The Witches

Luke Eveshim is a young boy who goes on holiday with his grandmother to a grand seaside hotel. Their quiet vacation takes a sinister turn when they learn the resort is hosting an international meeting of witches who hide in plain sight. Luke overhears the Grand High Witch reveal a plan to turn children into mice using a special formula, and what follows is a tense scramble to outwit a dangerous cabal of adults. The story mixes dark, spooky moments with wry humor, and centers on Luke's cleverness and his bond with his grandmother as they try to protect themselves and other children from a hidden threat.

Directed by Nicolas Roeg, the film is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel, with Allan Scott credited on the screenplay, and it premiered in 1990 featuring Anjelica Huston in a standout role.

On release the movie had modest box office returns, but it reached many viewers through home video and television showings, where it found a younger audience and built a steady following over time.

Anjelica Huston's icy performance, the unsettling creature makeup, and a few notoriously frightening set pieces helped the film stick in pop culture memory. Its mix of childhood fear and dark comedy made certain images and scenes particularly memorable, and the movie is often cited when people talk about scary family films from that era.

Critical response was mixed, and contemporary viewers rate it around 6.936 out of 10 based on user votes. Reviewers tended to praise the performances and the film's eerie visual design while pointing out uneven tone, and viewers note themes about the vulnerability of children, the abuse of adult power, and resourcefulness in dangerous situations.