Practical Magic
1998 · Directed by Griffin Dunne
Original language: English
- romance
- fantasy
- comedy
The story
Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.
What it’s like
Warm, sun-dappled New England summers give way to moody, candlelit autumn in this 1998 film, all honeyed interiors, gingham and lace, dried herbs hanging in crowded kitchens, and a gently fairy-tale palette of pale blues and deep greens. Its camera stays mostly unhurried, with soft wide shots of an old family house and close, affectionate framing on the sisters, and the score leans on warm strings and a playful, slightly eerie chime that shifts toward dread only in its late-autumn stretches. The vibe is cozy and sisterly with a thread of melancholy, the kind of film that suits a rainy Sunday, a Halloween-season rewatch, or an evening with a mug of something hot. The pace is easygoing, with comedy and tenderness running alongside a few tense, brief supernatural jolts. Its emotional core is the bond between Sally and Gillian and their wry, sometimes prickly aunts, as two guarded women slowly learn to trust each other and their inheritance. Violence is limited and mostly off-screen, with a domestic abuser's menace and a few eerie, startling moments that are unsettling rather than gory. It is for people who want witchy atmosphere, romance and gentle humour, and a family drama that leans warm.
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