• Consequence
  • Music
  • Film
  • TV
  • Heavy
Menu Consequence
Menu Shop Search Newsletter
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Live
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Cover Story
Advertisement
  • Film
  • Film Reviews

The Craft: Legacy Is an Uneven Love Letter to the Weirdos: Review

The Blumhouse sequel is magical, but the spell wears off quickly

The Craft: Legacy Is an Uneven Love Letter to the Weirdos: Review
C+
Jenn Adams
October 28, 2020 | 12:00am ET

    The Pitch: Writer and and director Zoe Lister-Jones returns with the long-awaited sequel to 1996’s The Craft. Similar to its predecessor, this story follows three teen witches looking for a fourth to complete their circle. Enter new girl in town, Lily (Cailee Spaeny), whose mother (Michelle Monaghan) has just moved in with her new boyfriend (David Duchovny) and his three teenage sons. What begins as a coming-of-age tale eventually transforms into a mystery with ill-defined stakes.

    When Witches Go Riding: The Craft has a complicated legacy to reckon with seeing how it not only inspired a generation of girls to explore the occult, but also provided important representation in the casting of Rachel True as Rochelle. In more recent years, however, the film has been re-evaluated for its questionable depiction of female friendships and the implied fear of feminine power. What’s more, the adorementioned inclusive casting — once regarded as a milestone in diverse representation — has been marred by the subsequent erasure of True and her character Rochelle in marketing and convention appearances.

    Not surprisingly, Lister-Jones attempts to rectify all of that by depicting these new witches as compassionate young women, tempted by immature desires, but wise enough to recognize when they’re flying too close to the sun. It’s a wise pivot that showcases how exceptional power and diversity are not to be feared, but rather what makes us strong. Looking back, it’s a total 180 on the implied readings of the original film’s themes.

    Advertisement
    Related Video

    Representation is strong, too. A trans character lives her life mostly unaffected by identity, which is a refreshing change from a narrative so often framed around trauma, while a bisexual character adds some depth and nuance to the proceedings. Although their arcs are later relegated to the sidelines to focus on the larger, ensuing plot, these characters do feel loved by the filmmaker as opposed to being tossed in for tokenism’s sake.

    The Craft: Legacy Is an Uneven Love Letter to the Weirdos: Review

    The Craft: Legacy (Columbia)

    I Put a Spell on You: Another inspired amendment is the film’s beautiful depiction of witchcraft. Lister-Jones consulted with Waking the Witch author/The Witch Wave host Pam Grossman, and her insight has warranted an empowering depiction of both magic and the unifying nature of the coven itself. Spaeny’s Lily joins Tabby (Lovie Simone), Lourdes (Zoey Luna), and Frankie (Gideon Adlon) in a supportive community that never leans into stereotypes. The rituals and adornments feel authentic, as does the sense of playfulness that would accompany teenage girls exploring new powers. The only gripe is the execution of the effects, namely the overuse of colorful CGI that gives the magic a fairly juvenile wash and winds up diminishing the spells. One example is the way the girls freeze time, which feels like something pulled right out of a ’90s sitcom.

    Advertisement

    Double, Double, Toil and Trouble: Ultimately, the film unravels when it attempts to explore its characters. We’re told that Lily is different, but other than her quirky-cute haircut, and the fact that she says she has no friends, we never really find out why. Nicholas Galitzine steals every scene as Timmy, deftly navigating a range of emotions and motivations, only to be thrown aside for the final act. Monaghan is underused and given very little, as is her one-note boyfriend in Duchovny. As Adam, Duchovny plays a men’s motivational speaker with toxic, controlling beliefs. What starts as an intriguing representation of masculinity boils down to a murky villain with a confusing resolution. Again and again, characters are given detours or derailed altogether.

    Age Verification

    Are you 18 years of age or older ?

     

    The Verdict: So much of the film’s connective tissue to the original feels forced and contrived, making you wonder if it would have been better served as a straight-up remake — or even a Netflix series. Alas, Blumhouse opted for a stand-alone sequel, which begs the question: “Who is this movie for?” Simply put, Legacy is for anyone who has ever felt ostracized or marginalized or wished for authentic representation in films. While it may have been written with teen girls in mind, this film is “for” everyone and could lend valuable empathy to those who do not see themselves represented in the story.

