What to watch on Halloween: 5 best witch movies in the history of cinema

Halloween is the only time of year when it makes sense to pretend that magic is real. And nothing personifies our fears of this night like witches - women who practice magic and do not obey the rules of mortals.

"Once upon a time," writes the Observer, "they were burned at the stake, but today they are a staple of pop culture. And cinema, of course, could not avoid this topic. Films about witches have been made since the days of silent cinema to this day.

Here are 5 of the best witch movies in the history of world cinema, according to the Observer.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a 1971 American musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson. The film is based on the books by English children's writer Mary Norton. The film, which also includes animation, stars Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Ian Weigill, Cindy O'Callaghan, and Roy Snart.

The filming of Bedknobs and Broomsticks was repeatedly postponed due to the similarity of the script to Mary Poppins (1964), and yet in December 1971 the film was released, receiving mixed reviews from film critics.

The plot: In August 1940, during the war with Germany, three orphans Charlie, Carrie and Paul Rawlins are evacuated from London to the town of Peppering Eye, where they are placed under the care of Miss Eglantine Price.

The children try to escape back to London, but when they see Miss Price flying a broom, they change their minds. Miss Price tells them that she is studying witchcraft at a witch's school and is going to use her spells against the Nazis. In exchange for their silence, she offers the children a spell that allows them to fly on the broom.

Bell, Book and Candle

Bell, Book and Candle is a 1958 American supernatural romantic comedy directed by Richard Quine. Starring: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs.

The plot: Kim Novak plays the role of witch Gillian Holroyd, who lives in Greenwich Village with her Siamese cat. Having made a Christmas wish to meet "someone else", she meets tycoon Shep Henderson (James Stewart) on her doorstep.

When Gillian finds out that Shep is going to marry her college nemesis, she casts a love spell on him, but falls in love with him herself.

I Married a Witch

I Married a Witch (1942) is an American romantic comedy with a supernatural twist (directed by Renée Clare) starring: Veronica Lake and Fredric March.

The plot: Jennifer and her father are burned at the stake in Salem after pilgrim Jonathan Wooley accuses them of witchcraft. As a result, Jennifer curses the Wooley family, whose men will always be unhappy in marriage.

After 200 years, Jennifer comes back to life and soon meets Governor Wallace Wooley.

Despite the fact that Wally is engaged and resists Jennifer's advances, they fall in love after Jennifer accidentally drinks a love drink intended for him.

Practical Magic

Practical Magic is a 1998 American fantasy-romance drama film based on the novel of the same name by Alice Hoffman. The film is directed by Griffin Dunne.

The plot: Bullock and Kidman play sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, descended from an ancient witch, who were raised by their aunts after their parents died due to a family curse. They taught the sisters practical magic. As adults, Sally and Gillian are going to use their abilities to destroy a demon before it kills them. The movie is considered a cult and classic.

The Craft

The Craft is an American teenage horror film directed by Andrew Fleming in 1996 and starring Robin Tunney, Fayruz Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True.

The Craft was released in the United States on May 3, 1996, and unexpectedly became a hit. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the feminist message of the plot, the performances of the main roles, the direction and production values. At the same time, it was criticized for its poor script and for adherence to clichés.

The plot: The Craft is not only a coming-of-age drama, but also a horror film in which Sarah (Robin Tunney) befriends a group of outcasts at her new school in Los Angeles. The girls, who are rejected as witches, are dressed in leather jackets, plaid skirts, slip dresses, and knee-high socks that are a mix of school uniforms and 90s gothic aesthetics.

As the girls' magical powers grow stronger and they pursue their abusers, their lives, and most importantly, their friendships, spiral out of control. Ahead of its time in its portrayal of #MeToo lynching, revenge for sexual assault, and the karmic consequences of racist bullying, The Craft remains timeless in the way it empowers teenage girls with magic-even if it has disastrous consequences.