The Craft presents a moody tale of the events following the development of a coven of young witches at a southern California high school. When Sarah Bailey joins the group, they present their personalities in their response to conflicts that come up as their powers develop.
The story and performances in The Craft help make it an underrated Halloween movie. As these performances present the characters' personalities, some are revealed to be smarter than others. As power begins to warp the minds of Rochelle Zimmerman, Nancy Downs, and Bonnie Harper, their wits begin to show.
Nathaniel Marston plays Trey. He is one of the classmates of the coven who audiences see when they are at school, and briefly at a party at his parents' house. He isn't as developed as characters like Nancy Downs or Sarah Bailey.
However, Trey presents his smarts in his few sequences. He doesn't seem to have a mind of his own, acting as a lackey of Mitt and Chris'. He and Mitt seem to copy each other's words and behavior thoughtlessly, like when Bonnie returns to school with healed scars and he greets her after Mitt says hello.
Breckin Meyer, known by some for his likable character in Clueless, plays Mitt. He is Chris and Trey's friend. He is often on display goofing off with his friends at school, sometimes insulting the main girls in the story. He shows his lack of wits in a few moments.
In French class, he says "this is L.A. we should be learning Mexican or something." He shows his ignorance, and is corrected, as afterward audiences can hear, "that would be Spanish, genius."
Skeet Ulrich plays Chris Hooker. He is Sarah's romantic interest at his introduction but becomes an antagonist whom the coven casts a spell on. He becomes overtaken by an incantation making him irresistibly drawn to Sarah.
Chris doesn't show much emotional intelligence. When he's rejected by Sarah, he spreads hurtful rumors about her in his insecurity. He shows quick wits when he speaks to Sarah after they meet, charming her. However, his mind doesn't seem strong after magic makes him focused on Sarah and Sarah alone.
Some fans say The Craft is one of Christine Taylor's best movies. She plays Laura Lizzie. Laura is a bully at school who torments Rochelle until she is the victim of one of the coven's revenge spells. Laura shows her brains in her poor treatment of Rochelle.
When Rochelle dives into the swimming pool, Laura thinks to shout and mess her up. She seems to show critical thinking, coming up with words and behavior that will get under Rochelle's skin and hurt her. When her hair falls out as a result of the coven's spell, Laura shows reasoning in recognizing the reaction "doesn't make sense."
Fairuza Balk plays Nancy. She is Sarah's friend at the beginning of the story but is revealed as the major antagonist by the end of the film. Nancy shows her wits in her manipulation of others. When she goes after Sarah, she uses critical thinking to come up with what will hurt her most. Nancy uses her brains to develop ideas to torture Sarah.
She knows her family makes her feel safe, so she leads Sarah to believe they were killed. She tries to make her think she kills Chris even though Nancy does, orchestrating her feelings of guilt. However, power clouds her mind from being rational as she becomes more equipped with magical skills.
The Craft is one of Neve Campbell's highest-rated movies. She plays Bonnie. She's presented as meek and gentle at the beginning of the film but is revealed as cocky and conceited after her scars are healed. She shows her quick wits in snarky moments like when she responds that her pedicure ran late after being scolded for being late to homeroom.
Bonnie shows intellectual curiosity in The Craft's final moments when she asks Sarah if she still has powers after losing her own. At the beginning of the film, she shows her attention to detail when she discovers Sarah has powers, noticing her making a pencil turn on its point in French class.
Rachel True's Rochelle shows her smarts multiple times throughout The Craft. When she is bullied by Laura, she shows her intellectual curiosity in asking why she is so cruel to her.
After casting a spell on Laura, Rochelle shows her emotional intelligence. When Laura suffers in the school shower sobbing, Rochelle shows sympathy and apparent regret.
Robin Tunney's Sarah is perhaps one of the most developed characters in The Craft. She shows her wits in her reaction to the events following her inclusion in the coven. She notices the group change as their power mounts. She shows her critical thinking deducing Bonnie's shift from kind and shy to malicious and self-centered.
She shows reasoning in her caution in communicating with the powerful Manon. She is rational, reminding herself that the horrifying visions Nancy uses to torment her at the end of the film are illusions. She uses smart problem-solving in going to Lirio, the occult shop owner when the coven turns on her.
