"The Witches of Eastwick" is a 1987 American comedy-fantasy film directed by George Miller. The movie is based on the 1984 novel of the same name by John Updike. Starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer, the film tells the story of three women who gain powers after meeting a charismatic and mysterious man. The film is set in the small town of Eastwick, where three friends, Alex, Jane, and Sukie, unknowingly form a coven of witches. Frustrated with their personal lives, the women wish for a man to sweep them off their feet. Their desires are answered when Daryl Van Horne, played by Jack Nicholson, arrives in town.
The Witches of Eastwick (film)
Alexandra Medford (Cher), Jane Spofford (Susan Sarandon), and Sukie Ridgemont (Michelle Pfeiffer) are three dissatisfied women living in the picturesque town of Eastwick, New England. Alexandra is a sculptress and single mother of one daughter, Jane is a newly divorced music teacher incapable of having children, and Sukie is an extremely fertile woman with six daughters, who also works as a journalist at the "Eastwick Word". Besides an everlasting friendship, these three women also share the similar misfortune of being abandoned by their husbands. Unaware that they are witches, the women unwittingly form a coven, of which they have weekly get-togethers, where they share their fantasies about ideal men.
The day after one such gathering, a mysterious man (Jack Nicholson) arrives in the town and immediately stirs up trouble by buying the city's landmark property, The Lennox Mansion. The arrival of this enigmatic stranger causes fascination among the townsfolk, all except local townswoman Felicia Alden (Veronica Cartwright), the Christian wife of newspaper editor Clyde Alden (Richard Jenkins). Clyde is also the boss of Sukie', whom Felicia dislikes. Although Felicia is not a witch, she is somehow able to sense that this man, whose name is easily forgotten, is up to no good. One night, at one of Jane's music recitals, the strange man appears and makes a spectacle of himself, which leads to more gossip among the people. After the recital, Jane receives flowers and a personal note from the man with the initial "D" written on it. This sparks Sukie's memory, finally revealing the man's name as Daryl Van Horne. At the very moment Sukie’s recollection, her beaded necklace inexplicably breaks and falls to the floor, causing Felicia, who mocked Daryl's name, to trip down a large staircase and break her leg.
Not long after his arrival, Daryl begins to seduce the women one by one, beginning with self-assured Alexandra, who is at first appalled by Daryl’s arrogance and bravado, but later falls in love. After making love to Alex, Daryl moves on to his next victim, Jane, who is considered very insecure and shy. As the two sit down and share polite conversations, Jane explains to Daryl that The Lennox Mansion was once the area where people were persecuted after being accused of witchcraft. Daryl soon begins to encourage Jane to stop living a life of doubt and learn to enjoy herself by living recklessly. Taking his advice to heart, Jane begins living carelessly by letting her hair down and indulging into alcohol and sex. The next day, Daryl invites all three women over to the mansion, which allows him to finally turn his attention onto Sukie. Envy and rivalry emerges among the women, leading to a supernatural game of tennis, causing the tennis ball to telekinetically decrease its speed. Finally aware of their magical abilities, the women spend more and more time with Daryl, agreeing to share him. As the women continue their presence at Daryl's mansion, Felicia begins spreading rumors about the three women’s indecency. Due to the gossip and public opinions extending throughout the town, Alexandra, Jane, and Sukie become the outcasts of Eastwick. Beginning to question their loyalty and trust, Daryl kills Felicia by causing the girls to unknowingly cast a spell against her. Later that night, as Felicia rants to her husband about Daryl being the Devil, she begins vomiting cherry stones. Horrified by his wife’s sickness, Clyde beats Felicia with a fire poker, killing her instantly.
Terrified of the dangerous effects they had on the citizens of Eastwick, the three women agree never to see or speak to each other and Daryl for a long period of time. Fueled with anger and animosity, Daryl practices his powers against the girls by bringing their worst fears to life. Alex awakens into a bed of snakes, Jane transforms into an old hag, and Sukie is forced to feel intense and wrenching pain. Realizing the only way to rid Daryl from their lives is by using witchcraft against him, the girls reunite only to seduce and ultimately kill Daryl. The next morning, as Daryl visits town for a while, the women decide to practice a banishing spell against Daryl. As Sukie rushes to Daryl's office and takes a spell book titled "Maleficio", Jane gathers some personal belongings of Daryl, such as clothing, hair, and pictures, while Alex creates a voodoo doll out of wax, made to resemble Daryl. Once the spell begins taking effect, Daryl races home to punish the girls for their betrayal. Terrified of Daryl’s capability and power, the witches toss the poppet into the flames of a fire, causing Daryl to vanish.
Eighteen months later, Alexandra, Jane, and Sukie have each borne a son. Although they still possess their magical abilities, in fear of resurrecting Daryl, they choose not to practice them. As the women live together in the Lenox Mansion, Daryl attempts to communicate with his sons by appearing on television screens. However, worried of Daryl's diabolical intentions, the women avoid him by clicking the TV off.
Where was The Witches of Eastwick filmed?
