When Andrew Fleming’s version of The Craft hit the big screen in 1996, it was readily embraced by a generation that found something very empowering in its tale of fighting back against those who seek to dim your light. This supernatural horror flick was unflinching as our coven of witches pushed the boundaries of their powers to their extremes – they also had to deal with the fallout of those actions. The film was an unexpected success at the box office, and its reputation as a cult classic has only continued to grow over time. Nearly 25 years later, the beloved property has received a follow-up from writer-director Zoe Lister-Jones in conjunction with Blumhouse. This project marks a notable step up for Jones, who made her directorial debut with the delightful indie dramedy Band-Aid. The reverence for the original film is present in the DNA of the new one, but this story has been adapted to fit more comfortably in modern times. The result is an uneven film that offers less thrills this time around, but intrigues in other ways by establishing its own identity.
It will save everyone some time if we address aspects of the film that may trigger certain individuals: If you are the type of person who is just itching to share your thoughts on how movies are too “woke” these days or think that diversity in film is performative propaganda, please find your way to other reviews on this site. This movie is not for you.
The Craft: Legacy is a film that reflects the world that we are living in today – starting with our new coven of witches. Frankie (Gideon Adlon, Blockers), Tabby (Lovie Simone, Selah and the Spades), and Lourdes (Zoey Luna) are a coven of three in desperate need of a fourth to unlock their powers. Enter new girl Lily (Cailee Spaeny, On the Basis of Sex), a shy outsider who has recently arrived to town with her mom Helen (Michelle Monaghan) to move in with Helen’s new boyfriend Adam (David Duchovny) and his three teenage sons. The mother-daughter relationship between these two is one of the early highlights of the film, as the awkwardness of the new living situation feels less strained due to their bond. Adam is a self-help speaker who would be considered nightmare fuel to anyone who has a nuanced take on masculinity. His speaking engagements encourage the preservation of toxic masculinity, and his demeanor at home has elements of that when his goofy-dad facade begins to splinter.
On her first day at school, Lily suffers a painfully embarrassing incident that makes her an easy target for cruel bullies. Respite only comes in the form of our three witches, who show her kindness even before they begin to pick up on her potential abilities. When those powers begin to manifest, a surprise to Lily as much as anyone, her new friends are thrilled to welcome her into the coven and give her the lowdown on being a witch. These early scenes of the girls coming into their own are the best of the movie. The dialogue can come across as unnatural at times, but this may just go towards highlighting the youthful exuberance pulsing through them as they discover more and more about themselves. One of the biggest issues with the new film is the lack of growth that was so important in the original. Our new batch of witches never really push their powers too far, and consequently they do not seem to learn much by the end of the film. Jones makes up for this somewhat by portraying the coven as a stronger, supportive unit more interested in lifting each other up and projecting good into the world.
This mixed with the way in which the group deals with the school bully verges on “lesson teaching” territory, which makes this entry feel a bit too light for fans of the original. The film is one that functions more as a playful teen coming-of-age film than anything with any bite. It is easy to get wrapped up in the excitement that the coven is experiencing with their new powers and deepening friendship, but even this stumbles somewhat by a lack of development for any of the witches who are not Lily. The original film gave you something about each character to connect to emotionally, but most of the new coven is very surface level in its characterization. The film leaves you on a high that firmly establishes this as a true sequel to the original film while setting up the possibility of further continuing the story. If this were to happen, It would be great to see the rest of the coven more fleshed out. The Craft: Legacy never really makes a case for being an essential entry into the franchise, but engaging performances from the young cast and the avoidance of being a carbon copy of the original keeps this one entertaining overall – flaws and all.
Video Quality
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings The Craft: Legacy to Blu-Ray with a really wonderful 1080p video presentation in 2.39:1. The image is clean with the bright color palette popping off the screen. The film employs nice splashes of bold colors within the production design and in the auras created by digital effects, which makes for a very striking image. The black levels are appropriately deep and inky with no discernible digital noise. The flesh tones are natural with a magnificent amount of detail present in close-ups, especially. The presentation provides a significant amount of depth on display, especially in the interior shots. The production design of the school and various houses, along with the fabrics of clothing, provide crystal clear textural details. This is as solid of a presentation as any modern movie should provide on Blu-Ray.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a great DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that recreates this magical setting perfectly. Dialogue is the driving force of the film, and it always comes through crisp and clear without being clipped by any competing sounds. There is not too much in the way of action sequences, but the environmental sounds of the world engage the surround speakers in a really pleasing way. Ambient sounds are precisely placed in the rear channels. The music in the film fills the speakers in a wonderful, well-balanced way. The thrilling finale engages the low end in a really pleasing and powerful manner. The audio track is not a barn burner in any particular regard, but it nonetheless proves to be an excellent sounding presentation for this feature.
Special Features
- Franchise Legacy: A nearly three-minute look at the impact the first film had on culture and individuals in the cast and crew. The participants also discuss how this new film fits into that legacy and touches on themes relevant to modern times.
- Powerful Story, Magical Director: A three-minute featurette in which the cast and crew take you through the general setup of the story. This piece also shows the amazing talent that is Zoe Lister-Jones and how she brought this new story to life.
- Extended & Alternate Scenes: Nearly twelve minutes of unused footage with an introduction from Writer and Director Zoe Lister-Jones. In these four scenes we see Lourdes’ grandmother who was not seen in the final movie, an extended “witchual” and more. There are some good character moments in here worth checking out if you liked the movie.
Final Thoughts
The Craft: Legacy is a very different animal than the original film, in good ways and in bad. The film struggles with a seemingly perfunctory third act, but offers up a fair amount of joy during the discovery phase of their powers. If you enter into the story knowing that it is not trying to recreate the edginess of the original, you will probably have a better time with this tale of positivity and friendship that skewers issues of misogyny. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has delivered a Blu-Ray with an excellent A/V presentation and a couple of special features.
The Craft: Legacy is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
