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

If you were a kid in the 1990s, there is a very decent chance you were scared stiff (and possibly traumatised) by The Grand High Witch from The Witches.

Angelica Huston's performance as this supernatural hag may very well be the most terrifying character in any adaptation of Roald Dahl's work (which is saying a lot). Huston is so hauntingly commanding, no one will blame you if you admit she gave you nightmares... and still does.

Even though it seemed like no actor could do The Grand High Witch better, moviegoers were optimistic when Anne Hathaway was cast in the role in Robert Zemeckis' remake. Although few suspected Hathaway could match her predecessor, we were still curious to see her take on the insidious witch leader.

But somehow, the Oscar-winning actress managed to do everything wrong. She flits between so many accents, you wonder why she bothered with one in the first place. In her human form, she comes across as snooty rather than imposing.

Amazingly, Hathaway is less intimidating in her witch form (and not just because of the distracting CGI). By gurning into the camera like Ace Ventura and over-pronouncing every word, the film's antagonist is unbearably cringeworthy.

Worst of all, this Grand High Witch never comes across as scary.