In answer to you question "What did you think of the movie 'The Craft'" Well My husband and I talked quite a little bit about that very same subject right after we saw the movie. We both disliked it very very much. Not only for the incorrect portrayal of our religion, not only for the hundreds of teens who most likly will flock to the idea of being a "Witch" and being trendy, We belive it will cause alot of harm. In the movie they said "Blessed Be". fine. *But* many (including myself) people have bummper stickers that have that very same saying on them. hmmmm What do you think people who are very much uninformed and against any religion that is not the "Norm" will do to us? We had our car window shot out 3 weeks after the release of this movie. Was it connected? I dont know. But it does make me wonder. They did not touch on any facet of the Goddess, the three fold law? What a joke. The heroine showed "Her Power" at the end when the other two came back, by almost hiting them with a tree limb! Just so they knew that she still had her powers and they better not MESS with her. Oh yes that shows restraint and is completely in line with 'an it harm none'.. *NOT!!* So many people think that what a movie says or does is the truth! How many times have we heard of some idiot doing what they saw in a movie? Lying in the street to prove manhood, killing a sub-way station atendant.. all because they saw it on the Silver Screen.. This is scary to us. How many people will look at that movie and find reason in it to harm others who may or may not be witches? I may be over-reacting, but one person hurt or killed because of this movie and what it may lead people to think and then they act on it is one to many! Sorry this is soooooooo long. Had to vent! :)
Never agian the Burning Times
Kattala
Earth Elements

found the movie enjoyable. Although it wasn't completely accurate it WAS a start. We can't shove Wicca up peoples asses. It would defeat the point. We want to be understood so we must go slowly and that is what The Craft did. It had the Threefold Law and included the fact that Wiccans are neithor Light NOR Dark. We're a kind of glow coming from the shadows. I saw this movie with my Mother, my best friend,& her Mother. The dark side is the misconseptions of teens everywhere. That night my friend wanted me to teach her Wicca. She had showed an interest before this so i did not decline completely instead i keep impressing *AN IT HARM NONE(!) DO AS THOU WILT*. She has showed less enthrall with spellcasting ,but agenuine love of the Lady is surfacing. So think of all this misguided teens as student hopefuls. Don't crash down what they think the Craft is in a single sweep, try and replace it with the truth.
All in all the movie was good.
Blessed Be Friends, Bob

I have to agree with almost all of the comments I have read. I believe the movie has great entertainment value, but it misleads people about our craft. None of the girls can really be labeled "good". Not even Sarah, the supposed goodie-goodie. About half way into the film she shows regret about what she has done to that poor guy. Whether that is because she felt sorry for him or because he got annoying I was never sure. On top of this, at the end she becomes vengeful and even kind of gets to hating Nancy. This is understandable, she is a complete something-or-other throughout the whole movie.
On the other hand, it does well demonstrate some of the typical human archetypes; greed, egotism, vengeance etc..
Mike

I found the movie The Craft to be a shuddering portrayal. The accuracies were impressive, coming from Hollywood, and I could appreciate them. The girls, however, I had a real problem with.
As always, the movie exaggerated and aggrandized to a certain extent, but that was to be expected. There was no heroine in the movie. Everyone was either power-drunk, self-serving, or simply disegarding the ramifications of their actions. Sarah, the theoretically "good" girl, used her power frivilously and without initial consideration of its manipulative effects. Admittedly, she had little awareness as to these things, but all the more reason to exercize caution. Although she was concerned about the pain she was causing Chris somewhere around mid-movie, by the end I had some problems with the concept of her as the positive girl. The most accurate portrayal, to my mind, was the shopkeeper.
I cannot conceive of this movie bringing someone into pagan studies for positive reasons. In its portrayal of the consequences of directly negative actions, it seems to attempt to frighten people into caution. I think that the reasons for the care that should be taken within witchcraft are not correctly impressed by this movie. I also think that, unless one's chosen role model from the movie is the shopkeeper, someone entering the craft inspired by The Craft has much to learn contrary to their impressions of our beliefs.
Whatever your own opinions, Blessed Be!
Ananda

