Nancy Downs: One Crafty Witch
Nancy Downs is not having ANY of it…
Nancy Downs (Fairuza Balk) from THE CRAFT (1996) is another villainous witch, played to the hilt by Ms. Balk. Nancy Downs succumbs to the temptation of black magic and her insatiable lust for power. Nancy Downs causes herself and those around her considerable harm, and is ultimately magically bound by Sarah (Robin Tunney), the heroine.
Nancy is the ringleader of the witches of the coven THE CRAFT — if you see this movie as a kind of sideways take on THE LOST BOYS, she’d be in the role Kiefer Sutherland played in the latter movie (David).
Nancy is fun to watch in action, almost gleefully sinister, and prone to flying off the (broom) handle:
Much of what gives Nancy her extra punch was her marvelous portrayal by Fairuza Balk, whose performance is actually stronger than the movie, itself. Still, Nancy Downs has a well-earned seat at the table of wicked witches. And she survived at the end of THE CRAFT, despite being bound by Sarah’s superior and virtuous magic.
Wicked Nancy Downs Quotes
“You know, if I were as pathetic as you are, I would have killed myself ages ago. You should get on with it.”
“We ARE the weirdos, Mister.”
For More Witches, Wicked and Otherwise
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