16 Fantastic Films About Witchcraft (Before Harry Potter)

9. The Witches (1990)

A young boy called Luke has to go to live with his grandmother after his parents die. She lives in Norway and is an expert on witchery, teaching the young Luke everything she knows. Unfortunately granny falls ill and is sent to the English seaside to recover. In the hotel, Luke figures out that an RSPCC - the Royal Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Children - is a front for a meeting of a coven of witches who hide their ugly faces under masks. The boss witch decides that they should wipe out all the children in the UK and it is down to Luke to prevent this terrible wickedness from happening. The special effects and make up in The Witches are very good indeed and Anjelica Huston is amazing in her role as the Grand High Witch of the witches. I'm pretty sure she has scared an awful lot of children with her menacing performance. It is not a typical Nic Roeg style movie and he directs what is essentially a kid's story in a very arty way. This makes the film stand apart from its peers. Again real life witches were angry at being stereotyped as baby eaters and the like, but it is imperative to remember that this is a fantasy film which has nothing to do with real life. This is one of the better Roald Dahl adaptations and the whole family, not just kids, will enjoy it.