    Because of this, Legacy wears its heart on its sleeve and you can feel the love for the source material. There’s an endearing and timely focus on building community, which is foundational to real witchcraft, and the message that our differences are what make us strong is one worth repeating at every opportunity. Unfortunately, there are key ingredients missing in the cauldron, and the film feels stilted by its narrative arc. Ideally, we would have had the opportunity to see the complex character dynamics established in the first half play out, but what we get is mostly just a glimmer.

    Advertisement

    Where’s It Streaming? The Craft: Legacy is currently available via Amazon Prime Video.

    Trailer:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit

More on this topic

  • Blumhouse
  • Cailee Spaeny
  • David Duchovny
  • Gideon Adlon
  • Horror
  • Lovie Simone
  • Michelle Monaghan
  • The Craft
  • Zoe Lister-Jones
  • Zoey Luna

Sign up for updates

Subscribe to our email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.

Advertisement

Popular Stories

Latest Stories

A-
werewolf by night review marvel disney plus special presentation halloween special

Werewolf by Night Is a Marvelous Monster Mash: Review

October 6, 2022

B
Hellraiser Review Jamie Clayton Hulu

Hellraiser Review: A True Reboot That's Pretty Darned Good

October 5, 2022

C+
david o russell amsterdam film first look release date

Not Even An All-Star Cast Can Save David O. Russell's Amsterdam: Review

October 4, 2022

B+
White Noise Review

NYFF Review: Noah Baumbach Delightfully Skewers Our Fear of Death in White Noise

October 3, 2022

B+
Till Review Danielle Deadwyler

Till Digs Into a Deeply Shameful, Deeply American Tragedy: Review

October 1, 2022

B-
Master Gardener Review Paul Schrader

Paul Schrader's Master Gardener Treads Very Familiar Soil: Review

October 1, 2022

A-
Decision to Leave Review

Chan-wook Park's Decision to Leave Is a Sizzling Romantic Thriller: Review

September 30, 2022

D+
Greatest Beer Run Ever Review

The Greatest Beer Run Ever Is a Pretty Likeable Movie, and That's a Huge Problem: Review

September 30, 2022

Advertisement

News

  • Music
  • New Music
  • Album Streams
  • Upcoming Releases
  • Tours
  • Film
  • TV
  • Pop Culture

Reviews

  • Music Reviews
  • Film Reviews
  • TV Reviews
  • Concert Reviews
  • Festival Reviews

Features

  • Editorials
  • Interviews
  • Cover Stories
  • Lists
  • Guides
  • CoSign
  • Song of the Week

Live

  • Tickets
  • Festival News
  • Tour Dates
  • Photo Galleries
  • Music Instruments & Gear

Heavy

  • News
  • Interviews
  • Concerts

More

  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Wellness
  • Giveaways

Other sites

  • Heavy Consequence
  • Consequence Media
  • Modern Drummer
  • About
  • Privacy policy
  • Advertising
  • Work For Us
  • Terms
  • Contact
  • Copyright
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Download our app

  • Get it on the App Store
  • Get it on Google Play
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitch
  • Tiktok
Consequence
Current story

The Craft: Legacy Is an Uneven Love Letter to the Weirdos: Review

Menu Shop Search Newsletter
Consequence
News
  • News
  • Music
  • New Music
  • Album Streams
  • Upcoming Releases
  • Tours
  • Film
  • TV
  • Pop Culture
Reviews
  • Music Reviews
  • Film Reviews
  • TV Reviews
  • Concert Reviews
  • Festival Reviews
Features
  • All Features
  • Editorials
  • Interviews
  • Cover Stories
  • Lists
  • Guides
  • CoSign
  • Song of the Week
Live
  • Tickets
  • Festival News
  • Tour Dates
  • Photo Galleries
  • Music Instruments & Gear
Podcasts
  • The Opus
  • Kyle Meredith With...
  • Stanning BTS
  • The Story Behind the Song
  • The What
  • Going There with Dr. Mike
  • The Rome and Duddy Show
Videos
  • Interviews
  • Two for the Road
  • First Time I Heard
  • When I Made
  • Battle of the Bandmates
  • Peer 2 Peer
  • Essays
  • Fan Theories
Heavy
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Concerts
  • Premieres
  • Culture
  • Beyond the Boys Club
  • Mining Metal
Shop
  • Shop
  • Giveaways
Hometowns

Follow Consequence

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitch
  • Tiktok
Close
Close
 

Loading Comments...