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"THE WITCHES"
(2020) (Jahzir Bruno, Anne Hathaway) (PG)


At-A-Glace Content Summary

Alcohol/Drugs Minor
Blood/Gross Stuff Heavy
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Extreme
Frightening/Tense Scenes Heavy
Gun/Weapons Minor
Imitative Behavior Moderate
Jump Scenes Moderate
Music (Scary/Tense) Moderate
Music (Inappropriate) None
Profanity Minor
Sex/Nudity Minor
Smoking None
Tense Family Scenes Extreme
Topics to Talk About Heavy
Violence Heavy


QUICK TAKE:
Horror: A boy and his grandmother try to stop a witch leader and her coven from turning children into easier to kill mice.
PLOT:

It's 1968 and a never named 8-year-old kid -- listed in the credits as Hero Boy (JAHZIR BRUNO) -- suddenly finds himself orphaned and now living with his tough but loving Grandma (OCTAVIA SPENCER) in her Alabama home. For a while, and understandably so, he's in a depressed funk, but his grandma gets him out of that, partially with the help of a pet mouse that he names Daisy.

But just as he's getting better, they realize a witch is after him, and since all witches hate children, Grandma pulls some strings and gets them a room at the posh Grand Orleans Imperial Island Hotel where she figures they'll be safe and hotel manager Mr. Stringer (STANLEY TUCCI) welcomes them.

Unbeknownst to any of them, a local meeting of the International Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in the ballroom there is really a cover for a meeting of witches ruled by the Grand High Witch (ANNE HATHAWAY). Like the rest of them, she hates children and plots to have witches open candy stores around the country where such goodies will be laced with a potion that will turn children into far more easily squishable mice.

She showcases what she's plotting by nabbing the always hungry Bruno (CODIE-LEI EASTICK) and turning him into a mouse, something that shocks Hero Boy who's hiding under the stage. But his pet mouse, who's actually Mary (voice of KRISTIN CHENOWETH), another human who's been mousified by witches, saves Bruno.

With Hero Boy then turned into one as well, it's up to the trio of mice and Grandma to foil the Grand High Witch's plan.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Probably, especially if they like scary movies designed for them.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG
For scary images/moments, language, and thematic elements.


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