The Worst Witch (G)

Slow-paced magic adventure for the pre-Potter set.

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Movie details

Studio: BFS Entertainment
Directed By: Robert Young
Cast: Tim Curry, Fairuza Balk, Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae
Running Time: 70 minutes
Release Date: 10/16/1986
Video/DVD Release Date: 08/24/2004
Genre: Family and Kids
MPAA Rating: G

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that though there is no swearing and the violence is hardly believable, there are some scenes that may frighten young or particularly sensitive children. The witches cackle into the screen and threaten to hurt Mildred. And Agatha aims gunfire-like spells at Mildred, causing explosions all around her. Ethel also bullies Mildred.

Families can talk about how children can overcome their shyness and insecurity to share their special gifts with the world. How does Mildred learn that her skills are valuable? Why does she doubt herself? When do you doubt yourself? If you've read the books, how do they compare?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Ethel bullies Mildred and plays a trick on her that causes her to crash to the ground. Mildred runs away from school after being humiliated. Mildred also overcomes her self consciousness and low self-esteem to stand up for herself and protect her school.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

A lot of comic accidents. Mildred crashes her broom into a bell tower. She and other witches also crash into the ground. Agatha aims spells at Mildred that cause explosions all around her, but she isn't hurt by them.

Sex

All the students have a crush on the Grand Wizard.

Language

No swearing, but Mildred is called a number of mean names, including "idiot," "misfit" and "abominable child."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Heather Boerner

Balk plays Mildred Hubble ( Fairuza Balk), the eponymous worst witch at Miss Cackle's International School for Witches. She can't balance her kitten on her broom. She fails a potion-making quiz when she turns herself invisible instead of making a laughing potion. And she's plagued with doubt because, after all, her mother wanted to be a witch but "didn't have the gift." Add to that the competitive bullying nemesis Ethel Hallow (Anna Kipling) and a disastrous performance in front of the Grand Wizard, and you get a very hopeless witch indeed. But when she discovers a plot to take over the school by some mean witches, she may just get the chance she needs to prove herself.

Is it any good?

This 1980s witch fable based on the popular young reader books by Jill Murphy is no Harry Potter, but harmless enough for a Halloween special.

While the special effects are laughably cheap and the musical numbers are atrocious, that's part of the charm of this DVD. Parents of a certain age will appreciate the kitschiness of Balk as an innocent witch, in her pre-crazy-goth-lady days, and will love Facts of Life den mother Charlotte Rae as both the sweet-as-pie Miss Cackle and as her inexplicably Southern-accented evil twin Agatha. These are milder scares for kids not ready for the magic of the Harry Potter world. But there are still some moments of cackling witchiness and exploding spells that aren't for the very young or sensitive.