The 1996 classic The Craft is arguably an occult/witchy masterpiece. From the acting and the costumes to the themes of female friendship, The Craft embodies what it’s like to be a teenage girl. What most people don’t think of when it comes to teen horror flicks of the ’90s is feminism, but to me, The Craft is an excellent example of the ways in which feminism empowers women to do good (or evil). I also found that it had a good representation of depression and mental illness in general. As someone who has struggled intermittently with mental health issues, the portrayal of Sarah’s depression and the aftermath of her suicide attempt felt sympathetic but not pandering. Mental illness in women (and in teens) has historically been underdiagnosed and undertreated, so it was refreshing to see that Sarah’s struggles were explicit to the viewer, and her family, while not the focal point of the film, were truly caring and wanted to support her.
The horror in The Craft is subtle, there are no real jump scares or creepy supernatural beings; what makes it so horrifying is that the terrible things are being done by the girls, or are the result of their actions. Even though Bonnie, Rochelle, and Nancy get revenge on the people who hurt them in various ways and torture Sarah when she tries to check their power, they are relatable. We understand why the girls have come to the conclusions they have and why they use their powers the way they do. They have been hurt by a world that is sexist, abusive, and racist, so when they have the opportunity to make it all stop, albeit in a brutal way, we root for them. When I think of this film, I think of a quote from the iconic Bela Lugosi: “It is women who love horror. Gloat over it. Feed on it. Are nourished by it. Shudder and cling and cry out-and come back for more.” While I don’t love slasher movies and don’t regularly watch horror, I agree with the sentiment that horror is a beloved genre by women. Perhaps it’s due to the notion that there is a real possibility of terrifying things happening in our real lives, so watching horror gives us back some of that control (it also helps if the survivor of the movie is a woman).
Another thing I wanted to touch on was the fashion in The Craft, which, in my opinion, is immaculate. At the beginning of the film, the girls’ outfits aren’t very coordinated; even Bonnie, Rochelle, and Nancy all had very different looks when Sarah arrived at their school. Sarah herself is wearing a neutral, light-colored outfit her first day, signifying a blank slate to be molded. Since the other girls were all wearing darker colors, it could also show how Sarah is good deep down, and it is the other three that attempt to corrupt her. Later on in the film, when Sarah is officially part of the coven, Bonnie’s scars are gone, and Nancy is rich, their outfits are more cohesive and frankly badass as hell; they fit into the grunge style of the era without sacrificing their individuality (the suspenders and skirt combo they put on Rachel True is immaculate). At the end of the film, their outfits are softer, have more color, and are not cohesive, matching the separation of the coven. I could go on, but basically, I would love to raid the costume vault for this movie.
The Craft, which turns 25 this year, has held up as being one of the most powerful films for young women. When surrounded by coming-of-age, ugly duckling transformation flicks (which are significant in their own right) this no-nonsense supernatural horror must have felt like a breath of fresh air for many. It certainly did for me, and I only watched it for the first time a couple of months ago. In a time where women, especially women of color and members of the LGBT+ community, are still struggling to find equal footing, The Craft is just as relevant and just as important a watch as ever before. So if you haven’t seen this classic piece of cinema before, or just want some spooky comfort, add this to your watchlist.
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