Horrorfest: Character actress Margo Martindale gets hexy!

So it's that time of year where a lot of people gather round their TVs/laptops/phones to watch a movie released in the 90's that starred some acclaimed actresses as witches. It under performed at the box-office, got mostly negative reviews, but has since gained a cult following and is run on TV nonstop this time of year. There are thinkpieces about how the movie isn't really that great, because the first rule of writing a thinkpiece is that you must shit on something everyone is currently liking. That movie is celebrating an anniversary this year, so naturally I chose a rewatch.

That movie is not Hocus Pocus.

That movie is Practical Magic. 

(Though it must be said, there are three 90's witch movies that have become cult classics thanks to women and gay men: those two and The Craft.)

While I do enjoy Hocus Pocus, I'm much more of a fan of the Sandra Bullock-Nicole Kidman comedy/fantasy/romance/thriller/let's-put-every-genre-into-the-cauldron-to-see-what-this-brew-tastes-like. Released 20 years ago in October of 1998, the film follows the Owens' Sisters, who are descended from a Salem witch who believed she was cursed in love. She cast a spell that any woman in her bloodline who falls in love will eventually lose that man. Generations later, Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman), who were raised by their aunts (Stockard Channing and Diane Weist, both having a blast) find themselves unlucky in love as Sally loses her husband, the father of her two daughters (one is played by a young Evan Rachel Wood). Meanwhile, Gillian finds herself the obsession of a Bulgarian (close to Transylvania!) cowboy with a vampire vibe named Jimmy Angelov (Goran Visnjic), whom she has to feed belladonna just to get some shut eye. After Jimmy beats Gillian up, Sally comes to the rescue and the two accidentally kill him. Several times. Reviving him using their witchcraft, he comes back more evil and literally possessive, and the Owens' women have to join forces to destroy him. A detective (Aidan Quinn) shows up to investigate his disappearance and unexpectedly begins falling for Sally. 

Yes, despite all that, this is a "light" comedic fantasy. It shouldn't work, and for most people it didn't. For me, it always did. The tonal shifts are blended well thanks to Griffin Dunne's direction as he takes the supernatural and witchcraft elements seriously. Alan Silverstri's score fits perfectly with the mode, going from whimsical to much darker undertones. The actors help sell the material, with Kidman as the more adventurous and sexy sister. The actress with gorgeous light auburn hair has never looked lovelier. She gets some great 90's fashions in those perfectly circular blue sunglasses that were so ubiquitous back in the day, and both actresses even get some of the lingerie-as-evening-wear looks. Bullock has a bit of a tougher time with her character and she seems to play some of the comedic elements too broad, though she portrays the character's longing quite vividly. Channing and Weist are fun, and many reviews pointed out that the two could've used their own movie. Visnjic makes a perfectly seductive and scary villain. It would've been cool had they made him an all-out vampire rather than just suggested. Late 90's bearded Mark Feuerstein was one of the hottest images ever. 

Filmed in California, the film's setting is a character of its own. It's supposed to be set on a small island off Massachusetts in fall, you can feel the crispness of the air even if the falling leaves are completely green. I also love the shots of the moon to determine the mood of the moment, both romantic and sinister. Steven Nicks on the soundtrack is an appropriate choice, long before American Horror Story tied the singer into its own witchy web. And then there's that gorgeous house! I love that they make it a point that the townsfolk were fascinated by it and wanted to see what it looked like inside despite their hesitation with the family. In further research of the film, apparently the film has some rich fans as the production designer does work in interior design and the kitchen in the film is highly requested. Understandable. 

There was a time in the mid-aughts where I watched this film every October for about 5 to 6 years in a row. I'm happy that the film has a following now. I suspect Practical Magic might play better to today's audiences who are more used to genre blends, sharp tonal changes, and entertainment aimed at women not being so boxed in. (I mean, this movie ends with an exorcism!) As usual, I was ahead of the curve. And that's not just the Midnight Margaritas talking. 

PRACTICAL MAGIC 

(Griffin Dunne, 1998)

GRADE: A-