Review of The Witches (1990) by Monty P — 10 Nov 2008

The Witches is one of Roald Dahl's finest books. Not only is it a great read, just like everything else he ever wrote, its also one of his most terrifying. The point that it puts across is children all over the world are preyed upon by evil witches, and will kill them for no other reason than the fact that they can't stand children. Roald Dahl was often rather cruel to children in his books, and in The Witches he even goes so far to remark that they smell like dog droppings to witches.

It is a family movie for all ages, it is a wonderful adventure about a young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) and his witch expert Grandma (Mai Zetterling) go on a summer holiday to a England hotel owned by Mr. Stringer (Rowan Atkinson), but they ran into Luke's Grandma's enemy The Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston). Luke stumbles into The Grand High Witch and the england witches plan to turn children into mice!!! it is up to Luke, Bruno Jekins (Charile Potter)and his Grandma to save the children of england!

Luke's grandmother always warned him of witches ? child hating women notable for their baldness, lack of toes and purple tinged eyes, however it is a tragic accident, not witches, that robs him of his parents and sees him placed in her care. Soon he has his first experience with a witch and learns just how frightening they can be. Later they are staying in a hotel where Luke's mice gets him into trouble with the manager. Although this is naught compared to Luke's discovery that the group of women in a RSPCC conference are really all witches in a meeting chaired by the global head witch herself! With a grand plan to wipe out children in England, Luke must act to stop them but when he is discovered and caught, it seems very unlikely.

I highly recommend The Witches. Its a refreshing alternative to the sugary sweet pickings of todays kids films. Its smart, fun, scary and helped immeasurably by great music too.