10 Horror Movie Casting Choices That Should've Worked (But Didn't)

Of all the old school horrors one could choose to remake, The Witches actually isn’t a bad shout. Nicolas Roeg’s original bristles with genuine menace, but a modern spin on Roald Dahl’s gleefully cruel fairytale could actually be worthwhile.

Unfortunately, Robert Zemeckis’ 2020 effort really wasn’t. While Anne Hathaway tries gamely in the role of the evil Grand High Witch, and is by no means the film’s biggest problem, she’s stranded in a role that doesn’t fit and a film that’s never going to work.

Roeg’s film felt claustrophobic and tense; by contrast, Zemeckis’ work is an almost psychedelic affair, colourful and zany. This would be fine - it’s a kids’ film, after all - but some of his special effects are genuinely horrible, most notably Hathaway’s stretched, haunting mouth.

His star, to this end, doesn’t know whether to stick or twist. While Anjelica Huston’s sorceress purred with casual vitriol, Hathaway is forced to go for broke, delivering a performance in turn too jolly and almost rabid.