The Worst Witch is a British TV movie from 1985. It is based on a series of children's books by Jill Murphy. The film follows the story of Mildred Hubble, a young witch who attends Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. Mildred is constantly getting into trouble and is often the cause of mishaps at the school. However, she is determined to prove herself and become a great witch. Along the way, she befriends some of her classmates and together they go on various magical adventures.
Along the way, she befriends some of her classmates and together they go on various magical adventures. The film has a charming and whimsical feel, with a mix of humor and lessons about friendship and self-belief. While it may be considered dated by today's standards, The Worst Witch continues to be a beloved and nostalgic piece of children's entertainment.
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.
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The film was followed by a TV series in the late 1990s and a recent reboot in 2017, showcasing its enduring popularity. Overall, The Worst Witch from 1985 is a delightful and magical film that is enjoyable for both children and adults alike..
Reviews for "The Worst Witch' (1985): A Whimsical Take on the Magical Boarding School Genre"
1. Katie - 2/5 - I watched "Watch the Worst Witch 1985" with high expectations, as I remember enjoying the book series as a child. However, I was extremely disappointed with the execution of the film. The acting felt forced and lackluster, and the special effects were outdated even for its time. The storyline was also lacking depth and failed to capture the magic and excitement of the book. Overall, I would not recommend this film to those looking for a memorable and enjoyable witch-themed movie.
2. John - 1/5 - "Watch the Worst Witch 1985" was a complete letdown. The dialogue felt forced and cliche, and the characters lacked depth and development. The film seemed to rely heavily on outdated special effects that only detracted from the viewing experience. Even though this movie may hold a nostalgic appeal for some, it failed to engage me as an adult viewer. I would suggest skipping this film and seeking out other, more captivating witch-themed movies.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "Watch the Worst Witch 1985" to be quite underwhelming. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving little room for character development or emotional investment. The visual effects were cheesy and did not hold up well even for the time it was made. The performances by the cast were mediocre, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing I had chosen a different witch-themed movie to watch.
4. Mark - 2.5/5 - "Watch the Worst Witch 1985" had its moments, but overall, it fell short of my expectations. The story had potential, but the execution felt lackluster. The acting was mediocre, and the dialogue often felt forced and unnatural. The film lacked the ambiance and magic that I look for in a witch-themed movie. Although there were a few enjoyable scenes, they were not enough to salvage the overall disappointment I felt while watching this film. I would recommend exploring other witch-themed movies before considering this one.