I can honestly say from a teenage stand point I thought the movie was pretty good. I wnt on my birthday to see it with friends. Even they likd the movie. Everyone involved thought knew that a lot of the things portrayed in the movie was garbage. I thought the movie which was supposed to be a way of getting wicca into the spotlight and inform bombed in that aspect. The movie is good but purely for entertainment values.
Rebecca Campbell

When I saw the Craft I was disappointed and relieved at the same time. I manage a Wiccan-Pagan-New Age bookstore in VA, and was concerned that the movie would cause me trouble. On the contary, the movie gave me a chance to seriously talk to some kids that were at least mildly intrested in wicca and explain where the movie went astray. As for the movie itself...the love spell portraied very accuratly what will happen if you try one (the girl was almost raped!!). And the hair deal was good that if the blound did nothing, nothing happened to her. I was also disappointed at the way the shopkeeper was portraied. She should have refused to sell the invocation book if she thought the girls weren't ready for it. I do refuse to sell books to clients if I think they might be getting in over their heads. Guess that's all,
Blessed Be!
Star Spirit

The movie was interesting. It was very powerful for Wiccans, however very 'fueling' for the christian fire ! I guess that it is always a positive act to question your own motives and intentions....constantly !
Mino of Outer Gate

I went 2 times to see this film. The first time alone the second time with my best friend who is also pagan. True the film did do a good job of showing how the Law of 3 works, but....
I frankly thought that since they boasted so much about having a wiccan advising them and all that the portrayal of wicca in the movie would have been better. Unfortunately I think their claims only hurt us all in the true craft more. This movie (yes it was JUST a movie) could easily be used as Fundamentalist propaganda against us all. Maybe I can draw a line on reality but many can't when it comes to their fight to discredit others belifes and practices. And having such an advisor on this piece of CRAP sure doesnt support us much now does it.. Think about it. which is more important a couple of small hidden lessons or someone thinking this film is based on the reality of witchcraft.
Blessed be..
Bran Silverleaf

I really like the movie. Yes, the fact and religion were over played. That is to be expected from Hollywood. They even played up the movie Prophecy. The Christains almost had a heart attack when they saw the Devil helped the good guy "win". For the first time in a long time Hollywood showed there is a good side to the Way. That not all witch's are evil. They put across the message that good, even if different than the Christain way, is out there in many froms. We all know they could have really butchered us out there with this movie. I ,for one, am very glad they did the movie! Wolfgan Sparrowhawk

I saw the movie because I like the actress Fairuza Balk, whom I thought did a fantastic job in her role, not because I expected the movie to be realistic. In fact, just the opposite. And the movie turned out to be entertaining Hollywood fare.
My main problem with the movie was that it was 90% what _not_ to do, without much positive direction. There was a marvelous opportunity to use the shopkeeper to show more learning, history, and ritual preparation, but she was not really utilized. Sure, the ill-thought-out spells backfired in the end, but I think some of the more impressionable viewers might focus on the fact that they worked really well at first. I just hope people don't turn to the Craft seeking quickie solutions to problems without trying to work them out by conventional means. You use a spell as an enhancement for your work toward a goal, not as a replacement for it.
Lisa

I saw "The Craft" yesterday, and I was kind of disappointed. I'm not wiccan, but I'm studying it. I thought it was ok with the effects and stuff, but the portrayal was awful because it showed the witch's to be 'bad'. But other than that, I thought it was a pretty good movie.
Tiffany

Lighten up people.. I liked the movie and I'm quite devoted to real Wicca.. of Course it's not an accurate portrayal of us, for God/dess' sake, it was listed as a thriller! Do you honestly expect a thriller to accurately portray anything, when the movie type itself implies distortion, exaggeration and general sensationalism? It was a fun movie though, and had an implied lesson of using power responsibly, which I much appreciated.
Blessed Be
John Collins

