Practical Magic graced the screens in the United States on October 16, 1998. The film features a stellar cast including Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Aidan Quinn, Goran Visnjic, a young Evan Rachel Wood, and, most notably, the fabulous aunts portrayed by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing. However, the movie was literally cursed.
Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) are siblings hailing from a lineage of witches. In a dire situation, when Gillian’s abusive partner, Jimmy (Visnjic), kidnaps them and resorts to physical violence, Sally resorts to a desperate act, slipping belladonna into his tequila. This impulsive move results in an unintended fatality, throwing them into a state of panic. In their frantic efforts to revive him, things take a sinister turn as Jimmy’s spirit ends up inhabiting Gillian. This twist of fate ultimately leads to a gripping exorcism.
The Director Hired A Witch Consultant For The Film
Practical Magic stands out as a remarkable romantic film, uniquely blending diverse tones that encompass humor, a dark thriller narrative involving an abusive boyfriend, and supernatural elements, all in a single cinematic concoction. Griffin Dunne, renowned for his roles in Scorsese’s After Hours and An American Werewolf in London, directed the film. He even enlisted the expertise of a witch consultant for the project, a decision that would unexpectedly cast a mystical veil over the production when the consultant inadvertently placed a curse upon it.
Dunne told Vanity Fair:
“It’s something I will talk about now, but at the time I would sort of deny it. I didn’t want the vibe. I hired a witch consultant to get the details of the [exorcism] ceremony. We got along great; she was very, very helpful. Sandy and Nicole kept asking about her, ‘Oh, what did the witch say?’ before we started shooting. She was paid very handsomely by Warner Brothers for her consulting. I thought it would be fun to bring her out to Los Angeles, put her in a nice hotel and meet Sandy and Nicole, who were dying to meet her.”
According to Griffin Dunne, the producer’s response was rather strong when contacted. She expressed deep offense and requested a significant share of the film’s profits, three gross points. Additionally, she proposed the idea of creating a cookbook inspired by Practical Magic.
Sandra Bullock Will Never Go N*de For Serious Roles
Sandra Bullock initially declined the project, primarily due to her reluctance to engage in romantic comedies. During her conversation with Glamour UK, she went on to elaborate on the specific reasons that eventually swayed her decision.
Bullock told Glamour UK:
“I read it, and I was really upset because it was so well written. The problem, though, was who can direct a comedy like that? Who can raise the bar? Who are you going to cast? And they said, ‘What if we cast Ryan Reynolds?’ I’ve known Ryan for a while, so as soon as they said that, it made it a lot more difficult to say no to.”
Bullock typically refrains from baring it all on the silver screen, but she viewed this as an ideal moment to step out of her comfort zone.
