THE WITCHES

As Norwegian grandma Helga puts young Luke to bed, she recounts to him stories and other “fact of life” descriptions about witches. Ruled by the Grand High Witch, a servant of Satan, witches look like ordinary people and have one purpose: to kill little children. They are recognized, however, by the purplish tint in their eyes and square-ended toes, characteristics Luke later observes upon moving to England with Helga when his parents are killed in an accident.

Checking into a hotel that is hosting a prevention-of-cruelty-to-children convention, Luke remains hidden in a room full of convention women. Suddenly, they pull off their face masks, revealing themselves to be ugly witches. The Grand High Witch gives an order: every child in England is to be destroyed. How? Through candy laced with her formula that turns children into mice. The witches discover Luke’s presence, force-feed him the potion and cackle with glee as he shrinks into a mouse (one that talks and resembles a Jim Henson muppet creation), yet he scurries away to safety.

Mouse Luke and Helga devise their own plan. They swipe a bottle of the formula and pour it into the witches’ banquet soup. The witches themselves change into mice, which the hotel staff then proceed to eliminate. One witch, who does not eat the soup, supposedly has a change of heart and turns Luke back into a boy.

The special effects are good, the transformations not too frightening, and, with human qualities, Luke as a mouse borders on the lovable. However, these scenes of and ideas about witches are something no one, especially children, need fill their minds with. In fact, God warns us to stay away from things of an occultic nature. From Pharaoh and his sorcerers to the witch of Endor, God’s word expressly tells us that “Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord…” (Deut 18:12).

There is a remarkably striking parallel, however, between Helga’s description of witches and the parable in Matthew 13 Jesus gave about the weeds, which “are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.” Thus, the people of the kingdom live side by side with the people of the evil one. However, believers can take comfort knowing than at the end of the age “the Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (verse 41-42).

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Pray that Lorimar Films, a production arm of Warner Brothers that’s being used less and less by them, will be hindered from making similar movies. Written concerns can be addresses to: Mr. Merv Adelson, Chairman, Lorimar Telepictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City CA 90232 (213) 202-2000