Witchcraft is tricky. Honestly, trying to follow up a 1996 cult classic like The Craft is a bit like trying to summon Manon on a Tuesday afternoon—you’re probably going to get burned. When The Craft: Legacy dropped in 2020, the internet didn't just have opinions; it had a full-blown meltdown. People wanted the grunge, the leather coats, and the "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board" intensity of the original Los Angeles quartet. Instead, they got something softer. They got something weirder.
It’s been a few years now, and the dust has finally settled. If you look past the initial "it’s not the original" knee-jerk reaction, you’ll find that director Zoe Lister-Jones actually did something pretty gutsy. She didn't just copy Andrew Fleming's homework.
What People Get Wrong About The Craft: Legacy
Most fans went into this thinking it was a reboot. It isn't. It’s a direct sequel, though it takes its sweet time telling you that. The story follows Lily (played by Cailee Spaeny), who moves to a new town because her mom (Michelle Monaghan) is moving in with a guy named Adam (David Duchovny). If you've seen a movie before, you know Adam is trouble.
The biggest complaint? The "lack of stakes." In the 1996 film, Nancy Downs—played with terrifying perfection by Fairuza Balk—was the villain. She was the shadow side of power. In The Craft: Legacy, the girls actually like each other. There isn't a "mean girl" transition. This frustrated a lot of people who wanted a catfight. But here's the thing: Lister-Jones was trying to explore "intersectional magic." She wanted to show what happens when a coven actually supports its members instead of tearing them apart.
It’s a different vibe. It’s colorful. It’s Gen Z. It’s... kinda wholesome? At least until the third act hits and the patriarchy literally tries to eat them.
The David Duchovny Factor and Toxic Masculinity
David Duchovny is great at playing charming creeps. In this movie, he represents the "Old Guard." His character, Adam, is a motivational speaker who talks about "regaining masculine power." It’s very 2020. It's very relevant to the conversations we’re still having today.
While the original movie was about the internal dangers of power—how it corrupts the individual—the sequel is about the external dangers. It’s about how the world tries to suppress the power of young women. It’s less "I want to be popular" and more "I want to survive this house."
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Breaking Down the Coven Dynamics
The new coven—Frankie, Tabby, and Lourdes—are more like a support group than a gang.
- Lourdes (Zoey Luna): Provides a much-needed perspective on trans identity within spiritual spaces.
- Tabby (Lovie Simone): Brings a grounding element to the group's elemental magic.
- Frankie (Gideon Adlon): The high-energy spark plug.
They don't spend their time cursing classmates to lose their hair. They spend their time trying to figure out how to be "awake." Is it as cinematic as a swarm of cicadas? Maybe not. But it feels more like how modern witchcraft (the stuff you see on TikTok or "WitchTok") actually functions in the real world. It’s about community, not just vengeance.
The Fairuza Balk Cameo: How It Ties Together
We have to talk about the ending. For 80 minutes, you’re wondering if this has anything to do with Sarah, Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle. Then, in the final moments, we see her. Nancy Downs is in a psychiatric facility, and she’s Lily’s biological mother.
This changed everything.
Suddenly, the "softness" of the movie made sense. Lily isn't just some random girl; she’s the offspring of the most powerful, chaotic witch we’ve ever seen. The movie ends right when it gets interesting. It’s a cliffhanger that we still haven't seen a resolution for, and frankly, we might never. But that connection validates the entire "Legacy" subtitle. It’s about the burden of what comes before you.
Why the Critics and Fans Disagreed
Look at the Rotten Tomatoes scores. Critics were actually somewhat kind, giving it a 48%—not great, but not a disaster. Fans, however, dragged it. Why?
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Expectations are a prison.
The 1996 film was lightning in a bottle. It had a soundtrack that defined a generation (Letters to Cleo, Heather Nova, Love Spit Love). It had costume design that people still cosplay today. The Craft: Legacy feels more like an indie drama that happens to have magic in it. It’s shot differently. It’s paced differently.
Also, the magic in the 2020 version feels... easier? In the first movie, there was a heavy price for every spell. In the sequel, they sort of just "do" magic. It lacks that grittiness. That’s a fair critique. If magic is too easy, the drama deflates.
The Real-World Impact of "Legacy"
Despite the mixed reviews, the film did something important. It revitalized interest in the franchise for a new demographic. It acknowledged that the world had changed in 24 years. You can't write a movie about teenage girls in 2020 and pretend social media and modern gender politics don't exist.
Lister-Jones, who is an actor and director known for Band Aid, brought a very specific female gaze to the project. The way the girls are filmed isn't sexualized. They look like teenagers. They dress like teenagers. In a weird way, it’s a more "realistic" take on the supernatural, even if that sounds like an oxymoron.
Production Details You Probably Missed
The movie was produced by Jason Blum’s Blumhouse. Usually, Blumhouse means "horror," but this is definitely more "supernatural drama."
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- Filming Location: It was shot primarily in Toronto, standing in for a generic American city.
- The Rituals: The production hired actual occult consultants to make sure the hand gestures and "calling the corners" looked authentic to modern Wiccan practices.
- The Wardrobe: Pay attention to the colors. Each girl often wears colors associated with their specific element (Earth, Air, Fire, Water), much like the original, but more subtle.
Is It Worth a Re-Watch?
Honestly, yeah. If you go into it not expecting a horror movie, it holds up better. It’s a coming-of-age story about consent and finding your voice.
The scene where they "freeze time" in the hallway is a direct homage to the original, but it’s played for joy rather than intimidation. That’s the core difference. The 1996 film was about the fear of power; the 2020 film is about the celebration of it. Both are valid.
The tragedy of The Craft: Legacy is that it was released during the height of the pandemic. It didn't get the theatrical run it deserved. It was pushed to VOD (Video on Demand), which meant it never got that "event" feeling. It just sort of appeared on our TV screens while we were all stuck at home.
Actionable Steps for Fans of the Franchise
If you want to dive deeper into the world of The Craft, don't just stop at the movies.
- Watch the original 1996 film first: You need the context of Nancy’s descent into madness to appreciate Lily’s struggle in the sequel.
- Check out the "The Craft" comic books: Published by Boom! Studios, these expand on the lore in ways the movies couldn't.
- Follow Zoe Lister-Jones’ work: Understanding her directorial style helps you see what she was trying to achieve with the sequel’s pacing and tone.
- Look for the Easter Eggs: There are several subtle nods to the original soundtrack and dialogue hidden in the background of the 2020 film—see if you can spot the "we are the weirdos, mister" reference that isn't spoken aloud.
The legacy of The Craft isn't just about one movie. It's about the idea that those who feel like outcasts can find power in each other. Whether you prefer the dark, rainy vibes of the 90s or the neon-soaked inclusivity of the 2020s, the message remains the same: watch out for the ones who don't fit in. They might just be able to change the world. Or at least change their hair color.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night:
Start by watching the 1996 original, then immediately follow it with The Craft: Legacy. Pay close attention to how the portrayal of "The Watcher" or "Manon" shifts from a terrifying deity to a more internal sense of intuition. This back-to-back viewing highlights the evolution of how we view female agency in cinema over the last three decades.