Review of Witching & Bitching (2013) by John M — 14 Jul 2016

Witching and Bitching is one of the most original and entertaining films you may have never heard of. Written and directed by Alex de la Iglesia, the movie begins as a robbery caper and ends up as a balls to the wall fantasy blockbuster of a party.

There is running commentary on the contemporary states of parenting, relationships, sexuality, and the shifting perceptions of masculinity and femininity in modern Spain, The title Witching and Bitching is represented both literally and metaphorically in the story that starts with several strangers dressed as street performers getting together to rob a jewelry store, with one of the thieves choosing to actively include his young son because it was his custody week and didn't want to miss their quality time together.

His ex-wife and a pair of bickering police inspectors soon join the action as the entire group speeds toward the French border. A pit stop at a diner begins a series of encounters with strange women that ulitmately result in the characters being taken prisoner by an ancient coven of witches who intend to serve them as the main course of an annual village feast.

Culminating in a hysterically bizarre ritual that has to be seen to be believed, De la Iglesia successfully blends fantasy and action with musings on life on love- What do women want? Why don't you value me more as a colleague? Am I a good father? are all questions debated by the male characters as they try to avoid getting eaten by hungry females.

The witches are a comedic personification of how some Spanish men view women, and the pseudo rom-com interchanges during the developing relationship between a bank robber and one of the witches is absolutely riotous.

Channeling classic European comedies of the 1970's, De la Iglesia's Witching and Bitching is 112 minutes of unabashed fun.