Directed by Nicholas Roeg
Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling
Grand High Witch: Formula 86: My greatest triumph. A work of... genius. Formula 86! In this bottle, 500 doses, with a delay mechanism that prevents it from working until two hours after it has been taken.
Millie: What does it do... Genius One?
Grand High Witch: One dose, and the time works to the second. But more than five doses breaks the delay barrier, and the formula works instantly. Child... starts to shrink. The child... starts to... grow fur. Starts... growing a tail! All this happens in precisely twenty-five seconds! Shrinking more... child is no longer a child.
[chuckles]
Grand High Witch: Child... is a MOUSE!
Anjelica Huston is a horrifying and vampy Grand High Witch in this adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book. While traveling in Great Britain with his grandmother, the orphaned Luke overhears a convention of witches (cleverly disguised as the Royal Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) plotting to eliminate England’s children by turning them all into mice. Hideousness is revealed, potions are drunk, cats and stomping feet must be evaded and fun is had by all, in particular by Huston, who zestfully plays an utterly despicable hag intent on being just as evil as evil can be. Director Nicholas Roeg offers up a delightful Halloween tale with just enough edge to amuse the grownups and satisfy the kids without keeping them awake all night.
CinemaLit Films
