The Original Race to Witch Mountain: More than Just a Kids Movie

The Race to Witch Mountain is a 2009 science fiction adventure film that serves as a modern reimagining of the original 1975 film, Escape to Witch Mountain. The film was directed by Andy Fickman and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, and Carla Gugino. The story centers around two siblings, Sara and Seth, who possess extraordinary powers. They are extraterrestrial beings who have come to Earth on a mission to save their own planet. The siblings are pursued by a host of agents, both human and alien, who want to capture them and use their powers for their own gain.

The original film, cowritten and directed by Andrew Fleming, introduced a generation to light as a feather, stiff as a board and a new era of goth-chic attire. Twenty-two years after its release—and shortly after Hollywood entered the Time’s Up era—Zoe Lister-Jones began writing an updated version of the film fit for an age that not only welcomed stories designed for the female gaze, but demanded them.

People have strong feelings about The Craft, the beloved 1996 teen movie that stars Fairuza Balk, Rachel True, Neve Campbell, and Robin Tunney as a coven of high-school-aged witches. Campbell will convince you of her sweet side, and then on a dime flip the script and dive head first into the wickedness that constantly entices these girls.

The siblings are pursued by a host of agents, both human and alien, who want to capture them and use their powers for their own gain. Along the way, the siblings encounter a down-on-his-luck taxi driver, Jack Bruno, who becomes their unlikely protector and ally. The film is an action-packed adventure filled with thrilling chase sequences, intense battles, and heartwarming moments of friendship and family.

Exclusive: How Zoe Lister-Jones Reimagined The Craft’s Iconic Teen Witches

In her first interview about The Craft: Legacy, the writer-director opens up about her highly anticipated film—a modern take on witchcraft that doesn’t pit women against other women.

People have strong feelings about The Craft, the beloved 1996 teen movie that stars Fairuza Balk, Rachel True, Neve Campbell, and Robin Tunney as a coven of high-school-aged witches. So when the first trailer for The Craft: Legacy dropped on September 29, die-hard fans were split. Some couldn’t believe anyone would dare reimagine such a classic; others were giddy at the thought of revisiting the weirdos of their youth. But maybe this movie wasn’t crafted with us Gen Xers in mind at all.

The original film, cowritten and directed by Andrew Fleming, introduced a generation to light as a feather, stiff as a board and a new era of goth-chic attire. Twenty-two years after its release—and shortly after Hollywood entered the Time’s Up era—Zoe Lister-Jones began writing an updated version of the film fit for an age that not only welcomed stories designed for the female gaze, but demanded them.

Lister-Jones wouldn’t specify whether The Craft: Legacy, which premieres on Amazon and VOD October 28, should be considered a sequel, remake, continuation, or reboot. She would, however, say that her version—starring Cailee Spaeny, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone, and Zoey Luna, and directed as well as written by Lister-Jones—stands on its own: “I get asked, ‘Who is playing Nancy? Who’s playing Sarah?’ These [characters] are not based on those characters,” she recently told Vanity Fair. “These are very much their own young women, living in their own fictional universe.… [My film] is about what it means to be an outsider and a young woman—and when I speak of young women, of course I am also speaking to young trans women—in today’s landscape.”

That landscape, she said, is one in which the leadership of the United States is brazenly and openly disrespectful to women, not to mention people of color, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. Lister-Jones wanted her film to tell a story about women upholding each other, working in partnership to build supportive communities.

“No shade to the original—and women are allowed to be villains—but ultimately it was about women whose power was too overwhelming for them to harness and was turned on each other,” she said. (The Craft famously ends with Balk’s, True’s, and Campbell’s characters turning against Tunney’s, their former friend.) “The message that I want to put into the universe is that there is no power too great for women to harness and that we always need to be wary of turning that power on each other. [The first film was] intersectional at a time when representation was not being prioritized in popular culture. But I wanted to take that and go further with it—to look at the ways in which the community is so much more powerful than the individual.”

Zoey Luna, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone, and Cailee Spaeny perform rituals in a scene from The Craft: Legacy. From Rafy Photography/Columbia Pictures.

The original Craft did deal with some serious stuff—racism, bullying, attempted rape, parental abuse—and while some of the same issues will be tackled in Legacy, Lister-Jones also elected to tweak her protagonist’s plotline. In the original, Tunney’s Sarah is the new girl in town raised by a widowed father. In Legacy, Spaeny’s Lily has lived with a single mother (Michelle Monaghan) her whole life when she’s uprooted from that feminine space and moved in with her mother’s new boyfriend (David Duchovny) and his three sons—a very masculine space. Lister-Jones wanted to show those two opposing energies colliding at a pivotal moment in a young woman’s life.

