Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6884 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-12-04
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Collector's Edition, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Turkish
• Dubbed in: French, German
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 97 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
If Buffy the Vampire Slayer represents the lighter side of high school as a macabre experience, here's a movie that asks the burning question, "What happens when angst-ridden teenagers develop supernatural powers?" More to the point, how do four outcast teenaged witches handle their ability to cast wicked spells on the taunting classmates who've nicknamed them "The Bitches of Eastwick"? The answer, of course, is "don't get mad, get even." That's about all there is to this terminally silly movie, which makes up for its ludicrous plot by letting its young female cast have a field day as they indulge their dark fantasies. Fairuza Balk is enjoyable as the most wicked of the witches, and is therefore the focus of the film's most dazzling special effects. But it's Neve Campbell from television's Party of Five who made The Craft a modest box-office hit, just before she became her generation's fright-movie favourite in Scream and its popular sequel. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon.com
If Buffy the Vampire Slayer represents the lighter side of high school as a macabre experience, here's a movie that asks the burning question, "What happens when angst-ridden teenagers develop supernatural powers?" More to the point, how do four outcast teenaged witches handle their ability to cast wicked spells on the taunting classmates who've nicknamed them "The Bitches of Eastwick"? The answer, of course, is "don't get mad, get even." That's about all there is to this terminally silly movie, which makes up for its ludicrous plot by letting its young female cast have a field day as they indulge their dark fantasies. Fairuza Balk is enjoyable as the most wicked of the witches, and is therefore the focus of the film's most dazzling special effects. But it's Neve Campbell from television's Party of Five who made this film a modest box-office hit, just before she became her generation's fright-movie favorite in Scream and its popular sequel. --Jeff Shannon

Amazon.com
If Buffy the Vampire Slayer represents the lighter side of high school as a macabre experience, here's a movie that asks the burning question, "What happens when angst-ridden teenagers develop supernatural powers?" More to the point, how do four outcast teenaged witches handle their ability to cast wicked spells on the taunting classmates who've nicknamed them "The Bitches of Eastwick"? The answer, of course, is "don't get mad, get even." That's about all there is to this terminally silly movie, which makes up for its ludicrous plot by letting its young female cast have a field day as they indulge their dark fantasies. Fairuza Balk is enjoyable as the most wicked of the witches, and is therefore the focus of the film's most dazzling special effects. But it's Neve Campbell from television's Party of Five who made this film a modest box-office hit, just before she became her generation's fright-movie favorite in Scream and its popular sequel. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Spellbinding!
The best thing about this film is Fairuza Balk; she's a brilliant actress with a penchant for crazy bitch roles (see American History X for her as a diminuitive psycho Neo-Nazi) and as far removed from the plastic Hollywood blonde as you could wish! Her manic performance easily steals the show, but her co-stars put up a fairly good fight, particularly Robin Tunney as the quiet, but intense Sarah (the film's heroine, to be sure).

Three schoolgirls (Neve Campbell, Balk,Rachel True)are the resident campus weirdos who dabble in witchcraft. Along comes Sarah with the ability for the craft to make up the 4th corner of the witches' circle. All goes swimmingly as they plot revenge spells against their classmates forgetting the lesson of Karma. Classmates get just desserts but lo and behold, the witches find that in the process they too begin to suffer. Nancy (Balk) decides to cast the daddy of all spells, turns into the barmy army and all hell breaks loose. You still with me? Can Sarah fight off Nancy's assault, can the natural balance be restored? Hmm, for those answers, you'll have to watch!

This film is like catnip for disenfranchised teens, but it's pretty entertaining viewing for those who just enjoy a supernatural thrill. The Craft is no deep and meaningful journey and there's no mystical/religious semiplot (like Stigmata for example) to complicate the popcorn value. Plus there is a nice patchouli scented soundtrack featuring, for starters, How Soon Is Now, which seems to crop up in every spooky film/tv series going!

This is recommended dark, lonely night viewing!

Quick Reviews!
Some reviewers seem to have the wrong idea about this film. It is cleary not supposed to be scary, not in the traditional sense anyway and nor is it supposed to be another high school comedy. The nineties brought a resurgence of teen horror and comedy movies onto our screen, 90% of which are awful, but this one was different. The Craft refuses to be labeled as horror or comedy although it has strong elements of both, and it is more akin to Heathers than any other recent film. The humour is dark, biting, hitting at modern teen society, while the horror is psychological, dealing with transformation, our deepest personal fears, exposure of our secrets, and the the question of whether we can truly know or trust our friends and peers.

Campbell is as gorgeous as always, her performance is strongg and convincing, showing a different side to her Party Of Five role. Balk is superb, taking her character by the teeth and plays with devilish relish. The rest of the cast is respectable, and both the script and effects are sharp, giving the movie a darker tone than any of its contemporaries. The clichés are there, with the outsider becoming the hero, but the result is never boring or predictable. Forget your knowledge of magic if you have any, and any preconceptions about teen movies, because this one is cool, dark, entertaining stuff.

The DVD has a few good extras, a short documentary being worthwhile. This can usually be picked up for less than a fiver, so snap it up.

A true to life portrayal of witches, genius.
Some, who have not already veiwed this movie, may think it is the typical portrayal of witches, broomsticks, hats, cauldrons etc. Until now it seemed it was beyond film makers to include REAL witches in their movies, however "The Craft" couldn't be closer to the truth.
It tells the tale of four messed up teenages who turn their hand to witchcraft, to try and solve all their problems. When Sarah "Robin Tunney" arrives at the girl's school the three witches, Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Bonnie (Neve Campbell) and Rochelle (Rachael True), just know she is the fourth witch to complete the circle, Earth, Air, Fire and Water...
This film is a real gem, not only is it great for people new to witchcraft it also hosts a terrific, believable cast who make the movie seem real. The effects are not over the top but are still fantastic. This film is not to be missed and especialy not on DVD, with two cut scenes, a behind the scenes featurette and scene selections "The Craft" just gets better!