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As October unfolds, the countdown to Halloween officially continues. For some, Halloween is all about eerie haunted houses and supernatural thrills. For others, the season is better captured by candlelit evenings, crisp autumn air, and the comfort of early nights spent with family.
On either side of this spectrum, there is a wide catalogue of films that encompass the spirit of the season, though none that do it quite as thoroughly as Practical Magic (1998; Griffin Dunne). Classics like Charlie Brown, Halloweentown (1998; Duwayne Dunham), and Hocus Pocus (1993; Kenny Ortega) settle into the holiday in a subtle, cozy way while horror slashers like Halloween (1978; John Carpenter) and Terrifier (2016; Damien Leone) catapult its audiences into the scarier side of the season.
Practical Magic combines both sides of this spectrum.1 With its blend of witchcraft, romance, humor, family, and a sprinkle of spirit possession, the film embraces autumn nostalgia along with the darker underbelly of the spooky season.
By refusing to lean in one distinct direction — comfort or discomfort — Practical Magic lingers in the sweet spot right in the middle, making it the perfect Halloween movie to capture every mood of the season.
Why Practical Magic Became A Halloween Classic
Initially after its theatrical release on October 16, 1998, Practical Magic did not receive the same praise it does today. With a budget of $75 million and only $46 million grossed domestically, the negative critical reception caused director Griffin Dunne to believe the movie might have been cursed by a real witch.2 In reality, the mix of themes and elements didn’t sit right with viewers at the time, with many feeling it failed to pick a clear audience — children or adults.
Despite the cold reception of its release, Practical Magic has grown into a cult classic, with new and old fans that now cherish the many elements that critics disliked in 1998. The film’s melting pot of genres and tones continues to draw viewers in around Halloween because it’s a comfort movie that feels like fall, touching on all that the season offers.
There’s family trauma and pure sisterhood, true love and heartbreak, grief and new beginnings, and — along with it all — a hint of witchy shenanigans just spooky enough to let a hint of horror creep in. Practical Magic‘s reluctance to choose elements from one single genre has grown into its strength, encompassing the true beauty of what makes October and Halloween so special: it refuses to define itself as just sweet or just spooky.
The Perfect Balance Between Light And Dark
While the film’s plot — which follows Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) murdering Jimmy (Goran Visnjic), bringing him back from the dead, murdering him again, and trying to evade detective Gary’s (Aidan Quinn) investigation while the spirit of Jimmy looms over their life — seems dark by itself, Practical Magic wraps it all up in a soft, fall package.
There might be death, curses, and a hint of abuse, but there’s also midnight margaritas with Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest) and song placements like Faith Hill‘s “This Kiss”3 to stave off the darkness.
Like its plot, the film’s aesthetic captures the contrast of Halloween as well. The dark, tense late-night scenes involving Jimmy’s murder unravel alongside the safety of the lighter, homey Owens house. Even under the pouring rain as they shove Jimmy’s body into a freshly dug grave, the Owens house stands behind them as a beacon of light, effectively softening the scene without diminishing the darker reality of what the sisters have gotten themselves into.
The aesthetics and tones support one another without completely overwhelming the narrative. Practical Magic does not force its audience to choose between being scared and feeling cozy. Instead, it reminds viewers that Halloween can be both.
Sisterhood, Trauma, & Supernatural Horror
Beneath these elements, the heart of Practical Magic is its commentary on family and healing. The magic that lingers within the film’s witchy aesthetic melts into both the lighter and darker sides. It is a part of what makes the Owens family bonds so strong, but it is also the cause of the family curse, Sally’s grief, and what lands Gilly and Sally in their conflict with Jimmy.
Witchcraft is represented as a natural occurrence for the Owens family, one that is not inherently evil but is still capable of being dark. There are prices to be made, such as spells that require animal sacrifices and the fatal fate of any man an Owens woman falls in love with, but they do not take away from the whimsy of magic either.
Like its magic, Practical Magic represents sisterhood, trauma, and supernatural horror in an equally positive and negative light. Sally and Gillian’s bond is unbreakable, but they are not without their conflicts. The curse haunting them represents a continuation of family trauma that began long before the events of the film, yet at times it also serves to bring the sisters and the women in their lives even closer together.
The supernatural horror of Jimmy possessing Gillian is one of the film’s darkest moments, but it is also the climactic moment that finally pushes the town to come together and accept the Owens family.
Practical Magic shows both sides of every element it places before it audience. It allows its themes of sisterhood, trauma, and supernatural horror to coincide with one another, just as it does all its other lighter and darker aesthetics, and in doing so creates a classic, fully fleshed-out representation of witchcraft and family.
Practical Magic — Two Sides Of Halloween
Ultimately, Practical Magic offers a bit of everything that makes Halloween feel so special. There’s familiar spooky elements like witches, curses, ghosts, and dark magic as well as humor, romance, and small-town drama to keep the film grounded.
Decades after its release, the movie continues to hold space alongside other classic Halloween films as one that celebrates the thrill of the supernatural while also showcasing the warmer themes that make autumn so inviting. When looking for a film that fully captures every angle of this holiday season, Practical Magic is the perfect pick.
Footnotes
- Dunne, Griffin. Practical Magic. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1998. ↩︎
- Sims, David. “Practical Magic Revisited, 20 Years Later.” The Atlantic, October 16, 2018. ↩︎
- Faith Hill. “This Kiss.” Faith, Loud Recording, 1998. Spotify. ↩︎