Friday, 4 April 2014

Kool Kid Witches from the 90s

The Craft (1996)

Finding this film was like finding the last of your favorite sweet in a bag of pick and mix. Thinking that I had come across all half-decent teen movies, I was surprised by my find of The Craft. This mysterious film introduces witchy tension and excitement right from the very beginning - strange occurrences are unveiled on screen in the grungy light of 1990s cinema drenched in Californian haze...

Then we enter High School - the arena where anything is possible - and this time it is witchcraft. Walking down river gorge like corridor, where the lockers are the cliffs, the new girl from a different part of America tentatively walks down shielding her chest with schoolbooks. It is a common scene however the characters we next meet aren't; Bonnie, Nancy and Rochelle and the word circulates - they are witches! Requiring a fourth member to complete their 'compass'.

Bikini Kill - loving the platinum blonde hair
Describing them as a little strange and eccentric is an understatement. Bonnie jaunts around - swaying brown hair in middle parting, exuding a totally uncaring attitude, Rochelle, who is more sprightly and lighter in her fashion choices - she actually wears colour, finally Nancy the lead singer in this riot-grrrl formation dons a Cruella de Ville-esque contrast of ivory hair and a ghostly white complexion. The individuality of feminist bands like Bikini Kill & Bratmobile are replicated in coolness of this coven.
Lilly Moscovitz from Princess Diaries 

Fashion wise, I am most inspired by Rochelle seeing as we are like twins so I got very excited when a mixed-heritage girl is one of the main characters. Her hair is real versatile and so she successfully pulls off the 90s style of random hairband and dungarees!

"whispered... the secret section
This film is the kind of film you want to be kept secret - and not fall prey to the nostalgic and hyped trends of Clueless, whereby in the end it is just not so special anymore... but The Craft just too good for me not to write about it ;)"

Romance is not portrayed as obviously as other films; it includes suppressed cravings for attention from the opposite gender to magic induced devotion with undercurrent of vengeance.
The story is equally strange however, enticing as you wonder how their naivety affects their use of magic and their strive for revenge - and there are some disastrous consequences. Selfish teenage desires of perfection and fairness distort their morals and power becomes uncontrollable, demonstrated by the crazily escalated ending which is so bizarre but at least makes it stand out from the formulaic films of Hollywood.

****

Now is the time. This is the hour. Ours is the magic. Ours is the power. Now is the time. This is the hour. Ours is the magic. Ours is the power

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