Bewitched Matches (1913)
Three girls seeking to have their fortunes told invite a witch over. When the girls' father offends the witch, she puts a hex on him and his matches.
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Just what I expected
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Whereas animation purists may be a little disappointed that this film includes whole live action sequences, horror fans may want to add this to their viewing list. The movie opens with three young women in the midst of frivolity. It would appear that they sent for a witch, as when she comes into the room they show no surprise. She is a very traditional looking witch. Before long, they plead with her to read their palms. All is fun and games with them, none of this is taken very seriously. Then in walks the uncle! He is outraged upon seeing the witch and orders her out at once. She is very upset at this rebuke, and hence puts a curse on his box of matches, then departs. The old man is visibly disturbed from the encounter. The nieces then leave the room as well. The enchantment very quickly begins, with the screen filling up with the magic matches. Some of the stop motion effects created include: a horse; spinning windmill; U.S. flag; then some standard animation of a pipe smoker with real smoke shown. Stop motion returns with a stick figure on a tight rope, and the grand finale of a skeleton which may have given Walt Disney some ideas for "A Skeleton Dance" more then 15 years later. Switching back to live action, what takes place with the uncle, the returning nieces, and the box of matches makes for an inventive conclusion. Running time: 8.5 minutes.