The Witches (1990)

A nine year old boy (Jasen Fisher) and his grandmother (Mai Zetterling)  are staying at a seaside hotel in England when the hotel hosts a convention of witches lead by the Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston). The witches (who look like ordinary women) plot to turn the world's children into mice! Based on the children's novel by Roald Dahl (CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY) and directed by Nicholas Roeg (DON'T LOOK NOW). This enchanting if dark fantasy was well received by the critics when it originally opened in 1990 but inexplicably, it was a failure at the box office. In the ensuing years, its reputation has grown and there's even a remake starring Anne Hathaway due out next year. While the film may be too frightening for very young children, ages 8 and up should be okay with it. Dahl was reputedly unhappy with the film's "happy" ending which differs from his book and I'm on his side. But other than that, this is an inventive lark of a movie that adults can enjoy every bit as much as kids. Huston gives a marvelous performance as the head witch, she seems to be having a ball being so wicked. With Rowan Atkinson, Jane Horrocks and Brenda Blethyn.