You are here:

Roald Dahl's The Witches

Roald Dahl's The Witches

Representation Score

5.4/10

Fair

2020

PG

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Runtime

104 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film introduces a diverse cast and a strong female lead, shifting the power dynamics towards a matriarchal guide. However, it still adheres to a conventional social structure, emphasizing traditional morality and family stability over complex identity issues or cultural critique. The narrative benefits from a multicultural atmosphere but relies heavily on transformation clichés and binary moral landscapes, which limit its depth in addressing disability and cultural critique.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Roald Dahl's The Witches have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The story focuses on a traditional relationship between a grandson and his grandmother. There is no visible representation of non-straight or non-cisgender identities, nor does it explore themes related to the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Roald Dahl's The Witches portray gender?

Fair

The film challenges traditional gender roles by centering a powerful female character. The grandmother plays a significant role in guiding the story, while the antagonist is a group of strong women.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Roald Dahl's The Witches?

Good

The film features a diverse cast of actors, including Awkwafina, which adds to the multicultural atmosphere of the seaside resort setting.

How does Roald Dahl's The Witches represent religion and culture?

Limited

The movie follows a traditional moral storyline of good versus evil without questioning Western institutions or religious traditions.

Does Roald Dahl's The Witches include disability representation?

Fair

Themes of physical change and vulnerability are central to the fantasy conflict. However, these elements are used primarily as plot devices rather than exploring the lived experiences of those with disabilities.

Present on Screen

  • The film showcases a powerful matriarchal lead who guides the story with intellect and strategy.
  • A diverse cast enhances the multicultural atmosphere of the setting.
  • The antagonist is a group of strong women, challenging traditional patriarchal roles.

Limited or Absent

  • The story lacks representation of non-straight or non-cisgender identities.
  • Physical transformations serve as plot devices rather than nuanced explorations of disability.
  • The moral framework is binary and does not engage with complex cultural critiques.

Official Synopsis

In late 1967, a young orphaned boy goes to live with his loving grandma in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. As the boy and his grandmother encounter some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, she wisely whisks him away to a seaside resort. Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world's Grand High Witch has gathered.

How are these scores produced? →

Where to Watch

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.