Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: The Witches has been giving kids nightmares since 1990, and it's not because they're weak—it's because Anjelica Huston peeling off her face is objectively terrifying. This is Roald Dahl at his darkest, and while it has imaginative world-building and a surprisingly mature ending about acceptance, it's also genuinely scary in ways that feel unintentional for a 'family' film.

The practical effects were groundbreaking for 1990 but look pretty dated now, and the pacing is slower than what modern kids expect. That said, if you've got a tween who loves spooky stuff and can handle real scares (not just jump scares), this is a cult classic worth experiencing. Just don't show it to your sensitive 6-year-old and expect them to sleep that night.

The WISE score reflects both its creative strengths and its significant scary content, plus a watchability penalty for being genuinely hard for 2025 kids to engage with. It's a 'proceed with caution' recommendation—know your kid's tolerance for nightmare fuel before pressing play.

Age Fit

Best for kids 10+ who can handle genuine scares and darker themes. Younger kids (7-9) might manage if they're horror-tolerant, but many will find it too intense. Teens 14+ may find it too dated and cheesy to engage with unless they're into retro cult classics.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

55

Based on Roald Dahl's book, this film has dark humor and some mean-spirited moments typical of his work. The witches genuinely hate children and plot to kill them all, which creates a consistently menacing tone. While there's ultimately a heroic message about bravery and family bonds, the overall atmosphere is more creepy than warm. The grandmother character provides some emotional grounding, but the film doesn't particularly model kindness or cooperation—it's more about survival against evil forces.

Imaginative

78

Roald Dahl's signature dark fantasy shines through with creative world-building: witches who wear wigs and gloves to hide their baldness and claws, a potion that turns children into mice, and the clever premise of witches masquerading as normal women at a hotel convention. The protagonist's mouse-transformation creates imaginative problem-solving scenarios. Jim Henson's Creature Shop provided the practical effects, which were groundbreaking for 1990. The film invites kids to imagine a hidden magical world lurking beneath the ordinary.

Safe

42

This is where The Witches gets dicey. The film is genuinely scary with nightmare-inducing imagery: witches removing their wigs and faces to reveal grotesque features, children being trapped in paintings, and the extended transformation sequence where the boy becomes a mouse is legitimately disturbing. Anjelica Huston's Grand High Witch is terrifying, especially during the convention scene where she peels off her face. A child dies in the opening (trapped in a painting by witches). The tone is much darker than typical 'family' films—this earned its reputation for traumatizing '90s kids. While there's no gore, nudity, or inappropriate content per se, the horror elements are unexpected for something labeled 'Family' and can be genuinely upsetting for young or sensitive viewers.

Enriching

62

The film explores themes of bravery, resourcefulness, and accepting changed circumstances (the boy remains a mouse at the end, which is surprisingly mature). There's a touching message about unconditional love—the grandmother loves him whether he's a boy or a mouse. The protagonist must use his wits to outsmart powerful enemies, demonstrating problem-solving and courage. However, the entertainment value is somewhat dated by 2025 standards—the pacing is slower, the special effects look very 1990, and modern kids may find it hard to engage with despite its cult classic status among millennials.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Classic Roald Dahl dark fantasy with imaginative world-building and creative practical effects from Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Teaches genuine bravery and resourcefulness—the protagonist must outsmart powerful enemies using only his wits
Refreshingly non-saccharine ending where the boy stays a mouse, exploring themes of acceptance and unconditional love
Anjelica Huston delivers an iconic, scenery-chewing performance as the Grand High Witch
Nostalgia factor for millennial parents who survived it and want to see if their kids are as tough as they were

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What to Watch For

Seriously scary imagery—witches removing their faces, disturbing transformation sequences, and a child dying in the opening will upset sensitive or younger viewers
The horror elements are real and sustained throughout; this isn't a light 'family' romp despite the label
Dated 1990s production values and slower pacing may bore kids accustomed to modern CGI and quick cuts
Some body horror and nightmare fuel that has literally given children nightmares for 35 years

Conversation Starters

"That was pretty scary, huh? What part freaked you out the most?"
"The boy stays a mouse at the end—how do you feel about that? Would you want a different ending?"
"Why do you think the grandmother was so calm about him being a mouse? What does that tell us about love?"
"If you could turn your enemies into animals, what would you pick and why?"

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