolas Roeg and produced by the prop master, puppeteer and animator, Jim Henson. However, the prosthetics, costume and even makeup of Nicolas Roeg’s version were instrumental in rendering it a fond and memorable one 30 years later. The 1990 adaptation, though still whimsical, was successful in delivering the deliberate scary element to Roald Dahl’s story. The witches were quite simply, more intimidating. I found 2020’s feature more comical than anything and lacking ounces of the scare element. Nevertheless, those who scare easily might probably find this a little frightening.

All in all, though quite interesting an entertaining, 2020’s The Witches falls slightly short of delivering the desired effects as the previous version. Surprisingly and quite unjustly, 1990’s The Witches did not do well in the box office unlike 2020’s adaptation.

If you haven’t, I would recommend watching the first version as well as 2020’s adaptation to have a full appreciation of the story. Nevertheless, 2020’s The Witches stands on its own merits and was quite enjoyable to watch. Rating? 7.5 out of 10.

The Witches, 2020 is available to rent or buy on Sky TV, for those interested.

Further Information

Roald Dahl

British novelist, author of short stories, screenwriter, poet, and war time pilot. His other works include Matilda, BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Tales of the Unexpected.

Robert Zemeckis

American film director, screenwriter, and producer. Some of his works include 1984’s romantic comedy-adventure, Romancing the Stone, the 1985, 1989 & 1990 American sci-fi comedy trilogy, Back to the Future, 1988’s American animated comedy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, 1994’s American romantic comedy-drama, Forrest Gump, 2007’s 3D Computer animated fantasy action film, Beowulf, 2012’s American drama, Flight.

Kenya Barris

American actor, writer, director, and producer. Some of his works include American TV comedy series like, Black-ish, The Game, Girlfriends, and the American drama series, Soul food. Barris either wrote orco-wrote the screenplays for 2016 and 2017’s American comedy films, Barbers Shop: The next Cut & Girls’ Trip, 2019’s Action comedy, Shaft.

Guillermo del Toro

Mexican film maker, author, and actor. His works include 1997’s America sci-fi horror film, Mimic, 2002’s American vampire hero horror film, Blade 2, 2004 and 2008’s American supernatural superhero films, Hell Boy and Hell Boy: The Golden Army, 2013’s American military sci-fi monster film, Pacific Rim, 2015’s American gothic romance film, Crimson Peak, 2017’s American romantic fantasy-drama, The Shape of Water, 2014 -2017 American horror-drama tv series, The Strain.

Chris Rock

American comedian, actor, film maker and producer. Chris was a cast member on Saturday Night Live in the early 90s. He starred in 2003’s American comedy film, Head of State, 2005’s American prison sports comedy film, The Longest Yard, 2010 and 2013’s American comedy films, Grown Ups 1 & 2. He narrated the 2005 – 2009 American period sitcom series, Everybody Hates Chris, and gave voice to a character in the 2005 - 2012 American animated film series, Madagascar.

Anne Hathaway

American actress. Starred in 2001’s American teen comedy film, The Princess Dairies, 2006’s American comedy-drama, The Devil Wears Prada, 2009’s American romantic-comedy, Bride Wars, 2010’s live-action/animated dark fantasy adventure Alice in Wonderland, 2012’s superhero film, The Dark Knight Rises, 2012’s epic period romantic musical drama, Les Miserables, 2014’s American-British epic sci-fi space film, Interstellar, 2015’s American comedy-drama, The Intern, 2018’s American heist comedy film, Ocean’s 8.

Octavia Spencer

American actress, author, and producer. She starred in 1996’s American courtroom crime drama, A Time to Kill, 1997’s American romantic comedy, Never Been Kissed, 2000’s American comedy film, Big Momma’s House, 2011’s period drama, The Help, 2013’s sci-fi action, Snowpiercer, 2013’s American fantasy-adventure, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, 2015 American dystopian sci-fi action film, The Divergent Series: Allegiant, the voice of Mrs Otterton in the 2016’s 3D computer animated buddy cop comedy, Zootopia, 2017 American Christian drama, The shack, 2017’s American romantic-fantasy drama, The Shape of Water, 2018 American family comedy-drama, Instant family, 2019’s American psychological horror, Ma, 2020’s American fantasy-adventure, Dolittle.

Stanley Tucci

American actor, writer, film producer and director. Starred in 1987’s American screwball comedy, Who’s That Girl, 1992’s American romantic fantasy film, Prelude to a Kiss, 1993’s action comedy, Undercover Blues, 1993’s American legal thriller, The Pelican Brief, 2002’s American romantic comedy-drama, Maid in Manhattan, 2003’s American sci-fi action-disaster film, The Core, 2004’s American comedy-drama, The Terminal, 2006’s crime-thriller film, Lucky Number Slevin, 2006’s American comedy-drama, The Devil Wears Drama, 2013’s American fantasy-adventure, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, 2013’s American Dystopian sci-fi adventure films, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire & 2014 & 2015’s, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2, 2014’s American musical crime comedy, Muppets Most Wanted, 2014’s American sci-fi fiction-action, Transformers: Age of Extinction, 2017’s American sci-fi fiction action, Transformers: The Last Knight, 2019’s horror film, The Silence.

Jahzir Kadeem Bruno

An actor. Starred in 2020’s American Christmas comedy film, Christmas Chronicles 2, American comedy-drama tv series, Atlanta (2016 +)