The Craft is Great Mainstream Horror that is Not Scary and Not Deep
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The Craft is still worth watching for the individual performances. Read the review along with my theory of what other reviewers may have written.
Written by BHM Editor
Don Sumner
February 10, 2007
Release: 1996
Directed by: Andrew Fleming
Written by: Andrew Fleming and Peter Filardi
Starring:
Robin Tunney as Sarah Bailey
Fairuza Balk as Nancy Downs
Neve Campbell as Bonnie
Rachel True as Rochelle
There are many types of horror movies. Independent, big budget, small budget, ghost stories, slashers, zombies…the list goes on. As a certified horror freak I work hard to ensure that I watch many different and varied types, and try and appreciate them for what they are instead of what they “should” be.
Enter The Craft. I did not read a single review of this film prior to writing my own, as is my custom. I want to make sure that I share an untainted view from a guy that loves horror and isn’t influenced by the general consensus of a film.
After watching The Craft again for this review I have my thoughts, and my impression of what common thoughts might be. I’ll start with my unsubstantiated theory as to what the reviews that already exist have to say.
The Craft is typical mainstream designed to capitalize on the recent upsurge in the popularity of the horror genre of film. Why else would they have cast Neve Campbell, television sweetheart from A Party of Five, as one of the lead characters? The Craft is typical teen horror where the high school outcasts rise to a position of power through the fear invoked by their presumed witchly powers. Not scary, and not even witty. Teenage angst is the centerpiece for this silly story that yawningly proves yet again that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Now, what I really think.
I love The Craft.
The story centers on Sarah, who is a new student in a catholic school in a new town – moved to the area by her family and somewhat against her will. She has a shy nature and a special secret…sometimes things just “happen” to her. She will wish for something, or concentrate on something and suddenly that thing will materialize.
High school being what it is Sarah has trouble fitting in. The strange
girls at school, however, take a special interest. You see, there are
three girls at this Catholic school that have a reputation for being
witches, and it’s true. They cast spells and chant to the
Wiccan goddess all the time, but with minimal effect. While sitting in
history class one 
of the strange girls witnesses Sarah balancing a pencil on its point
during a particularly boring lecture.
That’s it! Sarah is the fourth witch necessary to make the
four corners (north, south, east and west).
Lacking other options, Sarah befriends the three witch-chicks, Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Rochelle (Rachel True) and Nancy (Fairuza Balk). Now, with the circle complete the power of the coven grows with noticeable results. One by one the girls materialize their heart’s desire, and nothing (or nobody) will stand in their way. But friendship is fickle. What happens if one of the witches decides to leave the coven?
The strength of The Craft is In the characters and in the entertainment value.
First the star Robin Tunney (Sarah): A
relative unknown, Robin brings a quality to The Craft
of innocence and a desire to fit in that I don’t believe was
entirely a result of her acting skill. She is the rock that holds The
Craft together.
The real reason to watch The Craft, though, is Fairuza Balk as Nancy. She is a FREAK! Crazy, arbitrary, evil, erratic and frightening, Fairuza Balk absolutely steals the show. She becomes power-mad as the witches gain force and crosses the line into insanity that reeks of corruption.
Yes, I love The Craft. I must say, however, that I’m not entirely sure that it is a horror movie. Could it be just a movie about teen angst that has witches in it? The effects are good, but the scares are all but non-existent.
By the way, it is good for all of us that Neve Campbell was in The Craft. This came out right before Scream and was likely the catalyst that influenced her being cast in Scream, and like it or hate it, Scream is responsible for putting the budget back in horror for this era. Scream proved to the studios that people really want to go to the theater and spend their money on horror movies, which means that we Horror Freaks have more fare to choose from these days. Neve Campbell was one of the secrets to the success of Scream, so Horror Freaks young and old should give her a word of thanks.
As for The Craft, it is a good not-scary movie with
many elements of horror. It’s not deep nor significant, but
casts an interesting light on the possibility of real witches doing
real magic in the seemingly normal neighborhoods where we live. So
stick that in your back pocket.
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