The Craft is a 1996 American supernatural teen film directed by Andrew Fleming from a screenplay by himself and Peter Filardi. It stars Robin Tunney (End of Days), Fairuza Balk (The Worst Witch, The Island of Dr. Moreau), Neve Campbell (Scream and sequels), Rachel True (Embrace of the Vampire), and Skeet Ulrich (Scream). The film’s plot focuses on four teenage girls who pursue witchcraft and use it for their own gain. It was released on May 3, 1996, by Columbia Pictures.
The film, which features an alt. rock soundtrack (that includes Love Spit Love’s grunge cover of The Smiths’ “How Soon is Now”) and a score by horror regular Graeme Revell (Freddy vs. Jason, Grindhouse: Planet Terror, Riddick), became a $55 million sleeper hit at the box office. It has since gained a cult following, especially amongst goth teenage girls who identify with the lead characters.
Plot:
Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney), a troubled teenager, has just moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles with her father and stepmother. At her new Catholic school, she forms a friendship with a group of girls rumored to be witches, Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Nancy (Fairuza Balk) and Rochelle (Rachel True). At the same time, Sarah becomes attracted to the popular Chris (Skeet Ulrich). Bonnie, Nancy and Rochelle worship a powerful deity named “Manon“. Sarah exhibits supernatural powers from the onset of the film, and her new friends believe that she will complete their coven, making them all powerful. When Sarah is harassed by a vagrant with a snake (whom she had encountered before in her new house), he is immediately hit by a car to die and the girls believe that together they willed it to happen…
Reviews:
“Fleming’s film begins promisingly as a black comedy a la Heathers, but then quickly succumbs to its machinery of special effects; this is yet another bad picture in a long list of Hollywood flops about witchcraft. Still, young audiences, particularly women, are likely to connect with this energetic high-school tale about the vengeful empowerment of rebellious misfits…” Emanuel Levy, Variety
“Not only does The Craft rise to the top of the slew of teen movies made over the years, it also stands up as a queer classic. Feelings of being an outsider and defected, searching for an identity whilst trying to fit in, overcoming all the struggles along the way and establishing yourself in your own terms is something every gay person can identify with. This is not just another teen movie.” Andrew Darley, Polari Magazine
“The Craft might sound like a teenage movie, but it has a very dark, intense undertone, and a banging soundtrack … The actors are great, especially Fairuza Balk, I mean, can it get any creepier? And even though the actors were much older than the characters they were playing, it seems realistic … amazing camera work, the interesting storyline, the facts about witchcraft, and if you look at it, it basically shows you the consequences of bullying.” Simon Says… Watch This!
“From being semi-interesting about four girls who play with powers you can realise from the get-go are going to be a very bad idea, it turns into a generic mid-90s teen horror flick. As films go, it’s predictable – hanging out with the wrong crowd, the bad girls … not like you can’t see how that’s going to end, or who is going to let the power go to her head the most. Still, I was actually quite entertained.” Traxy Thornfield, The Squeee
