The Craft was released in 1996 and stars Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Rachel True and Neve Campbell. As with previous Reboot Wednesday posts, the goal of this piece is to interrogate the social justice fails in older movies. At the time that movies like The Craft came out, the social justice blogosphere as we know it today did not exist and so consequently, these movies that have in some cases become cult classics have managed to avoid the criticism often aimed at current movies like Twilight.
When Sarah Bailey played by Robin Tunney arrives in a new town she makes friends with three girls who are social outcasts at their school. Nancy is bullied after being slut shamed by the highschool jock, Bonnie for her disfigurement and Rochelle for being Black. As they walk through the halls, they are called things like the bitches of Eastwick, a play on the 1987 movie, The Witches of Eastwick staring Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Veronica Cartwright, and Jack Nicholson. Shortly after arriving at the school, Sarah goes out on a date with Chris Hooker and he tells the entire school that not only did she sleep with him on the first date, but that she was a bad lay. This of course sets of a solid round of slut shaming.
As Sarah, Nancy, Bonnie and Rochelle come together they discover that they have the ability to form a coven and perform magic. Bonnie wishes for the disappearance of her scars, Rochelle for revenge on Laurie Lizze played by Christine Taylor for her constant racial abuse, Sarah for Chris Hooker to like her and Nancy to an end of her White trash existence and having to watch as her mother is abused by her boyfriend. Over time each on of their wishes come to fruition but they are warned that whatever the put out into the world will return to them times three by Lirio, the woman who owns the local magic shop.
In no time at all, the power that they wield quickly runs out of control leaving two men dead. Sensing that Nancy is out of control, Sarah attempts to bind her. This of course does not go down well with Nancy and she attacks her. The two end up in the huge battle of magic in which Sarah is the victor, leaving Nancy institutionalized.