The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 dark fantasy film by George Miller. The film is based on 'The Witches of Eastwick' novel by John Updike penned in 1984. While the book is set in the 1970s in Rhode Island, the movie adaptation was made for the 80s audiences and was filmed in Massachusetts and Beverly Hills in California.
The film is based on three women who realize they are witches when several things they wish for take place in their sleepy little town. They hope for the perfect man of their deepest desires, and suddenly there is talk of a new homeowner who has purchased the largest mansion in their town and fulfills each of their passions and dreams. However, not everything is as wondrous as it seems.
The Witches of Eastwick has a superstar cast. The three witches, Alexandra Medford (portrayed by Cher), Jane Spofford (Susan Sarandon), and Sukie Ridgemont (Michelle Pfeifer), carry the movie forward on their shoulders and are the perfect protegees for the diabolical Daryl Van Horne (portrayed by dashing Jack Nicholson).
The three women have lost their husbands because of divorce, abandonment, or death and are generally fed up with the male species. They are unaware that they are witches and unknowingly form a coven. Since they are childhood friends, they still meet up each week to catch up and discuss where their lives are when they end up talking about their ideal man.
As they do so, a mysterious man (whose name no one can remember) buys a mansion in their town and becomes the talk of the city. He introduces himself to the three women and brings each under his wing.
What follows is a tale of love, sacrifice, black magic, betrayal, and ultimately, revenge with the three witches reclaiming their lives.
Their desires are answered when Daryl Van Horne, played by Jack Nicholson, arrives in town. Daryl is a wealthy and enigmatic man who not only fulfills their desires but also brings out their inner powers. The main idea of the film revolves around the exploration of the three women's newfound powers and their journey as witches.
The Witches of Eastwick Locations
The Witches of Eastwick was shot primarily in 2 significant locations – Beverly Hills, California, and a few towns in Massachusetts. Historic houses, schools, waterfront homes, parish houses, academies, and more are in Massachusetts. However, the lobby scene that is the foyer of the Lenox House is shot in Beverly Hills, with a few shots in studios in Hollywood. Castle Hill is used for all the exterior shots of the Lenox Mansion, with many interior scenes filmed at the Wang Theater in Boston and Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Daryl's library and swimming pool were sound stage sets constructed at the Warner Brothers studio.
All of The Witches of Eastwick action scenes were in a controlled environment like the flying, tumbling over on the roads, and other crash and burn settings. However, even during these scenes, the crowd control was perfect in that there were no bystanders in any of the shots. The geographical backgrounds, hilly regions, vast plains, and small-town effect of the gossip mill and buzz are perfect for the movie adaptation.
Teaser: Originally, the film, like the book, was set for film shoots in Rhode Island. However, there was a controversy over whether the local Congregational Church should be in the filming. Instead, Warner Brothers chose the Massachusetts filming location.
As they embrace their abilities, the women begin to wield magic and indulge in forbidden pleasures. However, their lives take a dark turn as their newfound powers start to consume them. "The Witches of Eastwick" delves into themes of female empowerment, sexuality, and jealousy. The film highlights the strength and independence of the three protagonists, as they break free from their conventional roles as wives and mothers. It also tackles societal expectations and the double standards imposed on women. Despite being released in the 1980s, "The Witches of Eastwick" remains a relevant film that challenges gender norms and celebrates the power of women. The performances by the lead cast members, particularly Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer, contribute to the film's success. In conclusion, "The Witches of Eastwick" is a captivating comedy-fantasy film that explores the lives of three women who become witches. The movie delves into themes of female empowerment, sexuality, and societal expectations. With a talented cast and compelling storytelling, it remains a classic film that challenges traditional gender roles..
Reviews for "Exploring the Witchcraft Stereotypes in "The Witches of Eastwick" 1987"
1. John - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The Witches of Eastwick" as it had a talented cast and an intriguing concept. However, I was left disappointed. The story felt disjointed and lacked depth, leaving me unsatisfied. The character development was also lacking, making it hard to connect with any of the protagonists. The comedic elements often fell flat, and the film seemed unsure of whether it wanted to be a horror or a comedy. Overall, "The Witches of Eastwick" failed to live up to its potential and left me wanting more.
2. Emily - 1/5 - I found "The Witches of Eastwick" to be a complete waste of time. The plot was confusing and poorly executed, making it difficult to follow along. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or relatability. I also found the humor to be cringeworthy and the attempts at horror to be ineffective. The film seemed to rely heavily on shock value rather than delivering a cohesive and engaging story. I would not recommend "The Witches of Eastwick" to anyone.
3. Sarah - 1/5 - I have never been so bored watching a movie in my entire life. "The Witches of Eastwick" is a complete snooze fest. The pacing is slow, and the plot meanders aimlessly. The characters are uninteresting and the dialogue is trite. The so-called "witchcraft" elements are laughably cheesy and lack any sense of excitement or intrigue. Overall, "The Witches of Eastwick" is a forgettable and tedious film that I would not recommend to anyone looking for an entertaining watch.