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 modest 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 12-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.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Luke lives happily with his parents in an idyllic Norwegian setting, building a treehouse together, establishing a warm and loving family dynamic before tragedy strikes.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Grandmother falls ill with diabetes, and her doctor orders her to a seaside hotel for rest and recovery. This forces Luke and his grandmother to stay at the Hotel Excelsior, unknowingly the same location where the witches are holding their annual convention.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. 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 demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Luke hides behind a screen in the hotel ballroom to train his mice and becomes trapped when the witches unexpectedly gather for their meeting. He chooses to stay hidden and witness their secret convention rather than risk being caught trying to escape., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (72% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Luke is discovered by the Grand High Witch in the kitchen while trying to pour the potion into the soup. She traps him under a water glass, and it appears his mission has failed completely. He faces certain death as she prepares to crush him., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. The witches transform into mice en masse, causing chaos in the hotel dining room. The hotel staff and guests unknowingly exterminate the witch-mice. Luke and grandmother go to the Grand High Witch's room, retrieve her address book containing all witch locations worldwide, and plan to eliminate witches globally. They return home victorious., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Witches's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. 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 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Luke lives happily with his parents in an idyllic Norwegian setting, building a treehouse together, establishing a warm and loving family dynamic before tragedy strikes.
Theme
Grandmother tells Luke that witches are real and incredibly dangerous, stating "A witch is always a woman... they spend their time plotting to kill children." The theme: danger hides behind ordinary appearances, and knowledge is protection.
Worldbuilding
After his parents die in a car accident, Luke moves to England to live with his grandmother, who educates him about witches and their telltale signs: wigs, gloves, square-toed shoes, and their hatred of children.
Disruption
Grandmother falls ill with diabetes, and her doctor orders her to a seaside hotel for rest and recovery. This forces Luke and his grandmother to stay at the Hotel Excelsior, unknowingly the same location where the witches are holding their annual convention.
Resistance
Luke and his grandmother arrive at the hotel. Luke befriends Bruno Jenkins, a gluttonous boy. Luke explores the hotel with his pet mice while his grandmother rests. The witches begin arriving, disguised as ordinary women attending the "Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children."
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Luke hides behind a screen in the hotel ballroom to train his mice and becomes trapped when the witches unexpectedly gather for their meeting. He chooses to stay hidden and witness their secret convention rather than risk being caught trying to escape.
Mirror World
The Grand High Witch removes her mask, revealing her hideous true face. She demonstrates her evil plan: Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker, a potion that will turn all children in England into mice. Luke witnesses the full horror of what he's up against.
Premise
Luke watches helplessly as Bruno is lured into the convention with chocolate and transformed into a mouse. The Grand High Witch orders all witches to buy candy shops and distribute the potion. Luke is discovered by the witches, captured, and transformed into a mouse himself, but manages to escape with Bruno.
Opposition
Luke and grandmother attempt to execute their plan to steal the potion from the Grand High Witch's room and poison the witches' food. They face numerous obstacles: the hotel manager doesn't believe them, Bruno's parents are in denial, and the physical challenges of being a mouse make every task dangerous.
Collapse
Luke is discovered by the Grand High Witch in the kitchen while trying to pour the potion into the soup. She traps him under a water glass, and it appears his mission has failed completely. He faces certain death as she prepares to crush him.
Crisis
In the darkest moment, the hotel chef unknowingly saves Luke by lifting the glass to continue cooking. Luke completes pouring the entire bottle of potion into the soup, but must navigate the dangerous kitchen to escape while the Grand High Witch searches for him.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The witches transform into mice en masse, causing chaos in the hotel dining room. The hotel staff and guests unknowingly exterminate the witch-mice. Luke and grandmother go to the Grand High Witch's room, retrieve her address book containing all witch locations worldwide, and plan to eliminate witches globally. They return home victorious.