I saw the movie and was very disappointed!!! I had heard, before the movie was released, that a wiccan was helping on the set. I was so impressed that "Hollywood" would make such an effort to portray Wicca in its' true form.I should have known better. If I were not wiccan myself,I'd say it was an enjoyable movie, aside from the fact it was not accurate.It's just a shame the real thing couldn't have been shown to the audience...especially teens.I've noticed that in the bookstore that I work in,the number of teens purchasing books on wicca, has highly increased. On a possitive note; At least the books they're buying will teach them about the REAL beliefs we follow.
Blessed Be!!!!!!!
K.Deanna

As someone who is just looking into Wicca and finding it to be beliefs I have held without knowing how they fit together, I saw The Craft. It was an excellent movie. It did nothing to sway me in either direction, for or aginst Wicca. But then I enjoyed Hocus Pocus too. Hollywood does not fit into my view of reality, which I hold firmly, so The Craft did not scare me off, nor did it make me want to find some empty headed teenagers to hang out with and chant, or wear black. It's a shame people allow the media to warp their perspective.
Linda

Well, the only way I'd really known about the movie was a promo on TV about a day before the movie hit the theaters.
I honestly didn't think it would even be shown in my town (I lived in Bullhead City, Az, across the Colorado river from Laughlin, Nv).
However, a friend asked my husband if he'd want to go see the movie, and I told him I didn't think he should, since it looked like a movie that just did more damage to the reputation of Witchcraft. He decided to go to see for himself, and at the last minute I decided to also.
I was really surprised at the use of real witchcraft ideas in the movie, and had a bit of hope for it. I was really interested in the character of the shop owner. I hoped she would be shown more, but was dissapointed. The end was cheesy and I didn't like it at all.
I guess it was OK, it had some interesting parts (butterflies in the field, and the funny scene with a clip from "Bewitched", the ritual room in the shop), but I wouldn't recommend it to families of witches/wiccans who are trying to understand the religion.
It was closer to the real ideas of Witchcraft than most of the recent movies involving witches have been though. (i.e. "Witches", "Hocus Pocus")
Perhaps the next movie will be better.
Mafdet Wind Dancer

I think the movie The Craft was a great movie in the terms of the special effects and the photography. What I did not like was the fact that it showed witches to be thieves. The writer tried to redeem himself by show that not all witches are thieves, but he did not go far enough. I sat through the entire movie saying to myself "I wish I could do that" and " Yeah, Right"..
I will say however, that if nothing else, if the mundane populace that say the movie believes ever half of it, it will scare the hell out of them.
Nivash@juno.com

I thought the craft was extremly excellent. I don't know much about witches and I am not intrested in them. I figured out that the world is full of phoneys, but that is only my opinion. The movie itself had great effects expecially when the girl who invoked the evil spirt started walking on water. My friend claims to practice "WICCAN", and she agreed with most, she said witches do not call on to such evil, they are there to promote good. Well she lost me there, and all I've got to say. I liked the movie, even if the other people do not agree.
Nikki

Greetings All!!!
I was enjoying reading everyone's comments about the movie "The Craft" and having recently watched it I'd like to put in my two cents. I enjoyed it as a movie-not an instruction manual. My only complaint is that the girls joined together in sisterhood then ended up trying to kill each other!! And yes, the leader did look a little freaky but the point is they were all outcasts and were united.
But of course the powers that be in Hollywood could not a group of powerful young women fixing what's wrong in their lives (and others')And if I'd been the black witch, I wouldn't have made blondie's hair fall out-first I would slapped her then I would cast a spell that made her African American then sent her back in time as a slave.
Anyway, Hollywood's not ready for a film about realwitches but this one served as an entertaining bit of fluff.
Blessed be!
Sharon

