The ‘90s was a great decade for movies, especially horror movies. The moves that emerged from that decade weren’t just scary, they were the perfect balance of stylish, over-the-top, and supernaturally creepy. They were, in a word, cool and gave audiences iconic characters, enduring lines, and not only helped define spooky season for an entire generation but continue to thrill and chill audiences. Now, one of the best is back to streaming on Prime Video just in time to settle in for Halloween.
Videos by ComicBook.com
Released in 1996, The Craft offered up a blend of high school drama, teen rebellion, and witchcraft all with a pulse of truly unsettling horror as it followed four outcast teenage girls and their pursuit of witchcraft that has some intense and negative repercussions. It’s a film that is both nostalgic thanks to its of-its-era style and attitude but is also timeless with the film becoming not only a cult classic, but a pop culture moment and with it available to stream on Prime Video, now’s the perfect time to watch it again.
The Craft Is The Perfect ‘90s Horror Film and It Still Holds Up
Directed by Andrew Flemming, The Craft received mixed reviews upon its release but ended up being a surprise hit. The film not only helped launch the careers of stars Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True, but it easily cemented itself as a significant film of the overall ‘90s teen canon, thanks in part to the story deviating from the prevalent cliches of the teen movie genre of its time. The Craft treated its characters as authentic and flawed people in their efforts to harness magic for personal gain and grounds the supernatural story in realness with the consequences of those actions. The film also didn’t shy away from some heavier themes, particular with True’s character, Rochelle, facing racist bullying and Balk’s Nancy dealing with a bad home life, specifically an abusive stepfather.
This balanced approach to the characters and the supernatural story gives the film an alluring mystery and just the right amount of scare — this isn’t a movie that will terrify you until you cannot sleep, but it is one that will keep you thinking for a long time after the credits roll. That’s also part of why the film continues to be a nearly timeless watch. While the setting is firmly in the ‘90s (the movie has a great soundtrack featuring some major artists of the day) its themes and presentation are universal. It’s surprisingly progressive and offers an enduring example of female rage thanks to Balk’s performance as Nancy Downs that has yet to be matched even today. Interestingly, The Craft got a sequel in 2020 — The Craft: Legacy — and while that film was met with mixed reviews and poor box office performance (and it is currently available to stream on Peacock if you’re interested), it did see the return of Balk’s Nancy Downs, a testament to just how impactful that character and The Craft still is.
The Craft is now streaming on Prime Video.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Most Viewed
-
image courtesy of 20th Century Studios
