Practical magic, the heady mix of ’90s rom-com, domestic violence horror and supernatural stunts is perhaps best summed up in one line: “You have the worst taste in men.” Sandra BullockSally moans while helping her sister Gillian (Nicole Kidman), bury the evil ex they killed in the backyard of their magical mansion.
Twenty-five years after the film’s release, its synopsis remains fascinatingly rich. Bullock and Kidman play sisters bound by a curse that befalls any man who falls in love with a woman from their family. After their father is killed and their mother dies of a broken heart, the sisters are raised in an enviable cliffside estate by their amazingly evil aunts (Stockard Channing And Dianne Wiest, in the roles originally intended for Vanessa Redgrave And Julie Christie). Sally vows never to fall in love, while Gillian strives for romance.
The sisters live apart for several years – Sally gets married, they have two children (Evan Rachel Wood And Alexandra Artrip) with a man (Mark Feuerstein), whose death occurs as predicted, and Gillian becomes involved in a relationship with her abusive boyfriend Jimmy (Goran Visnjic). The couple kill Jimmy after he tries to kidnap them, but his spirit lingers, requiring a full-blown exorcism. Oh, and things are further complicated by the investigation into Jimmy’s murder conducted by Aidan QuinnThis is Gary Hallett, with whom Sally finds herself falling in love.
Suffice to say, the film has a lot. “I remember Bob Daley who was co-CEO of Warner Brothers, he was sitting one row ahead of (me) at our premiere,” the film’s director said. Griffin Dunn tells Vanity Fair. “After a very light-hearted scene where the girls were giggling and having fun, (we) had them dig the body out of the rose bush and stick needles in its eyes. He turned to the person next to him and said, “I wish the kid would just pick a tone.”
Critics tended to agree. Although the film took first place, it was adapted from Alice Hoffman1995 novel based on screenplay Robin Swicord Akiva Goldsman, And Adam Brooks people like Roger Ebert considered it “too scary for kids and too childish for adults.” Entertainment Weekly called it “a witch comedy so sloppy, tedious and confusing that it feels like it’s been cursed.”
Dunn, son of long ago VF member Dominic Dunne and actor best known for the 1985 films. After closing, never directed another studio film. But in the decades since its release, Practical magic has become a cult classic, especially loved by women for its enviable soundtrack (Faith Hill“This kiss”! Joni Mitchell“It’s about you”! Two originals Stevie Nicks tracks!) and themes of sisterhood. “Working with several different tones in one film is no longer unusual,” Dunn says. “When I did American Werewolf in London it was the same reaction. People were very upset that there was laughter in a horror movie. Now it’s impossible to make a horror film without making people laugh.”
According to Dunn, fervor for the film especially increases during Halloween. “Just a quick reminder: Just two days ago I was at a local restaurant in the Hudson Valley. Paul Rudd – one of my neighbors, he came up and said: “My son’s friend is obsessed with this movie.” Can I bring her here? She just wants to talk to you about it. She sat down at our table and asked me the same questions as you, only devoting every last detail to it. It was extremely pleasant.”