The director was tight-lipped about any further plot details, though she did expand on why 2020 is the perfect time to revisit The Craft. “Right now witch and witchcraft are a part of the zeitgeist,” Lister-Jones said. “Self-identifying as a witch feels a little less scary.” While the original film cast witchcraft as something to fear, Lister-Jones wanted to allow modern practitioners of witchcraft a more welcoming, nonjudgmental entry point.

“It’s about both the light and the dark, and that is the beauty of witchcraft,” she said. “But it’s also very much about manifesting the divine feminine in all of us, regardless of gender. The divine feminine is something that has been so suppressed for so long. And I think the suppression of witchcraft and witch hunting and the history that those traditions have had are so much about the institution of patriarchy being terrified of women’s power.”

Lister-Jones also wanted to tackle toxic masculinity and the ways in which women are forced to confront it. The original Craft eventually reveals Balk’s Nancy as its villain; Legacy instead focuses on the patriarchy as its nefarious overarching force.

“What excites me about genre,” Lister-Jones said, “having never created a genre film before, is that there is actually an exciting place for social commentary within it. I was interested in exploring the gray area that so many adolescent women are in when coming into their sexuality. Suddenly they’re in that liminal space of being both invisible and hyper-visible to men for the first time.”

This is also, Lister-Jones pointed out, the stage when witchcraft can really appeal to young women. A tradition that puts control back in their hands can act as a lifeline. Though the director herself hid in the bathroom when her friends tried to conjure Bloody Mary in a mirror or play light as a feather, stiff as a board during their adolescent sleepovers, Lister-Jones has more recently gotten in tune with her own inner witch: “I’d like to find a coven,” she said.

In the meantime, she’s studied various international magic practices and new moon and full moon rituals, along with the art of setting and manifesting intentions—something many don’t see as witchcraft but that has been grounded in the practice of it for centuries. Her set employed three occult consultants—witches Pam Grossman, Bri Luna, and Aerin Fogel—in order to maintain authenticity; spells were based on real magical practice, written and choreographed by Grossman. The consultants also had the important job of protecting the set, magically speaking. “Whatever portals we were opening,” said Lister-Jones, “I wanted to make sure that we were doing it with the right intentions and also closing those portals at the day’s end.”

It’s a far cry from the original film, which employed one Wiccan consultant—but also questionably foregrounded a pagan deity called Manon. Lister-Jones wasn’t a fan of Manon—a being likely inspired by Mano, a feminine personification of the moon—being portrayed as a wicked male presence who inhibits Balk’s character in what can only be described as a sexual way. “We need to get way, way more connected to the goddess worship that has been suppressed for centuries,” she said. “Worshipping a masculine god in a film that is about embodying the divine feminine feels wrong. Witchcraft has much of its roots in goddess worship, [which] was so globally essential to so many cultures and then was just really wiped out. It’s 2020, and we’re getting back into it.”

That said: “Manon does make it [into my film], I’ll say that,” Lister-Jones admitted. “I won’t say more, though.”

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Zoey Luna, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone, and Cailee Spaeny perform rituals in a scene from The Craft: Legacy. From Rafy Photography/Columbia Pictures.

The special effects are top-notch, bringing the otherworldly elements of the story to life in a visually stunning way. The performances of the lead actors, especially Dwayne Johnson and AnnaSophia Robb, are highly praised for their charismatic and heartfelt portrayals of their characters. While the film is a reimagining of the original Escape to Witch Mountain, it stands on its own as a unique and entertaining sci-fi adventure. It incorporates elements of the original story while also introducing new twists and turns to keep audiences engaged. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its exciting action sequences and family-friendly themes. Overall, The Race to Witch Mountain is a thrilling and enjoyable film that combines science fiction, action, and adventure in a way that appeals to audiences of all ages. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of the original film and a worthy addition to the Witch Mountain franchise..

Reviews for "Race to Witch Mountain: From Book to Screen in the Original Version"

1. John - 2 stars

I found "Race to Witch Mountain Original" to be quite disappointing. The plot was predictable, and the movie lacked any real depth or excitement. The special effects were underwhelming and failed to captivate my attention. While I usually enjoy adventure movies, this one fell flat for me. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging cinematic experience.

2. Jessica - 1 star

I have to say I was extremely disappointed with "Race to Witch Mountain Original." The acting was subpar, and the dialogue felt forced and cheesy. The plot was incredibly predictable and lacked originality. I found myself bored throughout the entire movie, waiting for something interesting to happen. Unfortunately, that never occurred. I struggled to connect with the characters, and even the action scenes were uninspiring. Save your time and money and skip this movie.

3. Michael - 2 stars

I had high hopes for "Race to Witch Mountain Original," but it failed to live up to expectations. The storyline felt contrived and lacked coherence, leaving me confused at times. The pacing was uneven, with slow moments dragging on and action sequences feeling rushed. The CGI effects were mediocre, and the characters lacked depth and development. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and regretful of my decision to watch this film.

The Stunt Work in the Original Race to Witch Mountain: Behind the Action