The Craft is by far one of my absolute favorite cult classics. I know it word for word, and scene by scene. I love watching it.
Released on May 3, 1996 (yay anniversary!), and directed by Andrew Fleming, the film centers on a teenage girl with telekinetic powers named Sarah (Robin Tunney). After moving to Los Angeles with her dad and his new wife, she becomes friends with a trio of girls; Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Bonnie (Neve Campbell), and Rochelle (Rachel True) who happen to be witches in need of a fourth member.
There is so much more to this film than witch craft though.
At the heart of the film, it deals with wanting to feel included. Sarah is an outcast, so when she meets Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle, she feels like she has finally found friends.
That sisterhood bond and the feeling of inclusion, especially for teenage girls, is so important. Because all four girls have something in common, they become friends.
The film also focuses on some pretty dark, but very real issues as well.
It deals with things such as attempted suicide, bullying, racism, and sexual assault. All of these problems are things many teens are still facing today.
The Craft is such a timeless film and that’s why, in my humble opinion, a reboot is unnecessary.
Deadline, however, reports that Columbia Pictures and Blumhouse have a reboot of The Craft in the works. Zoe Lister-Jones is set to write and direct the film.
Now, I know some fans of the original film are excited for this, but I’m not.
The Craft is one of those films that, in my opinion, does not need to be touched. We don’t need remakes of every film. Quite frankly, I think doing reboots are lazy film-making. I mean, does no one have an original idea anymore? Not even one?
Plus, the thing with reboots is they can either turn out really well, or go horribly wrong.There’s been no middle ground.
At this time it is not confirmed if the original cast will be involved.
According to Digitalspy.com Robin Tunney, who played the lead role of Sarah, has stated she would reprise her role “If it was something where I felt like they were going to do it well.”
Please let this be so! I just wouldn’t feel the same otherwise. Even still, I am a firm believer in the adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The only saving grace is producer Douglas Wick, and Lucy Fisher of Red Wagon entertainment. They were both producers of the original.
In a 2016 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Douglas stated the film would “not be a remake, and would pick up 20 years later.”
During the interview, he also stated “There will be callbacks to the original movie, so you will see there is a connection between what happened in the days of The Craft, and how these young women come across this magic many years later.”
Obviously, because that was back in 2016, things could have changed.
There is no telling at this point which direction the film will go. Hopefully, they all work together with Zoe in maintaining what made The Craft so special.
I have never seen any of Zoe’s work, so I don’t know how she will handle The Craft. I hope she loves the film as much as we all do, and does it justice.
I’m going to try my hardest to keep an open mind.
What are your thoughts on this reboot?