Coven is a 2019 production from Thriller Films just now making its DVD debut in the UK.

It’s a teen horror concerning a coven that is trying to summon their goddess Ashura in the belief she will grant them ultimate power. And as the film opens, it shows a great deal of promise as we see these girls have no hesitation in sacrificing one of their own in a ritual.

Now one down, they need a fifth member,  and this is where the film becomes stunningly familiar. We’ve seen this before. Of course, comparisons with The Craft (1996) are unavoidable with any teenage witch coven film that comes along. Sadly, they’re fully justified in this case. It’s almost the same film. Lizze Gordon, who also wrote the script, stars as Sophie, the innocent descendant of a witch is trying to bring back her deceased mother is chosen by the Coven as their new member. Lizze Gordon bears an uncanny resemblance to Robin Tunney, who portrayed virtually the same part in The Craft. The same can be said of the malicious Ronnie who leads the coven – actor Jennifer Cipola attempts to channel Fairuza Balk’s Nancy but doesn’t quite have enough reach.

When Ashura is invoked, she possesses Ronnie, and it’s up to Sophie to save them all in a final tepid showdown.

Though deeply reminiscent of The Craft, this film has none of the charm or staying power of the original. The actors are badly served by some atrocious dialogue, and their performances are wooden. There’s no real sense of menace, despite the opening surprising twist. Disappointingly, the film tumbles into the trap of clumsy titillation as the coven can’t seem to perform a single ritual without being clad in Anne Summers lingerie and heels.

Ultimately, we still remember The Craft fondly, 25 years later.  Coven will be forgotten by Christmas.

Coven is out now on DVD.