One thing I don't think has been touched upon in most of the reviews I've read here is the fact that these girls picked up a "toy" to play with, and although they did have an opportunity to ask someone questions, someone who really plied the Craft, they chose not to, because they were young, outcasts, and at the age where they felt they already knew it all. They figured any books they picked up would be right and true and tell them just what they NEEDED to know. This was not the case. They picked books that told them what they WANTED to know, which is completely different.
So you have these girls, frustrated already because they are outcasts, unaccepted, thinking Wicca is real neat because it gives them power that they don't feel they have in their lives otherwise (sometimes being a teenager means feeling completely helpless and at the mercy of parents, society, peers, teachers, and anyone else who notices you!). They are so enchanted with the idea of personal power, and so dead set against asking about the rules or guidelines, or perhaps they even skip over those (boring) parts of the books they bought. Now you have teenaged girls, already feeling like weirdos, "Hey, might as well be, if everyone thinks I am one," and another girl who has honed her concentration enough to be good at simple tricks already, which they want, covet, envy, etc.
Aready, you have the basis of a good story, following the basic tenets of Wicca, such as personal power and the ability to make things happen. Then you take Hollywood exaggeration, for the "god," for the "incidents," for the glamours and spells, mix with a touch of realistic spell or circle work, and Voila! you have a witch flick that will bring power-hungry teens to watch in droves. It also paints the Craft a bit negatively, in the exaggeration, but actually pretty positively, if you listen to the proprietress of the occult store and learn the rule of three, which is also presented. The truth is there, more than just a kernel, but buried under the sensationalism.
Since American audiences are geared for the melodrama, and since the two teachers (mother and shopkeeper) in the movie have very subtle, quiet parts, they go almost(!) unnoticed, but they are there! That is a major triumph for Hollywood and Wicca, I think, to have some good Wiccans trying to shed some Light on the subject, but knowing that the girls have to work out their own Karma themselves. They have their own lessons to learn! Well, just my thoughts.
Blessed Be! Moonchilde

In my opinion, the movie, "The Craft" made witchcraft out to be a trendy little game to play on the weekends with the other girls from school, and something fun to do to manipulate things to get your own way. It is sad to think that this day and age that people still have such ignorant veiws on Witchcraft. Although the movie held some truth, it was twisted in context. Because of this movie, I forsee thousands of teenagers jumping on the broomstick to become a witch, not understanding that it is a religion and not a fun game like "spin the bottle". Unfortunately for me, I went with my mother to see the film. She held the craft in very little regard after this.

I also disagreed with the portrayal of these young witches... with all that crazy lipstick and eyemakeup. They looked like they belonged in The Rocky Horror Picture Show! (Which, I might add, I DID love!!) -- Blessed Be, -- Morgan

I thought that the girl who wanted to get rid of her scars was the ONLY one who was casting an 'appropriate' spell. (self-improvement) The threefold 'apparition' in the mirror was innappropriate, in my mind.

The love/like spell by the protaganist, was treading on 'an ye harm none', since it was twisting the will of the boy, The anit-racist spell was, too, but I don't think the Goddess would choose something like the hair falling out, since it was not ASKED. I believe that casting a spell is not akin to "Dealing with the Devil", I believe you get what you ask, with no (twisted) strings attached.

I liken this movie's relationship to reality, like WarGames' computer relationship to reality. Some things could fly, but FICTION none the less.
-- Roy

Well, it wasn't 100% accurate, but I enjoyed it for it's entertainment value. I went to see it twice in the same week. I'm still learning about the religion, but even I noticed flaws in the movie. I think that anyone who had seen the movie, and didn't know much about witchcraft, may have a distorted view that witches are evil. I did a thesis paper in my freshman english class in college about how many people viewed witchcraft as evil. -- Ron White

I enjoyed "The Craft" very much. Even though I disagree with some points of the movie, it was very well made. I'm glad that Hollywood is starting to make more realistic witch movies. -- Nikky

