Movie Review

Anne Hathaway-led The Witches entertains and disturbs in equal measure

Director Robert Zemeckis has had one of the most interesting careers in Hollywood. He’s rarely been limited by genre or style, bouncing around from films as varied as Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Contact, Cast Away, The Polar Express, and Flight. Now he’s back with a pivot toward kids’ movies with the season-appropriate The Witches.

Based on the Roald Dahl book (which also had a 1990 adaptation starring Anjelica Huston), the film centers on a boy (Jahzir Bruno) who has lost his parents and gone to live with his grandmother (Octavia Spencer). On vacation at a seaside hotel, they run into a convention of witches, led by the Grand High Witch (Anne Hathaway).

The witches’ master plan of turning children into mice via poisoned candy soon ensnarls the boy and Bruno (Codie-Lei Eastick), another young boy staying at the hotel. With the help of his grandma and pet mouse, the boy tries to find a way to reverse the curse put upon them, and stop the witches' plan before it gets any bigger.

Written by the powerhouse team of Zemeckis, Kenya Barris (Black-ish), and Guillermo del Toro, the film tries to pack a lot of things into its running time. The boy and his grandma have been transported from the location of Europe in the book to 1960s America, and changed from white to Black, a decision that pays both subtle and overt dividends. The presence of del Toro — who also produces alongside another master filmmaker, Alfonso Cuaron — seems to have a definite influence on the creepiness factor of the film, as the man who made Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water knows his way around weird creatures.

And things certainly get disturbing, or at least as much as a PG-rated film can. The design of the Grand High Witch, with her wide, sharp-toothed mouth, single-toed feet, and clawed, stretchy arms, is enough to give anyone nightmares. The turning of the two boys into mice goes quickly from scary to fun, as they turn their predicament into an adventure instead of dwelling on the horror of the situation.

Zemeckis has come a long way from his Polar Express days, as instead of going for any kind of reality with the CGI, he plays into the cartoonish nature of the story. The mice are cute, the witches are ugly in all their forms, and the scenes get increasingly over the top. He never tries to make the slight story anything more than what it is, hitting the high points from the book with the gusto they deserve.

The film is absolutely lousy with gifted actors. Bruno has a short-but-stacked filmography that points toward big things for him in the future. Spencer is always a welcome, warm presence, while Hathaway hams it up relentlessly, which is just what her character requires. Stanley Tucci as the hotel manager and voice turns by Chris Rock and Kristin Chenoweth keep the film entertaining throughout.

The Witches is one of those stories that you could see being retold every 30 years or so, with another filmmaker returning to the classic book to creep out and entertain a new generation of kids. And with lots of talent both on screen and behind the scenes, this version may thrive for years to come.

---

The Witches is streaming exclusively on HBO Max.

Octavia Spencer, Jahzir Bruno, and Stanley Tucci in The Witches.

Octavia Spencer, Jahzir Bruno, and Stanley Tucci in The Witches

Photo by Daniel Smith

Octavia Spencer, Jahzir Bruno, and Stanley Tucci in The Witches.

Concert News

10 most festive holiday concerts to see in Dallas in December 2025

AT&T

AT&T

AT&T

Luz Guerrero is a Dallas-based storyteller, freelance writer, and cultural connector exploring identity and music through personal and collective narratives. Here's her list of 10 standout holiday concerts in DFW.

Much like the weather whiplash we endure in North Texas, tastes in holiday music vary wildly. Maybe you’ve outgrown “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” but still appreciate a grown-up remix. Maybe it’s a sad-girl holiday and hearing one more classic carol might push you into texting your ex. Luckily, Dallas has December programming to meet all of your emotional and mental health needs—no matter where you land on the festive spectrum.

And even though we just flirted with 80-degree temps in late November, the city’s holiday concerts prove that December is when the warmth shows up the loudest.

In chronological order, here are the shows bringing the season to life across Dallas–Fort Worth.

Lady A — This Winter’s Night Tour
Lady A launches their first-ever Christmas tour this year, with Grand Prairie being one of only a dozen stops on the run. The trio arrives with On This Winter’s Night (Volume 2), the long-awaited follow-up to their 2012 holiday album. The set will be holiday classics alongside new originals that build on the sound and spirit of both albums. They’re also riding fresh momentum with a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year at the upcoming 59th Annual CMA Awards. It’s sure to be a holiday show that pairs seasonal charm with the modern-country finesse Lady A delivers.
December 10, Texas Trust CU Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie. Tickets: $49–$129 ($72–$166 with fees and taxes)

Michael Martin Murphey – Cowboy Christmas at Arlington Music Hall
Michael Martin Murphey returns to Arlington with Cowboy Christmas, continuing a holiday tradition more than three decades strong. The Oak Cliff–born Country Music Hall of Famer built the show from his 1992 Cowboy Christmas album, a hit that led to five more installments. This year’s production features his Rio Grande Band, the Rocky Mountain Vintage Dancers, and vivid Western imagery. Expect a mix of country ballads, cowboy takes on holiday classics, and the storytelling Murphey is known for. It’s an all-ages event for families, country fans, and anyone looking for traditional holiday cheer spread by a hometown legend.
December 11-12, Arlington Music Hall, 224 N Center St. Tickets: $39-$113

