If you are one of the local fan of Roald Dahl, get around here because Roald Dahl’s The Witches is coming to Malaysia on streaming service HBO GO and On Demand on Astro on Friday, January 29. The release straight to HBO GO is for local viewers to enjoy the film at the comfort of homes during the pandemic.
Robert Zemeckis, the Oscar-winning director and master storyteller who gave us Forrest Gump, the Christmas classic The Polar Express, and the Back to the Future trilogy, to relive the classic, the film tells the darkly humorous and heart-warming tale of a young orphaned boy who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. As the boy and his grandmother encounter some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, she wisely whisks our young hero away to an opulent seaside resort.
The film stars Oscar winners Anne Hathaway (“Les Misérable,” “Ocean’s 8”) and Octavia Spencer, (“The Help,” “The Shape of Water”), Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci (“The Hunger Games” films, “The Lovely Bones”), with Kristin Chenoweth (TV’s “Glee” and “BoJack Horseman”) and award-winning comedy legend Chris Rock. Newcomer Jahzir Kadeem Bruno (TV’s “Atlanta”) also stars as the brave young hero, alongside Codie-Lei Eastick (“Holmes & Watson”).
Zemeckis is also joined by other filmmakers such as Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro and Kenya Barris who bring a new sense of humour along with warmth and surprise to the film which is sure to be enjoyed by the whole family.
Here are the insights that you might want to see prior to watching the movie.
The series is filled with vintage charm which will make you go back to the simpler times of 1960s with alterations on moving settings from Europe to Alabama, USA. The actress, Octavia Spencer who played the role as Grandma claimed it reminds her of her own grandma’s house. To match the ambience, the series also featured Old World Architecture.
The characters pay tribute to the fashion icons of the 60s through their wardrobe which the witches are styled with elegant gloves, perfectly matched outfits and smart shoes with perfectly coiffed hair. The actors are also touched up with prosthetics by a team for creating and curating a range of looks and outfits to suit the escalation of the Grand High Witch’s evil plan. To complete the look for all 50 witches, the final count came up to 62 bald caps, 20 pairs of feet, 80 back of hand prosthetics and 350 finger extensions! They also hide the darkness inside them and reflect the darkness with her strikingly beautiful look, embracing the inner and outer beauty of Grand High Witch.
The challenges faced by the production is one of it is by Kristin Chenoweth which was in the lockdown during the shooting. It was her boyfriend who took matters into his own hands and transformed her closet into a studio, with her computer, tablet and handphone connecting her to the director, producers and animators so they could discuss her character and how she would bring Daisy to life. Anne Hathaway (Grand High Witch) also tried the Old Norse accent, to which different from the accent desired as she found the latter to be difficult. It somehow worked!
Last but not least, the other actors Jahzir Bruno and Codie Lei Eastick demonstrated the best of childhood qualities by becoming fast friends! This proves the chemistry between actors and the characters they played.
Download the HBO GO app from App Store or Play Store on your device or access HBO GO via Astro or at https://www.hbogoasia.my/. HBO GO is available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV, Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality. Astro On Demand is available to all customers via the Ultra box or the Astro GO app. Additionally, Astro Movie Pack customers can enjoy HBO GO access at no additional charge.
