The Witches (1990)

The Witches (1990) is that rare family fantasy that doesn’t sand down its teeth: it’s funny, eerie, and oddly exhilarating in the way it trusts kids to handle real darkness. Nicolas Roeg gives Roald Dahl’s story a rich, storybook atmosphere with a sly sense of menace, and the film’s practical effects and Jim Henson creature work still have a tactile, nightmare-quality that modern polish can’t replicate. Anjelica Huston is magnificent—glamorous, cruel, and clearly having the time of her life—anchoring the movie with a villain you won’t forget. It’s not for viewers who want their children’s entertainment gentle and cuddly, but if you’re in the mood for a clever, wickedly imaginative ride with genuine bite, this one casts a spell.

The Witches (1990) is trying to be a wickedly fun, dark fairy tale for kids—part bedtime story, part nightmare fuel—and when it leans into that tone, it’s memorably effective. Nicolas Roeg doesn’t do “gentle” here, so the scares and grotesque makeup (especially the face-reveal and mouse transformation stuff) can feel genuinely intense for younger or sensitive viewers. The storytelling can also be a bit blunt and uneven, and if you care about Roald Dahl’s original ending, the film’s softened wrap-up may leave you feeling like it chickened out. Still, Anjelica Huston is deliciously menacing and the practical effects have a nasty charm, so if you want family fantasy with real teeth, this delivers—just don’t expect subtlety or comfort.