Review: The Craft: Legacy

Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

In terms of unnecessary sequels to movies that weren't that great to begin with, "The Craft: Legacy" is actually somewhat interesting for its first two-thirds before deciding on a plot line that is marginally foreshadowed, but not really developed, and among the less interesting routes for the picture to go, considering the other elements at play in the earlier scenes.

Yes, the film is a follow-up, of sorts, to the 1996 movie "The Craft," which starred Neve Campbell and Fairuza Balk, and includes a similar dynamic - four girls who are budding witches, although while in this case they also have one Black member of the entourage, they also have a transgender member. At first, the picture attempts to address modern societal issues in a manner that comes off as a little forced and awkward, but then eventually becomes intriguing.

Basically, the film involves a teenager named Lily (Cailee Spaeny) traveling with her mother, Helen (Michelle Monaghan), to move in with her mom's new beau, Adam (David Duchovny), an author whose specialty appears to be masculine frailty, or something like that. He lives with his two strapping teenage sons and a younger, more sensitive boy. 

The most interesting plot thread in the film involves a jerky high school boy named Timmy (Nicholas Galitzine), who ridicules Lily in front of her new classmates after she has her period in class - a nod to "Carrie," perhaps? This prompts three girls in her class - Lourdes (Zoey Luna), Frankie (Gideon Adlon) and Tabby (Lovie Simone) - to befriend her and share their secret with her: they're a coven of witches. The reason they chose Lily is that they can sense the powers she holds - which are displayed when she flings Timmy across the hallway accidentally after he harasses her.

The girls break into Timmy's house and put a spell on him, which - in the film's funniest ongoing gag - leads to the asshole jock character becoming "Woke Timmy," whose sensitivity and newly progressive stances shock the rest of his classmates. But what is at first an amusing gag becomes something more serious when Timmy makes a confession to the four girls - and the question of "consent," in this case how Timmy is being forced to behave in a manner without his permission, comes into play.

There's some interesting stuff to be found here, especially as Lily begins to somewhat selfishly consider to what purpose she wants to use Timmy, versus his true nature, which is revealed in his confession. There are several other plot threads that weave throughout the film during its first two-thirds - including a scene featuring an extremely creepy case of sleepwalking.

Unfortunately, the genre plot devices kick in toward the end, and a plot thread previously unbeknownst - but somewhat hinted at - emerges and the film goes in a completely different direction, and one that's not as interesting as all that's gone on before.

There's also a finale twist involving Lily's family tree, although it's pretty easy to see where it's going from the moment it's mentioned, that could open the door for a third "Craft" film. If there is one, I'd suggest the filmmakers stick with the interesting thematic elements of the first part of "Legacy," rather than going all in for yet another genre exercise.