Reviews: The Craft: Legacy (2020) Movie Review
Genres: Horror, Drama, Fantasy, Comedy
Subgenres: Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller, Dangerous Exploration, Teens, Witchcraft, Blumhouse
Our review of The Craft: Legacy (2020) dives into the story, the scares, and whether it truly delivers the horror fans crave.
The Craft: Legacy (2020) attempts to revive the magic of the 1996 cult classic but ultimately fails to conjure the same spellbinding effect. Directed by Zoe Lister-Jones, this sequel/reboot follows Lily (Cailee Spaeny), a teenager who moves to a new town and discovers she has latent magical abilities. She soon joins a coven of three witches who have been searching for their "fourth."
The Craft: Legacy (2020) – A Weak Spell in a Legacy Franchise
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
While the film retains themes of female empowerment, identity, and teenage struggles, it lacks the edge and depth that made the original resonate with audiences. The focus on inclusivity and modern social issues is commendable, but the execution feels superficial and forced, rather than naturally integrated into the narrative.
The character development is severely lacking, especially among the supporting witches. The original The Craft gave each girl a distinct personality and emotional depth, while in this film, the coven members feel interchangeable and underexplored.
Acting and Cinematography
Cailee Spaeny delivers a solid lead performance as Lily, bringing vulnerability and strength to the role. However, the rest of the cast fails to leave a lasting impression.David Duchovny plays a mysterious, controlling figure, but his role is underdeveloped and ultimately wasted.
Cinematography-wise, the film has a glossy, polished look, but it lacks the gritty, eerie aesthetic that helped define the original. The spell-casting sequences feel uninspired, relying too heavily on CGI instead of practical effects, which diminishes the mystical atmosphere.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Director Zoe Lister-Jones brings a modern feminist lens to the story, but the film suffers from a weak script and lack of suspense. The original blended witchcraft with horror and psychological drama, while this film feels more like a Disney Channel take on witchcraft, with minimal stakes and no real sense of danger.
Strengths:
- Cailee Spaeny delivers a strong performance – She carries the film despite a weak script.
- Modernized take on witchcraft and inclusivity – The film acknowledges the importance of diversity and representation.
- Some interesting concepts introduced – The exploration of male toxicity and power dynamics had potential but wasn’t fully developed.
Weaknesses:
- Flat supporting characters – The other witches are underdeveloped and lack chemistry.
- Weak antagonist and low stakes – The film fails to create tension or fear, making it feel uneventful.
- Overuse of CGI in spells – The magic effects lack authenticity compared to the original’s practical effects.
- Disappointing third act and forced sequel tease – The ending feels rushed and anticlimactic, and the attempt to connect to the original film feels hollow.
Final Verdict: 4/10
The Craft: Legacy lacks the edge, depth, and suspense of its predecessor. While it introduces some intriguing modern themes, it fails to develop its characters, maintain tension, or deliver a compelling story. Despite a strong lead performance from Cailee Spaeny, weak writing, lackluster horror elements, and forced connections to the original make this a forgettable sequel. Fans of the 1996 classic will likely be disappointed.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- The Craft: Legacy Rating Scores
- Our Score: 4/10
- Overall Score: 4.59/10
- IMDB: 4.6/10
- MetaCritic: 5.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 4.7/10
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