Halloween countdown: Top 7 witch movies
By Rachel Roth
5. Practical Magic
This isn’t exactly horror or Halloweenie but it has witches and includes a scene set during Halloween and that’s enough for me. Based on the book by Alice Hoffman (incredibly different from the movie), Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star in what’s basically a Lifetime movie inside a supernatural ghost story about two witch sisters descendent from a cursed bloodline.
They have their fair share of issues, people that treat them like serial killers, housewives that throw passive-aggressive insults at them, abusive boyfriends, and dead husbands. But underneath all that drama, Practical Magic is a love story between two sisters, their love being the spine of the story.
One thing I liked about this movie was the way it portrayed magic, like something you have to really work at. A craft constructed like a science equation. To do a spell, they have to set aside a few good hours just for preparation work, it’s almost like cooking a Creme Brule. Instead of love potions or deadly poisons though, these witches mix together margaritas and sleeping droughts.
Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, getting just 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, it developed a strong fan base and a minor cult following. A TV series prequel is currently in development at HBO.