The expansive library of film adaptations of the works of author Roald Dahl is characterized by the varied quality and memorability of the works within it. On one end, you have films such as “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” which is still beloved by fans young and old due to its ever-endearing charm. On the other hand, films such as “The BFG” have become quite forgettable since their release, thus showing that not all works may be successfully adapted for the screen.

More toward the middle of the spectrum is 1990’s “The Witches,” which may hold its own merit and memorability due to certain aspects, especially the makeup effects, but ultimately stands as rather average fare. 

The 2020 remake of “The Witches” unfortunately ranks rather low on the list of Dahl adaptations. Though it may have the glitz and glamor of modern CGI on its side, in addition to a rather amiable cast, the film ultimately feels mostly soulless and overdone. Rather than improve upon its predecessor, the film instead is flashier and over-the-top, thus providing for a cringe-inducing, albeit slightly genuine, experience which will certainly disappoint fans of both the original film and Dahl.

On paper, it looks like the film should have been more than capable of surpassing the original’s quality. With director Robert Zemeckis (“Back to the Future”) sitting behind the camera, in addition to stars such as Anne Hathaway (“The Last Thing He Wanted”) and Stanley Tucci (“Beauty and the Beast”) headlining the film, it really felt as though it could have been quite captivating and special. Instead, the film presents a rather watered-down rendition of the original story, which does very little to promote any desires for a rewatch.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the film is its screenplay which, alongside Zemeckis and writer Kenya Harris (“Shaft”), was written by fellow filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), who has been well established in the industry for his own wow-inducing films. However, the collective talent among these individuals shows in the screenplay, which feels woefully expositional and unoriginal, with a great deal of cliched lines and phrases somehow making their way in. As a result, the majority of the characters feel rather unmemorable, as they are not really given anything to help their personalities stand out. As such, a great deal of the film, despite the elements specifically taken from the work of Dahl, ultimately feels rather generic and boring as a result of an uninspired screenplay. 

Like most modern remakes of classic children’s films, “The Witches” takes advantage of modern technology, mainly CGI, in order to generate enhanced visuals, though it also follows suit by perhaps overusing it. More specifically, the original film made innovative use of practical effects to create its weird and morbid nature, while this film utilizes CGI for the same result.

However, the end product ultimately feels overdone and disorienting, and it does little to recapture the magic or strangeness which makes the original memorable.

This goes on to affirm the film’s main issue, which is its drive to be even creepier and more magical than its predecessor. Unfortunately, its efforts were ultimately in vain, as the film’s half-hearted attempts at being eerie and magical ultimately make it feel more forced and lackluster, if anything.

Image from Netflix via YouTube