“The Craft became a foundational film for me and my friends, signifying a form of teenage rebellion we had never seen before. At an age that finally allowed for more independence, seeing such a queerly coded film in the cinema was also a newfound opportunity to continue building horror film rituals in dark theatres, without parents, turning candy consumption and communal viewing into a sacred practice of feral autonomy.”
“What resonates with me still is The Craft’s depiction of how the occult can function as a source of queer and feminist curiosity amongst teen girls. The film’s slumber party séance is a crucial moment of rebellion for the angsty witches keen on revolting against the restraints of Catholic girlhood. When the coven’s only Black girl, Rochelle Zimmerman levitates during a game of Light as a Feather, the whole coven is responsible for this otherworldly feat. And when Nancy compares the game’s premise to fingerbanging, a match has been struck for me.” ✰
TJ MIKELOGAN’s HALLOWEEN 2024 EVENT day 22: LGBT+ horror — THE CRAFT (1996) dir. Andrew Fleming
HALLOWEEN SEASON 2025
Day 23: It (2017) dir. Andy Muschietti
HALLOWEEN SEASON 2025
Day 21: The Conjuring (2013) dir. James Wan