The Witches
A recently orphaned young boy is taken to a seaside hotel in England by his grandmother, who is recuperating after an illness.. Also staying at their hotel is a group of witches who have gathered to prepare a plot to rid England of all children.
Working with a small-scale budget of $11.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $15.4M in global revenue (+40% profit margin).
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award3 wins & 8 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Witches (1990) exhibits meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Nicolas Roeg's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Luke Eveshim
Helga Eveshim
Grand High Witch
Mr. Stringer
Main Cast & Characters
Luke Eveshim
Played by Jasen Fisher
A young boy who stumbles upon a witches' convention and must stop their plan to turn all children into mice.
Helga Eveshim
Played by Mai Zetterling
Luke's loving grandmother who knows about witches and helps protect him from their evil schemes.
Grand High Witch
Played by Anjelica Huston
The terrifying leader of all witches who plots to eliminate every child in England by turning them into mice.
Mr. Stringer
Played by Rowan Atkinson
The hotel manager who unknowingly hosts the witches' convention at his establishment.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Luke lives happily in Norway with his parents and beloved Grandmother Helga, who tells him bedtime stories about her encounters with witches as a child.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Luke's parents are killed in a car accident, leaving him orphaned. His grandmother Helga becomes his guardian, and they must relocate to England to settle his parents' affairs.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Luke hides behind a screen in the ballroom to train his mice, and becomes trapped when the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children convention begins—actually a gathering of all the witches of England., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Mouse-Luke reunites with his grandmother Helga in her hotel room. Despite his transformation, she immediately recognizes and accepts him. Together they form a plan: steal the Formula 86 and use it against the witches themselves., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Grand High Witch discovers Luke in her room and nearly kills him. He barely escapes with the formula, but the witches are now alerted to his presence. The plan seems on the verge of failure as Luke is chased through the hotel., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Luke reaches the kitchen and manages to pour the entire bottle of Formula 86 into the soup being prepared for the witches' banquet. The plan is set in motion—there's no turning back now., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Witches's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Witches against these established plot points, we can identify how Nicolas Roeg utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Witches within the adventure genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include The Black Stallion, The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Luke lives happily in Norway with his parents and beloved Grandmother Helga, who tells him bedtime stories about her encounters with witches as a child.
Theme
Grandmother Helga warns Luke: "Real witches dress in ordinary clothes and look like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses and work in ordinary jobs." The theme of hidden evil beneath respectable surfaces is established.
Worldbuilding
Luke learns the rules of witch identification from his grandmother: they are bald, have square feet, blue saliva, and despise children. His parents die in a car accident, and Luke moves to England with Helga.
Disruption
Luke's parents are killed in a car accident, leaving him orphaned. His grandmother Helga becomes his guardian, and they must relocate to England to settle his parents' affairs.
Resistance
Helga falls ill and doctors recommend seaside air for her recovery. She and Luke travel to a grand hotel in Bournemouth. Luke explores the hotel with his pet mice, unaware that a convention of witches is also checking in.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Luke hides behind a screen in the ballroom to train his mice, and becomes trapped when the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children convention begins—actually a gathering of all the witches of England.
Mirror World
Luke meets Bruno Jenkins, a gluttonous boy lured by the Grand High Witch with chocolate. Bruno represents what happens to children who don't heed warnings—he becomes the first victim of Formula 86, transformed into a mouse.
Premise
Luke witnesses the Grand High Witch reveal her horrifying true face and demonstrate Formula 86 on Bruno. When discovered, Luke is force-fed the potion and transformed into a mouse. He must now navigate the hotel as a tiny creature, evading cats and humans.
Midpoint
Mouse-Luke reunites with his grandmother Helga in her hotel room. Despite his transformation, she immediately recognizes and accepts him. Together they form a plan: steal the Formula 86 and use it against the witches themselves.
Opposition
Luke and Bruno, as mice, must infiltrate the Grand High Witch's room to steal a bottle of Formula 86. They face numerous dangers: the hotel cat, suspicious staff, and near-discovery by the witches. Luke successfully obtains the potion despite multiple close calls.
Collapse
The Grand High Witch discovers Luke in her room and nearly kills him. He barely escapes with the formula, but the witches are now alerted to his presence. The plan seems on the verge of failure as Luke is chased through the hotel.
Crisis
Luke must reach the hotel kitchen while being hunted by witches. Helga creates a distraction while Luke, carrying the precious formula, navigates through dangerous territory. The stakes are highest—fail now and all children in England will be turned into mice.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Luke reaches the kitchen and manages to pour the entire bottle of Formula 86 into the soup being prepared for the witches' banquet. The plan is set in motion—there's no turning back now.
Synthesis
The witches consume the tainted soup. One by one, they begin transforming into mice in the hotel dining room, creating chaos. The Grand High Witch herself transforms, and the hotel staff unwittingly help destroy the witches by attacking the mice. Luke has saved England's children.
Transformation
Luke remains a mouse but finds peace with his grandmother. Unlike the book, a good witch restores Luke to human form. Either way, Luke has transformed from a frightened boy into a brave hero who saved countless children, forever bonded with Helga.