I percieved the movie to be semi-accurate of the Wiccan religion. They did discuss balance, and the three-fold law. They also showed that when you screw with the bad side of magick you can get seriously bitten back. It had great special effects, though. I think the un-fair portrayals were: the change-your-appearance-with-a-glamour-spell scene, the levitating scenes, the fact that the balance was only one God who was both good and evil (what about male and *female*?), and the fact that it tried to say most witches are wierdos. However the portrayal of how they used magick to begin with in the movie was pointing out the wrong way to do things to me (like when they show how NOT to dress in women's magazines). It showed the viewer that a love-spell causes the person on the recieving end of the spell can become obsessed with the caster, it showed how vain the girl who made her scars disappear was, and how power used for evil and greed controls the seeker of this power. I almost enjoyed what the African-American witch did to the popular blonde racist (made her hair fall-out), in a comical sense. Seriously though, there was a few good points to the movie, and it is probably worth seeing, if you have *nothing* else to do! *grin* Although it isn't totally accurate, it does have some similarities to the real thing, but it is by no means 100% accurate. Then again, name me a movie made in tinsel town that *IS* 100% to the core accurate! (look at what they did in "The Last Temptation of Christ", not accurate, and Cristianity is a "mainstream" religion! If they can't do that accurate, I don't know how they could accurately portray us Witches!) - SilverStorm

I generally liked the movie; altho I thought it got a bit silly and too much dependent on special effects at the end. However it was better than I had expected it to be. What concerned me was that it could give the impression that witches would use powers for evil. Now some probably do that, but if this was someone's first experience with anything like witchcraft it would give an unbalanced view I think. -- Jane

In answer to your question of whether this movie is true to the Wiccan religion, the answer is No. 95% of the movie is NOT based on real Witchcraft. I saw the movie and I thought it was great. =) Many Wiccans were very angry about the movie because they felt it was a negative and unrealistic portrayl of their religion. For instance, real witch's do not change their hair and eye color by using a glamour spell. (g) They also do not levitate. It's a really good movie (In my opinion), but it's important to keep in mind that it is not a representation of real Witchcraft.

You might be interested in finding out more about real Witchcraft. If you are, you might want to read Drawing Down the Moon, The Spiral Dance, To Ride a Silver Broomstick, The Complete Book of Witchcraft or Living Wicca. All of them are good books and very informative about the practices and philosophies of Witch's today. -- Moon Chyld

The movie "The Craft" was a funny,semi-accurate movie. The only problem is that after the one friend at school who knew that I was a witch, and used to join me (she was a witch), quit witchcraft and wouldn't let me near her! The African-American witch used the spell to make the blond-racist's hair fall out, and now my friend won't let me touch her hair! I explained how witches DON'T do evil, and she loosened up, but this movie is the kind of movie that scares kids and their parents! I think, over-all, that this movie should be seen ONLY for fun ---- not if you're looking for a good, serious, 100% accurate movie.
Blessed be,
Ryallkana

As a movie it was OK but it could give people the wrong impression about real Witchcraft --- Christy

The first thing that I Loved about the movie is that it showed a lot of the negitive aspects of effects of Messing with something that you do not know enough about. The scene where the "Crazy" draws down the power of Meno (sp) and it just drives her off of the edge of sanity. Well that is true, 100 %. the Old saying goes "If you don't know what you are doing, Don't do it." She never should have done that and it came right back and bit he in the arse. Another thing that was unbelievable to me was where the ShopOwner said to the Pretty one "You are a Natural Witch", wait a second. To this day I have yet to met a Wiccan who wasn't born to it, or natural as they put it. I know that through certian rituals you can make a mundane into a Wiccan, but we all are either born to the Power or not. Am I wrong in this understanding???
I am one for special effects and these were good, but then again it is a movie and set to make money, so it must also appeal to the mundanes who like the movies where they can sit there and watch it, like it, and then walk out and say "Good movie, Fake but Good." So if they had not added the Special Effects, whould mundanes have liked it. I dont think so. --- SongWolf K' Valgar

