The Worst Witch is a British television series based on a series of children's novels of the same name by Jill Murphy. The show first aired in 1998, and it has since become a cult classic. The cast of the 1986 TV movie adaptation of The Worst Witch has become infamous for its questionable performances and unconvincing portrayals. While the movie itself gained a small following due to its campy charm, some viewers couldn't help but cringe at the actors' lack of skill. One of the most criticized performances in the cast was that of Fairuza Balk, who played the lead role of Mildred Hubble. Balk's portrayal of Mildred came across as over-the-top and lacking depth.
[Mildred and Maud have accidentally made themselves invisible]
Miss Hardbroom: Have you any idea what you did wrong Mildred?
Maud Warlock: It was my fault Miss Hardbroom.
Mildred Hubble: No, it was my fault Miss Hardbroom.
Miss Hardbroom: I don't care whose fault it was. Sit still until you reappear!
The film follows the plot of the 1974 book, portraying the incidents of when Mildred turns herself invisible and transforms Ethel into a pig, Miss Cackle s notorious twin sister Agatha plotting to take over the Academy, and the Grand Wizard viewing the Halloween Broomstick formation sabotaged by Ethel s faulty broom which she lent to Mildred. I m not one that often that talks about the books film comparison, mainly because I don t often read books, but The Worst Witch is certainly a much better book than movie, and this is probably because they try to cram the entire story into just 69 minutes.
Balk's portrayal of Mildred came across as over-the-top and lacking depth. Her delivery of lines seemed forced, and her expressions often seemed exaggerated. This made it difficult for viewers to connect with her character and believe in her abilities as a young witch.
The Worst Witch
So you know when a film from your childhood just randomly comes into your head? Well, that’s what happened to me on Wednesday evening as “The Worst Witch” (1986 version) came into my thoughts. I have no idea why or how. I haven’t seen it since my age hit double digits (I’m now 37, for reference), so not entirely sure why it’s like this, but there you go.
I have memories of “The Worst Witch” being a decent enough watch, without being spectacular. It features a few well-known faces, including what is basically a glorified cameo from Tim Curry, but it was also one of the early movies of Fairuza Balk, probably best known for movies such as “Return to Oz”, “The Craft” and “American History X”.
Whether it is still hold up or not is very much a different matter, as, in the seven years since I started this site, I’ve rewatched many films from my childhood for the purposes of reviewing, and so many have not aged well.
Plot
Mildred (Balk) is a well-meaning, but an ultimately calamitous student as the witching school of Miss Cackle (Rae), such as creating an invisibility potion when they were supposed to make one supposed to make them laugh. She is regularly reminded by Mrs Hardbottom (Rigg) that she is a disaster and is unlikely to graduate.
The following morning, Miss Cackle announces that the school is expecting a visit from the Grand Wizard (Curry), but little does she realise that her sister Agatha (also Rae) is outside plotting the retake over of the school.
With Mildred’s increasing misfortune and her rivalry with bully Ethel (Kipling), it all leaves the door open for Agatha to execute her devilish plan.
So does it hold up after all of these years?
It’s always tricky reviewing a movie that is 35 years old because you automatically want to compare to the standards of movies made these days. but even then, there are some really odd choices in this movie.
The acting throughout is pretty poor, especially from Charlotte Rae, who, despite given two roles, can’t give a good performance in either, but this probably isn’t helped by a screenplay that could best be described as lacklustre. For example, early on Miss Cackle is having a conversation on the phone, Mildred sitting nearby, and she ends the call by saying “Goodbye Donna”…..and then immediately says “That was Donna” to Mildred. Yeah, no shit.
There is also a remarkably odd sequence in which they play something called “terror-tag”, in which you get points if you make the other team scream in terror. It simply doesn’t work because it’s basically girls screaming at stuff that just isn’t scary, such as someone pulling a silly face.
I’m not one that often that talks about the books/film comparison, mainly because I don’t often read books, but “The Worst Witch” is certainly a much better book than movie, and this is probably because they try to cram the entire story into just 69 minutes. It’s almost like the reverse of the “The Hobbit” trilogy, in which they stretched one book into three movies. “The Worst Witch” tries to cram far, far too much into a very short runtime.
I’m going to forgive the soundtrack and special effect oddities due to the film being made in the mid-80s and clearly not having the budget of a full-on movie. I didn’t actually realise until watching for the review that this was a made-for-TV film, shown in my native UK first. Now, in my defence, it came out in November 1986, and I had only just turned two at the time.
Summary
“The Worst Witch” has not aged well, but even then, for the time the graphics would have been acceptable, but the same can’t be said for the acting or silly plot points.
This is one of the examples where the book is most certainly better than the movie, and this isn’t helped by poor acting and trying to cram too many things into a short runtime.
The entire movie is on Youtube, if you decide to watch it.
The film was shot at St. Michael's College in Tenbury Wells. Its opening and closing song "Growing Up Isn't Easy" was sung by Bonnie Langford. It was composed by Charles Strouse with lyrics by Don Black. They also wrote "Anything Can Happen on Halloween". Denis King composed its score and wrote the song "My Little School". The movie was Directed by Robert Young, and the Producer was Colin Shindle.
Another weak link in the cast was Tim Curry's portrayal of the Grand Wizard, played by the renowned actor. While Curry is known for his captivating performances in movies like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Clue, his performance in The Worst Witch fell flat. His delivery of lines seemed monotonous, and his portrayal lacked the powerful presence that the character required. The supporting cast of The Worst Witch also received its fair share of criticism. From poorly executed accents to wooden acting, many of the actors failed to bring their characters to life. This ultimately affected the overall quality of the movie and left viewers disappointed. Despite its flaws, The Worst Witch 1986 cast retains a certain charm that continues to attract fans. Some viewers may find pleasure in the campiness and unintentional humor of the performances. However, it's undeniable that the cast's lackluster performances contributed to the movie's reputation as one of the worst adaptations of the beloved children's series..
Reviews for "Dissecting the Unconvincing Performances in the 1986 Adaptation of "The Worst Witch"
1. John - 1 star
I have to say, "The Worst Witch 1986 Cast" was an absolute disappointment. The acting was ridiculously over-the-top, the plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the special effects were cheesy and amateurish. It felt like I was watching a low-budget school play rather than a professional production. I found myself cringing throughout the entire movie, and couldn't wait for it to be over. Save yourself the time and avoid this one.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "The Worst Witch 1986 Cast" based on the reviews, but it fell short of my expectations. The performances, especially from the lead actress, were lackluster and unconvincing. The storyline had potential, but the execution was poorly done, leaving many loose ends. The special effects were outdated and laughable, and overall, the movie lacked a cohesive and engaging atmosphere. I wanted to like it, but unfortunately, I was left feeling underwhelmed.
3. William - 1 star
What a waste of time! I couldn't believe how poorly made "The Worst Witch 1986 Cast" was. The acting was atrocious, with wooden performances and cringe-worthy dialogue. The plot was disjointed and confusing, making it hard to stay engaged. The production quality was embarrassingly low, from the shoddy special effects to the cheap-looking sets. I regret spending my time on this movie and would not recommend it to anyone.