The Witches
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to The Witches
The Witches (2020) is a dark fantasy comedy-horror film adapted from Roald Dahl's classic novel, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Set in 1960s Alabama, the story follows a young orphaned boy who, while staying with his grandmother, stumbles upon a secret convention of child-hating witches. Led by the Grand High Witch, these witches conspire to transform all children into mice using a magical potion. The film explores themes of good versus evil, courage, and the power of teamwork as the boy, now a mouse, and his grandmother work to thwart the witches' wicked plan. The movie blends elements of fantasy and adventure with notably frightening imagery and intense situations, making it a more intense viewing experience than some other children's adaptations.
Things to Consider
Violence
The film contains significant violence, including threats and acts of harm towards children, physical confrontations, and magical transformations with disturbing visuals. Themes of death and peril are present throughout the narrative.
A witch is depicted crushing a cartoon image of a child with a stiletto heel. The Grand High Witch violently smashes a rostrum by bashing her head into it and throws it, cackling about her plan to destroy all children. Children are magically transformed into mice, a process shown with unsettling visuals of shaking, purple smoke, and disappearing heads. A witch uses laser powers from her claws to disintegrate another witch. Hero Boy's parents are killed in a car crash, with a scene showing him upside down in the wreckage. Grandma recounts how her childhood friend, Alice, was transformed into a chicken by a witch, a frightening image involving lumps appearing on her face.
Witchcraft & Occult
Witchcraft and occult themes are central and pervasive, depicting evil witches actively using dark magic, potions, and demonic appearances to harm children. The film also introduces elements of folk magic or voodoo associated with the protagonist's grandmother.
Scary & Intense Content
The film is noted for its frightening imagery, intense sequences, and overall dark tone, making it potentially disturbing for younger audiences. The appearances of the witches and the transformations are particularly unsettling.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
This film is recommended for children aged 10 and older with strong parental guidance due to its intense scary imagery, supernatural themes, and violence targeted at children. Younger or more sensitive viewers may find the witches' appearances and the child-to-mouse transformations highly disturbing and potentially traumatic.
Good to Know
Parents should be aware that while this is a Roald Dahl adaptation, the 2020 film is noted for its darker, more horror-like tone and visually unsettling special effects, particularly concerning the witches' appearances and the child-to-mouse transformations. Discussions around disability are also relevant, as the film's portrayal of witches' physical differences (e.g., clawed hands, toeless feet) drew criticism for potentially contributing to negative stereotypes. The film's ending may also be a point of discussion, as it largely aligns with the original book's conclusion where the children remain mice.
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