Witches Of Eastwick Isn’t Being Given The Chance To Find New Fans
It is beyond me why The Witches of Eastwick is not readily available for streaming on a popular service like Netflix or Hulu. Instead, old fans are left to rent it every year or purchase it for rewatch, and new fans are unlikely to find this gem. As Halloween approaches each year, this Jack Nicholson classic is a must-watch.
Mad Max Creator Adapts Iconic Author’s Work
I grew up watching The Witches of Eastwick, and I was probably much too young to watch it the first, second, or third time I saw this decadent and seductive piece of cinema. George Miller of Mad Max fame directed this adaptation of John Updike’s novel of the same name. The result is a wild, raucous, dark comedy that leaves you laughing and horrified almost at the same time.
For a film made in 1987, the special effects are extremely well done and the cinematography keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.
Where Have All The Good Men Gone?
The Witches of Eastwick opens up with three women, all newly single, all close friends. Alex (Cher), Jane (Susan Sarandon), and Sukie (Michelle Pfeiffer) are all discontent with their lives.
Alex’s husband died and left her with a child to raise. Jane’s husband divorced her, and she can’t have children. And Sukie’s husband abandoned her and their six children.
The women meet regularly to discuss the failures of men and to wonder where all the good men have gone, or if they even exist anymore.
Oh Wait… We Found One (Or Did We)?
What the women don’t realize is that they are the witches of Eastwick. They don’t know yet that they have powers, or that their regular meetings are actually a loose form of coven. But they soon discover the truth when a mysterious and wealthy man blows into town and purchases the Lenox Mansion, a town landmark.
Daryl (Jack Nicholson) wastes no time in seducing each of the three women, clearly aware of their power and drawn to it. Quickly, the audience realizes Daryl is a powerful witch in his own right. He may even be, as the town prude, Felicia (Veronica Cartwright), suspects, the devil himself.
Just Witchin’ Around
As each woman falls in love with Daryl and gives herself to him, they also find out about each other. At first, they become jealous, but then they settle into a happily hedonistic polyamorous relationship that has all the women spending time at the mansion together. Unfortunately, Felicia is not so pleased.
She rails against the loose morals of the foursome, and begins to spread rumors about the women’s indecency. Daryl tricks the women, these witches of Eastwick, to cast a spell on Felicia. In a classic horror scene, Felicia vomits cherry pits uncontrollably in her home with her husband while the women all cackle in the mansion.
Renting Witches Of Eastwick
GFR SCORE
Of course, nothing good or bad lasts forever, and the witches of Eastwick soon realize just how dark Daryl is. In just under two hours, this film takes its viewers through several roller coasters of pleasure and pain, culminating in an epic final scene that truly showcases Jack Nicholson’s talent for dark comedy.
I highly recommend you rent The Witches of Eastwick on Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime Video, preferably right around Halloween for a good scare and a great cackle.
