The Craft: Legacy
The Craft: Legacy is a 2020 supernatural horror film that continues the story of the 1996 movie, "The Craft." It follows Lily, a new student who moves to a small town with her mother and new stepfather. She discovers she has magical abilities and joins three other outcast teenage girls—Lourdes, Frankie, and Tabby—to form a coven. The film explores their newfound powers and the challenges they face, including bullying and a sinister threat from Lily's new stepfather. The narrative weaves in themes of female empowerment, friendship, responsibility, and embracing one's individuality. Geared towards an older teenage and young adult audience, the movie contains elements of fantasy, drama, and horror, addressing contemporary social issues within its occult framework.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe film features explicit LGBTQ+ representation with a main character who is transgender and another significant character who is bisexual. The movie was also nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Theatrical Release, indicating its intentional inclusion and portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes.
Lourdes, one of the four coven members, is openly transgender, with her identity being an accepted part of her character. Director Zoe Lister-Jones actively collaborated with GLAAD and a trans consultant to ensure authentic representation. Additionally, the character Timmy, initially a bully, reveals he is bisexual to the coven, stating he has "hooked up with both girls and a guy," specifically Isaiah, his stepbrother.
Violence
HighThe movie contains several instances of supernatural and physical violence, including bullying, magical attacks, and a character being brutally murdered and another burned to death in a climactic scene.
Lily uses her powers to magically throw Timmy into lockers after he taunts her. Later, the antagonist Adam, Lily's stepfather, physically assaults Lily, knocking her unconscious, and magically throws her friends, rendering them unconscious. Adam also admits to murdering Timmy. In the film's climax, Lily and her coven friends collectively use their elemental powers to defeat Adam by burning him alive.
Profanity
HighThe film features frequent use of coarse and strong language throughout its dialogue, consistent with its PG-13 rating and target audience.
Frequent profanity is noted by parental reviews, including words such as "shit," "asshole," "douche bag," "dick bag," "slut," "damn," and "bitch". The presence of this language is a consistent element highlighted across multiple content warning sources.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult practices are central to the entire film's plot, depicting a coven of teenage girls performing various spells and rituals, and facing off against a powerful warlock and pagan cult.
The core premise involves Lily joining Lourdes, Frankie, and Tabby to form a coven, using their combined powers for levitation and a 'love spell' on Timmy. They also use a Ouija board to contact the spirit of Timmy after his death. The main antagonist, Adam, is revealed to be a powerful warlock and a member of a pagan cult, seeking to steal Lily's innate magical power.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe movie contains several suspenseful and frightening scenes, including vivid premonitions, jump scares, and disturbing supernatural threats that could be unsettling for younger viewers.
Lily experiences intense, terrifying premonitions featuring a rapid succession of unsettling faces, a slithering snake, and a bloody knife. A scene creates suspense with creaking noises in Lily's dark room, culminating in a jump scare when a creepy face (her sleepwalking stepbrother) appears. The antagonist, Adam, also appears demonic with black eyes and transforms in a frightening manner.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe film's central narrative openly promotes and normalizes witchcraft and paganism as positive and empowering forces, which stands in direct opposition to traditional Christian beliefs. While not explicitly mocking Christianity, the core theme is antithetical.
The entire storyline revolves around a coven of four teenage girls practicing Wicca and developing supernatural abilities, framing witchcraft as a source of strength and agency. The primary antagonist, Adam, is a warlock and leader of a pagan cult with "authoritarian beliefs," presented as an evil force that the witches must overcome, thus portraying alternative spiritualities in a positive light against a malevolent, controlling ideology.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe film includes scenes of passionate kissing, implied masturbation, brief non-explicit nudity, and discussions about sex and consent, contributing to its mature themes.
Lily and Timmy share passionate kisses on multiple occasions after Lily casts a love spell on him. There are two scenes implying masturbation: one where Lily is suggested to be masturbating using Timmy's shirt during a spell, and another showing Lily's stepbrother topless in bed, implying he is masturbating while watching porn. Lily is also briefly shown naked from behind as she steps into a special bath.
Substance Use
MediumThe film includes minor instances of substance use, primarily social alcohol consumption and the visual presence of drug paraphernalia.
Alcohol is consumed socially during party scenes, though it is not depicted to an excessive degree. Additionally, a bong is visible in a teenager's bedroom, and a character makes a reference to having a "special drink" hidden at a party.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumInstances of disrespect and rebellion are present through teenage bullying, defiance towards parental figures, and challenging established social norms.
Lily initially expresses defiance towards her mother, Helen, for concealing her adoption and accidentally shoves her mother using her powers during an argument. Additionally, school bullies, including Timmy, torment Lily, such as teasing her about her period, which leads to Lily retaliating with her magical powers.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Recommended for ages 16 and older. The film received a PG-13 rating from the MPAA for "brief drug use, sexual conduct, and crude humor". However, Australian parental guidance suggests it is "Not for under 14s, PG for 14-16s, OK for over 16s" due to its significant violence, pervasive coarse language, creepy scenes, and mature themes. The explicit nature of some sexual content, intense supernatural violence, and the central role of occult practices warrant a recommendation for a more mature audience.
Additional Notes
The film is a sequel to the 1996 original, 'The Craft,' but takes a more contemporary approach, incorporating themes of intersectional female power and critiquing toxic masculinity. While some critics found it less frightening than the original, it maintains a focus on supernatural horror and includes diverse characters, including a transgender witch.
Related Reviews
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