Book Review: The Witches by Roald Dahl

The Witches by Roald Dahl: Honest Book Review, Themes, and Movie Comparison

If you grew up loving spooky stories, there’s a good chance you remember the 1990 film The Witches. Recently, I found myself thinking about that movie again, and it led me down a nostalgic rabbit hole that ended with me finally reading the book for the first time.

The first time I watched this movie was in middle school after renting it from a video store for a slumber party. I remember being completely terrified. So terrified, in fact, that I made my dad sit down and watch it with me and my friends. That reaction was unusual for me, especially since I’ve been watching horror movies since I was seven years old, starting with Poltergeist.

For years, I thought The Witches was just a movie. I had no idea it was based on a novel by Roald Dahl. Somehow, I missed his books entirely as a child ... something I still find surprising. So reading The Witches as an adult felt both nostalgic and eye-opening.

Quick Summary of The Witches by Roald Dahl:

The Witches follows a young boy who goes to live with his grandmother after the death of his parents. She teaches him how to recognize real witches, who secretly live among humans and despise children. When they encounter real witches while on vacation, the boy overhears a chilling plot to rid England of children, leading to a suspenseful and unforgettable adventure.

Book vs. Movie: Which Is Better? 

One of the biggest surprises while reading The Witches was how closely the 1990 movie followed the book. As I read, I kept picturing Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch, Mai Zetterling as the grandmother, and Jasen Fisher as the grandson.

The story brought back all the emotions of the movie that once scared me but eventually became a favorite. And while I usually prefer books over their adaptations, I have to admit that the 1990 film slightly outshone the novel for me.

There’s also a newer movie adaptation of The Witches, which makes the comparison between book and movies even more interesting.

Dark Themes in a Children’s Book

Despite being marketed as a children’s book, The Witches explores surprisingly mature themes. The main character’s parents die early in the story, leaving his grandmother to raise him. The book doesn’t spend much time on grief, which I found unexpected.

Toward the end of the story, the grandson and grandmother also discuss dying ... a heavy topic for such a young audience. Because of this, I’d recommend that parents read the book first and discuss it with their children afterward.

Is The Witches Scary for Kids?

If your child enjoys creepy stories, The Witches is a great choice, especially around Halloween.

The witches in the book are truly frightening: bald heads, grotesque faces, no toes, and masks designed to make them look human. They hate children and want to eliminate them, which gives the story a strong horror vibe.

However, if your child is easily frightened, this book may not be the best fit. It definitely has the potential to cause nightmares.

My Final Rating:

I gave The Witches three out of five stars. The book is well written and memorable, but I felt slightly disappointed mostly because I had such high expectations from the original movie. Still, it’s a classic Roald Dahl story and a must-read for fans of creepy children’s books.

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