Every October, the cult classic The Worst Witch (1986) resurfaces, bringing with it one of the most wonderfully strange and unforgettable Halloween songs of the ’80s. Based on Jill Murphy’s beloved children’s book, this made-for-TV movie has grown into a cult favorite thanks to its quirky cast, campy graphics and . . . . . OF COURSE . . . . . Tim Curry’s gloriously iconic performance of “Anything Can Happen on Halloween.”
The Worst Witch starred a young Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble, the accident-prone witch-in-training whose clumsy charm won over audiences long before she’d cast darker spells in The Craft. She was joined by Diana Rigg as the stern Miss Hardbroom and Charlotte Rae, who impressively played two roles — the kind, soft-spoken headmistress Miss Cackle and her scheming twin sister Agatha. The dual performance gave the movie just the right mix of sweetness and mischief.
Then there’s Tim Curry as Grand Wizard Egbert Hellibore (did you even know that was his name lol?), who completely steals the show. Appearing in the longest cape you’ve ever seen and surrounded by “early “crude” (lol) green screen magic, Curry launches into the unforgettable song “Anything Can Happen on Halloween.” The performance is a technicolor fever dream of creepy graphics, flashing lights and pure charisma AND IT WORKS. His delivery is so sincere, so unapologetically camp, so TIM CURRY . . . that it became one of the most iconic Halloween moments of the decade.
Even though Tim Curry’s performance is legendary, the story itself holds up just as well. At its heart is Mildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk), the clumsiest witch at Miss Cackle’s Academy, constantly finding herself in trouble and picked on by bullies. When Agatha and her band of rogue witches try to take over the school, Mildred’s bravery saves the day; turning the villains into snails (a scene no one forgets) and proving that even the “worst witch” can become the hero.
Whether you grew up renting the VHS every October or just discovered it through that unforgettable Tim Curry performance, The Worst Witch remains a must-watch for the spooky season. It’s proof that even when the magic gets messy, there’s always room for a little heart and that truly, anything can happen on Halloween.
Watch it on the Internet Archive here. Unfortunately it is currently not streaming ANYWHERE (but the 1998 version is) and NONE of the versions available on Youtube or the Internet Archive are high quality. Occasionally the DVD will pop up on eBay.