The real-life witch who cursed Nicole Kidman movie ‘Practical Magic’: “She scares the shit out of the producer”
With Halloween approaching, it’s only right to indulge in the appropriate kind of movies – ones that tell tales of ghosts, ghouls, vampires, and bloodthirsty killers.
But what about when you’re home alone and the thought of watching a horror film sends a cold shiver down your spine? Then it’s time for something seasonal, but much less terrifying, like Practical Magic.
Released in 1998, the film is a go-to autumnal watch for many, a cosy rom-com complete with impeccable set design and incredible outfits that now form the basis of witch-themed and ‘whimsigoth’ style guides online. Seriously, images of Nicole Kidman in that gorgeous green velvet dress are all over Pinterest. Sure, the film didn’t perform terrifically, but you can’t deny the influence that Practical Magic (along with The Craft) has had over the years for bringing a new-age form of stylish, casual witchcraft further into the mainstream.
Despite its relative popularity these days, buoyed by its aesthetic charms, its initial release was marred by a decent amount of negative reviews, clearly unable to appreciate the film’s joyous celebration of femininity, sisterhood, and community. However, director Griffin Dunne has a potential explanation for the film’s initial underperformance at the box office – one that feels like it could’ve come from the world of the film itself.
Before Dunne made the film, he wasn’t a massive believer in witchcraft and hexes, but when he employed a witch to work as a consultant on the production, he soon came to doubt his beliefs. You see, the witch claimed to have put a curse on the film.
Talking to Vulture, Dunne explained, “I thought she was a really intelligent person and I invited her to come to Los Angeles to observe the rehearsals with Sandy [Bullock] and Nicole [Kidman]. I had my producer make her a reservation at a nice hotel, and call her, and the witch goes, ‘You’re not going to buy me off with a hotel room. I want a percentage of the movie. I’m going to have my own Practical Magic cookbook.’ She was paid quite well, and she says, ‘I want an additional $250,000.’ The producer told her that’s just not possible. And she goes crazy and scares the shit out of the producer.”
The filmmaker continued, “She says, ‘I’m going to put a curse on you. I’m putting a curse on this movie, and I’m putting a curse on Griffin.’”
Things took a turn for the worst when Dunne received a phone call, which seemed to confirm her plans. “I get back to my office on the Warner Bros lot, and I listen to my voice-mail. ‘How dare you sic that shrew on me? You think you can buy me off? Well, let me tell you something? There is a land of curses!’ And then she slips into tongues. It was terrifying. I listened to as much as I could, and then I hung up. Within minutes, Warner’s been served with papers. She’s suing Warner Bros.”
In the end, the witch was paid off with a large sum, while Dunne paid for a $100 exorcism just to be safe. While he admitted that he “decided I’m just not going to believe in this. It was creepy. If I’d watched the scene in a horror movie, I would be freaked by it,” he didn’t want to take any chances. “This is real life.”
