The Craft

Film: The Craft

Year: 1996

Director: Andrew Fleming

Writer: Peter Filardi and Andrew Fleming

Starring: Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk and Neve Campbell

Review:

I recall watching this film frequently on movie channels during high school, as did my sister. Despite being younger than the characters and a male, I related to their struggles. My first critical review was for The Podcast Under the Stairs' 1990s Summer Challenge Series and now revisiting it for a Scouring through the Sixes rewatch.

Synopsis: a newcomer to a Catholic prep high school falls in with a trio of outcast teenage girls who practice witchcraft. They all soon conjure up various spells and curses against those who anger them.

We start this off with Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) moving to Los Angeles with her father (Cliff De Young) and his wife. Later we learn that Sarah’s real mother passed away during childbirth. Sarah goes to school and we learn that she is a bit of a loner. She tries to befriend the trio of outcasts, but they ignore her.

The trio is actually witches. Bonnie (Neve Campbell) is reading a horoscope, which tells them they will make a discovery and she thinks it will be their fourth so they can conjure up some stronger spells. Nancy Downs (Fairuza Balk) isn’t so sure and Rochelle (Rachel True) is indifferent.

In class, Bonnie sees Sarah making a pencil stand on its own and she knows that Sarah is the one. Sarah is hit on by a popular guy, Chris Hooker (Skeet Ulrich). He warns her about hanging out with the witches. The trio approach Sarah after school. Interestingly, Nancy warns Sarah about how much of a scumbag Chris actually is as well. An added element is that they say the same phrase, Nancy and Chris, just the opposite.

The trio invite Sarah to go shopping with them. They go to a local shop run by Lirio (Assumpta Serna). She sells occult items. Lirio and Sarah have an interaction and the former can tell that the latter is a natural witch, one that is quite powerful. This seems to bother Nancy who is their de facto leader.

Sarah then joins the group and they do a ritual. It is a spell to make their lives better, as each ask for different things. Ahead of that, Chris spreads a rumor about Sarah, but she wants him to like her. Nancy lives in a trailer with her mother and stepfather. It is a horrible life so she wants a change to her plight. Bonnie has low self-esteem from scars on her back. Rochelle is tormented by another girl, Laura (Christine Taylor).

When their spells work, there’s an arrogance that forms with their new abilities. Nancy decides to invoke Manon, the name of the deity that is older than religion. When Sarah doesn’t agree with things that are being done, she also becomes a target.

That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. The first thing that I want to point out about this film is that it feels really 90’s. I guess it is fitting that it came out right in the middle of the decade. It is also interesting that it came out the same year as Scream, with Campbell and Ulrich both starring in that film as well. I’m not sure if I saw this before or after, but that connection was made for me soon after.

Where I want to then start would be that even watching this film 30+ years later, this film still holds up. A big aspect of this film is bullying in multiple forms. Sarah is bullied by Chris who makes up a rumor that they had sex. There are stories like this where people have killed themselves on rumors like this. Bonnie is mostly ignored due to her thinking she is ugly and self-conscious about her scars. Nancy is bullied for being different and Rochelle for being a minority. It is crazy how relevant this aspect of the film is still to this day.

There are then character shifts after gaining power is a compelling element. Sarah remains stable until the climax, but Nancy becomes a power-hungry tyrant, eventually bullying a struggling Sarah—a common theme when victims gain authority. Bonnie’s new confidence turns her into a “mean girl,” while only Rochelle stays grounded, feeling remorse for her wish against Laura. This reinforces the theme of being careful what you wish for.

The "be careful what you wish for" theme impacts Sarah through her spell on Chris. His initial devotion starts out cute but then becomes stifling and dark after she agrees to dinner. Similarly, Nancy finds that wealth doesn't fulfill her.

Another concept in the film is that I love it is set at a Catholic high school. They don’t play that up much and we never see any of the nuns or priests scolding the girls, outside of them talking in class, but I think it is an interesting setting for a coven. I definitely feel the film is aware of this and playing on that perversion of religion.

Other themes include magic initially serving as a shield before the group realizes its true power. Each girl navigates trauma: Sarah battles depression and past suicide attempts; Nancy faces poverty and an abusive household; Rochelle endures racism; and Bonnie struggles with physical insecurities. These uncontrollable hardships fuel a rejection of the patriarchy and emphasize female solidarity. However, this unity fractures into competition, as Nancy resents Sarah’s effortless natural talent compared to her own labored craft.

The acting effectively brings this film to life, with each lead delivering a strong performance. Tunney captures her character's first aloofness and desire for belonging, rooted in past struggles and self-esteem issues. Balk is excellent as the increasingly callous leader, while Campbell impressively navigates a dramatic character shift. True provides the heart of the group, showing remorse as their vengeance against Laura escalates. Notable supporting turns from Ulrich, Taylor, Breckin Meyer, and De Young further round out the capable cast.

Concluding with filmmaking, the cinematography and framing effectively capture the setting, highlighting the contrast between Sarah’s affluent new home and the similar lifestyles of Rochelle and Bonnie, leaving Nancy as the outlier. The effects remain solid; despite early CGI, the heavy use of practical effects holds up well, leading to a strong climatic showdown. While the 90s-heavy soundtrack dates the film, my personal nostalgia for that era makes it enjoyable regardless.

In conclusion, this is still a compelling watch even decades later, anchored by its exploration of relevant themes like bullying, trauma, and the corrupting nature of newfound power. The cast delivers strong performances that breathe life into these complex characters, while the film’s distinct 90s aesthetic and effective balance of practical effects create a lasting impact. By blending a supernatural coming-of-age story with a cautionary tale about unchecked ambition, the movie continues to stand as a cult classic that effectively captures the struggles and solidarity of teenage outcasts.

My Rating: 8 out of 10