Merry Mayhem 2025
Following its inaugural year, Merry Mayhem brings back its metal holiday toy-drive showcase with a lineup including Waiting 4 April, With Hope Intact, Never Rest, Oresteia, and Chernobyl The Secret!. It’s also an opportunity to check out Puzzles Deep Ellum, the neighborhood’s new live music venue that opened over the summer. Proceeds benefit The Archway (formerly Safe Haven of Tarrant County), supporting women and children with toys and essential items during the holidays. It’s metal with a mission.
December 12, Puzzles Deep Ellum, 2824 Main St. Tickets: $10 presale, $15 at the door

Pentatonix Christmas Photo courtesy of RCA Records

Christmas at the Winspear: A Pop-Rock Holiday Spectacular
The Winspear hosts a holiday program that blends orchestral polish with pop-rock energy. Dallas String Quartet—celebrating their first Grammy nomination—leads the evening alongside Q The Band, with guest appearances from America’s Got Talent finalists Sons of Serendip and The Voice winner Anja Nissen. Ballet dancers and the Preston Center Dance Choir widen the scope for a nicely-tuned, family-friendly holiday sampler.
December 17, Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St. Tickets: $38–$117 ($49–$147 with fees and taxes)

2nd Annual Illuminating Nights — Emo Holiday Edition
Illuminating Nights returns this year—and for this one, waterproof eyeliner is suggested. Expect emotional catharsis through acoustic emo covers of My Chemical Romance, The Used, Brand New, and more, performed by Ryker & Friends with cellist Bri Sargent. The candlelit performance benefits Amplified Minds, a nonprofit providing free mental health services for Texans ages 18+, with a particular focus on creatives. It’s an all-ages, standing-room-only night that leans fully into the feelings December tends to stir up.
December 19, The Studio at The Bomb Factory, 2727 Canton St. Tickets: $20

A Soulful Christmas with KEM (feat. Britney Holmes)
Multi-Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter icon KEM delivers a velvety, soulful holiday set with Dallas’ own Britney Holmes opening. This marks her first performance with her husband, musician Lio Saen—a sweet detail she recently shared on her socials. KEM has long been celebrated for folding pieces of his personal journey of resilience into his performances, promising a night of reflection and gratitude. It’s well-timed too—just days before Christmas, when many listeners are looking for exactly that.
December 19, Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St. Tickets: $49–$199 ($63–$250 with fees and taxes)

The Polyphonic Spree’s 22nd Annual Holiday Extravaganza
Each year, Dallas-born collective The Polyphonic Spree transforms the Majestic into a technicolor holiday universe. With 20+ members and an opening variety act, the evening spans classic and contemporary holiday music alongside fan-favorite originals. Guests are encouraged to dress festively and bring a canned good and a new, unwrapped toy for local families. Expect costumes, characters, a hint of indoor “snow,” and the feeling of walking into a confetti-filled snow globe—complete with cookies and milk at the end.
December 20, Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Tickets: $45–$95

Pentatonix: Christmas in the City Tour
The three-time Grammy-winning a cappella group returns with Christmas in the City, supporting their new release Holidays Around the World, Vol. 2. Pentatonix is practically synonymous with the season, and this two-night Fort Worth run closes out the tour. Each ticket sold in Fort Worth and Houston donates $1 to Direct Relief to support Texans affected by recent flooding. Across two nights, their signature harmonies will meet the energy of a hometown crowd, an exchange that tends to elevate both.
December 21 & 22, Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St, Fort Worth. Tickets: $61–$131 ($80–$166 with fees and taxes)

Dallas Ambient Music Nights: DAMN 50
Dallas Ambient Music Nights (or simply DAMN because it’s fun to say) celebrates a major milestone this year with its 10-year anniversary and 50th showcase. Founded by Cody McPhail, the series has become a destination for listeners drawn to exploratory, immersive soundscapes. This year’s show features eight musical performances accompanied by eight video artists projecting live visuals across the historic Texas Theatre. The result is a meditative environment ideal for anyone seeking a thoughtful post-Christmas reset.
December 27, Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. Tickets: $25 presale, $30 at the door

Epic Unplugged Presents: An Epic Christmas
For those looking for some post-Christmas fun, Epic Unplugged brings reimagined rock hits and holiday classics backed by a string section. Expect unplugged versions of Queen, Pink Floyd, The Killers, Muse, and Nirvana beneath the open sky—plan accordingly. With more than 20 food and drink options in Legacy Hall, it’s easy to turn this into a full evening with family and friends. The show is all ages, with a 21+ after-party on the second floor. Ticket options range from general admission to reserved tables and VIP seating.
December 27, Lexus Box Garden at Legacy Hall, 7800 Windrose Ave, Plano. Tickets: $5–$250 ($9–$299 with fees and taxes)

concerts holidays music

Loading...