Image via Columbia Pictures
When The Hollywood Reporter announced Wednesday that a remake of The Craft, the 90s badass-witch-teen-cult-classic, was in the works, the Internet erupted in anger. It’s a classic! It’s too recent! The casting could never be matched!
It’s true that remakes are seldom necessary, but revisiting The Craft could have a lot to offer to a new generation. Here are a few reasons why:
1. More technology allows for even more evil.
Image via Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
It’s a sad truth that social media has further exacerbated bullying over the past decade. But the evil exacted by Nancy has even more potential in an age of sub-tweets and Snapchats. Besides, it could allow for some Buffy-level tech/magic combos too. (Imagine how Miss Calendar’s techno-paganism could have thrived if she had an iPhone!)
2. This time, it’ll be directed by an up-and-coming female director.
Image via AP Images
Leigh Janiak, who wrote the recent breakthrough horror film “Honeymoon,” will be co-writing and directing the film. Her presence will already be known to horror-loving young people through her direction of a forthcoming episode of MTV’s new Scream adaptation as well. It’ll be awesome to have such a girl-centric film with a woman running the show.
3. The Craft offers undiluted witchy practices.
Image via Columbia Pictures
Everyone has different beliefs in the reality of magic and all that, but you’ve got to admit that The Craft gets closer to the practice of magic than most other witchy films. This is because, as Chrissy Stockton explains in Thought Catalog, “The girls used actual Wiccan rituals. The Craft‘s technical advisor was Pat Devin, a Dianic Elder Priestess. She consulted on the elements used in the movie and modeled them after actual rites.” The actress who played evil coven-leader Nancy, Fairuza Balk, also identifies as a Wiccan, which was a positive impact on the realism of their practical magic.
4. It could be a gateway film for all of the other dark girl-run films that the ‘90s have to offer.
Image via New World Pictures
Although everyone is still going back to watch Mean Girls and Clueless, this could be a gateway into the more underrated 1990s/early 2000s films, from Heathers to Jawbreaker to Sugar and Spice.
5. More witch diversity.
Enough said.
6. Anti-heroines rise again.
Image via Columbia Pictures
Driven by power, this coven’s magic gets out of control and into the realm of evil. Still, this more than anything shows the magic, power, and potential of a group of girls uniting for a shared purpose. Hopefully, viewers will learn the lesson to use this power for good instead.
What do you think about the remake—is the film too good to be tampered with, or could it allow for something even better (or at least just as great)? And whom would you cast as the four iconic teen witches?
