The Craft

The idea came from producer Douglas Wick, who wanted high school and witchcraft in one film. Peter Filardi researched the subject and wrote the first draft; Andrew Fleming rewrote the screenplay and directed. 85 actresses screen tested for the four parts, among them Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson and Alicia Silverstone. Rachel True and Fairuza Balk were cast first, and once True had the role Rochelle was rewritten as Black, with racist bullying as her central conflict. Robin Tunney was cast as Bonnie, then moved to the lead, Sarah, and Bonnie went to Neve Campbell. Tunney wore a wig throughout because she had shaved her head for Empire Records. Pat Devin, a practising Wiccan, advised on set and wrote the incantations used. It opened at number one in North America with 6,710,995 dollars and reached 55.6 million worldwide against a budget of 15 million. Balk and Tunney won Best Fight at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards. At the Saturn Awards it was nominated for Best Horror Film and Balk for Best Supporting Actress, and lost both. A good fit if you want the price of the spells read through a four way friendship coming apart. Not for a viewer who will struggle with a suicide attempt and scenes of self harm, which the story states plainly.