An eclectic foursome of aspiring teenage witches get a lot more than they bargained for as they lean into their newfound extraordinary powers.
Director Zoe Lister-Jones attempted to breathe new life into the cult classic ’90s film The Craft with her 2020 soft reboot, The Craft: Legacy. However, this attempt falls flat, offering little more than a disappointing imitation of the original.
First and foremost, one of the most glaring issues with The Craft: Legacy is the poorly developed characters. In the original film, we were introduced to four unique, complex young women who each had their own struggles and demons to confront. In contrast, the new quartet of witches in the reboot feels like a watered-down version of their predecessors. There’s Lily (Cailee Spaeny), the new girl with a mysterious past, Frankie (Gideon Adlon), the LGBTQ+ character who lacks depth beyond her sexual orientation, Tabby (Lovie Simone), who is relegated to the role of the token Black friend, and finally, Lourdes (Zoey Luna), the transgender character whose identity is woefully underexplored.
The film’s attempts at diversity and inclusion feel forced and superficial. It’s as if the filmmakers checked off a checklist of representation without taking the time to give these characters the depth they deserve. This lack of development leaves the audience struggling to connect with or care about any of them. The original Craft succeeded in making us empathize with the struggles of its characters, but this reboot fails in that regard.
Another major problem lies in the film’s plot, which feels like a pale imitation of the original. In the 1996 version, the girls’ exploration of witchcraft was driven by their desire for power and control over their lives. In The Craft: Legacy, the plot centers around a vague and underwhelming sense of sisterhood and empowerment. The conflict and stakes are poorly defined, making it difficult to invest in the story’s outcome.
Furthermore, the antagonist of the film, played by David Duchovny, lacks the menacing presence of Fairuza Balk‘s iconic character from the original. Duchovny’s character is a one-dimensional, misogynistic warlock whose motivations are never adequately explained. This lack of a compelling villain further weakens the narrative and leaves the audience yearning for the intensity and depth of the original film.
One of the most frustrating aspects of The Craft: Legacy is its refusal to fully embrace its darker elements. The original film had a sense of danger and risk that made it memorable, while the reboot shies away from exploring the consequences of the characters’ actions. The witches’ powers are treated as little more than a plot convenience, and there are no real consequences for their misuse. This lack of consequences robs the film of tension and makes it feel like a missed opportunity to explore the darker aspects of witchcraft.
Additionally, the special effects in The Craft: Legacy are underwhelming and fail to capture the magic of the original. The CGI sequences are often laughably bad, and the practical effects lack the eerie, unsettling quality that made the first film’s magic so captivating. The visual style of the film is also uninspired, lacking the Gothic and darkly atmospheric aesthetics that defined the original.
The film’s pacing is inconsistent, with a sluggish first act that takes far too long to establish the characters and their abilities. By the time the plot finally gains momentum, it’s difficult to remain engaged. The climax is rushed and poorly executed, leaving the audience unsatisfied and craving a more satisfying resolution.
On a positive note, the performances of the cast are adequate given the material they had to work with. Cailee Spaeny does her best with the underdeveloped character of Lily, and Zoey Luna brings a genuine charm to her role as Lourdes. Unfortunately, even their best efforts can’t salvage a script that lacks depth and originality.
The Craft: Legacy is a lackluster and uninspired reboot that fails to capture the magic of the original. Its poorly developed characters, shallow plot, and lack of consequences make it a forgettable addition to the world of witchcraft cinema. Fans of the original will likely be disappointed, and newcomers to the story would be better served by seeking out the 1996 classic instead. Zoe Lister-Jones had the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to this beloved cult classic, but instead, she delivered a film that lacks the depth, darkness, and enchantment that made the original Craft so enduring.