This is the first witch movie that I have seen that hits the spot. IT has been the only one that has been close to the real thing. It was Magickal in this witch's opion. Alothough it did protray all witches as weirdos. Which I know some that You'd think They r christian... Although I am the weirdo type, I like black, & have scroes to settle & it is very tempting to use the dark side.. But I have not "YET"....... Lucard

I went to see The Craft once it hit the $1.75 theater and was thoroughly pleased. It was entertaining and although much of it was NOT a correct interpretation, I really loved how the Three-Fold Law of Return was incorporated! I was thinking that the movie would be horrid and I was pleasantly surprised.
Jaurora Fairybrite

I personally thought the movie was OK, although I did get faint when all of the bugs crawled all over the place. The annoying thing about it is all of the people who now want to be witches because "it's cool!" I personally know of three girls who asked me to help them start a "circle" like in the movie--it was so stupid, they had to dress "witchy" and wanted to call the quarter of the character that they thought was the coolest. (I declined, of course, and gave them a lesson on REAL witchcraft.) I used to be a "freak" because I worship a Goddess and God and take part in rituals, but now the people who knew about it before are either: A) terrified of me or B) my "best friend." Although I did help a girl who had a sincere interest in the religious aspect of it, so I guess that's good. : )
Rhiannon

I think that the movie was the closest thing I've seen to accurate. I accent the CLOSEST part of that sentence. It was an amusing movie, I enjoyed the way they showed the retribution of Mannon to the bitchy "leader" but obviously, this is not the way things work. Anyone who messes with the "left hand path" will learn sooner or later...hopefully. Please..if you have any questions, look on the internet under wicca--don't go ask for you nearest idiot about the Satanic bible!!!
blessings
Selena

I think that the craft had some entertaining qualities to it, but otherwise, I thought that it was really rediculous that the main character just all of a sudden got into wicca and started doing spells! There are a lot more things that are special about wicca other than just spells.
Alexandria

I thought the Craft was about 15% accurate and the rest was sensationalism. The "witches" in the movie were more evil and bent on revenge than anything else and most of the spells they cast were not positive ones. It was a good movie - very entertaining and at times suspenseful. You could tell that some of the writers had done some research into spells and rituals, but the movie was overdramatized and placed an evil "deal with the devil" slant on witchcraft, which I didn't appreciate.
Thanks for the page and Blessed Be,
WillowHawk

well, i thought id really hate that movie. the previews i saw made it look like little rich girls who wanted to be a witch THIS week. But my boyfriend made me go see it, and it was pretty good actually. i dont know much about witchcraft, in fact, i thought Wicca was totally benign (or however you spell that infernal word)witchery, so i dont know how true to any witchcraft it is, but i did enjoy it for the entertainment value. it turned out to be alot better than i thought. they werent just little rich girls looking for a new trend for the week...
just my humble opinion, ma'am.
Pirotess

I saw the movie, some of it was accurate, but it didn't really convey what a witch truly does. The three-fold law was touched on, but did you really come away thinking that it meant anything? Not as a person who knows nothing of witchcraft. I was handing out "Witches Do's and Don'ts put out by the Witches League for Public Awareness." (WLPA) For entertainment value, well, the special effects with the snakes were good.
But it really didn't do too much for the rep of witches. People will still believe that we do harm to others. Even though there are a few people whose hair I would love to see fall out...(the goddess will provide on her own if needed)
Blessed Be!
Sophia
NJ Rep
WLPA

I am not all that experienced with Wicca and all that goes with it, but I do know enough to know that the movie, was definitely to be enjoyed for it's fictional value. I don't believe that it shed a true light at all. All the people I've met who are believers of Wicca, are no way or shape or form like the movie. That is, people who truly believe in what Wicca is and means. I think in the long run, it may not shed any harmful light, but you never know what the Pat Robertson's or the William Bennett's of the world will do. Thank you for allowing me a chance to shed my views,
Blessed Be,
Danielle