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Review: Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost


https://www.angelfire.com/goth2/thehexgirlscoven.com/
dannythgc@yahoo.com

AKA The Hex Girls Debut

I'm not here to do a review of Scooby-Doo (though I've been watching it for years). You can read of review of that anywhere. I'm here to talk about the dazzling debut of the reason we're all here: The Hex Girls But first.....

Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost was the second OVA in the Scooby-Doo sereis. The first new animation to be done in more than 20 years. The whole premise had been changed from fake monsters to real monsters. The gang had grown up and gotten jobs and lives. Ben Ravencroft, the famous horror writer, invites (or hires) the Scooby Gang to his hometown of Oakhaven Massachusetts to solve the mystery of Sarah Ravencroft..witch or wiccan, where she's buried and where's her "journal". It's there that they meet...

The Hex Girls!!!!!!!!!!

Scooby and Shaggy run into The Hex Girls on the street- attracted, Shag and scoob try to straighten up and act cool (after having binged at an all you can eat dinner and looking totally bloated)to impress them. They say "Hi". But as soon as The Hex Girls reply showing off their pearly white fangs. Shag & Scoob run off like scared rabbits to The Hex Girls laughter.

After several appearences of the Witch's Ghost (allegedly the ghost of Sarah Ravencroft). The Scooby Gang are attracted to the bright flashing multi-colored lights, and electric guitars and amps in the distant forest and come to find The Hex Girls onstage. The Hex Girls are performing as part of Oakhaven's Autumn Fest- a celebration of all things pilgrim, turning leaf colors, and Witch's Ghosty

Out of a cloud of multi-colored smoke The Hex Girls emerge to cast a spell over us all singing "Hex Girl" their most popular song. Shag & Scoob call them witches, but Fred figures out who they are. The Hex Girls' showmanship, hamronies, and talent win over the Scoobies who all groove along. After the applause, The Hex Girls ask what's up and we learn all about them. Thorn plays guitar and sings lead. Luna plays duel keyboards. Dusk is the drummer. Like Velma, they are fans of Ben Ravencroft's writings. "He understands what they're into". Eco-Goths. At this point, we don't know if they are good or evil. They look bad, but that doesn't mean anything right?

Right off the bat the Scoobies are suspicious of The Hex Girls- what with the flashing lights, noise, smoke bombs, and their goth look of dark colors, black make-up and fangs. They reek of the occult. Even if at this time the Scoobies have NO motive for them.

It's interesting to speculate that during "Hex Girl" Fred certainly seems to be "under" Thorn's spell (much to Daphne's chargin). But there's no chance of Fred/Thorn ever happening. Fred is a turkey with mayo on white bread sandwich with a glass of skim milk compared to a flashy, seductive goth rockstar- Thorn. Though in this incarnation of Scooby-Doo Fred is the producer of Daphne's tv show and they've been together while the rest of the gang's been apart (see Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island). And they always seem on the verge of taking their friendship to the next level- yet never get to it.

In fact the approach of our girls interrupts this very conversation. (After everyone splits up to search for their own clues). Fred & Daph overhear the Girls talking about a special ritual and their powers being drained. But Luna and Dusk decide to wait until tomorrow, while Thorn decides to do it tonight. When Thorn goes home, Fred "decides" to follow her. Daph thinks he's "stuck on Thorn". I'll just bet he'd like to be;-)

It's also interesting to note that in "Witch's Ghost" Velma's "stuck on" Ben Ravencroft. The song "It's A Mystery!" from the SDWG soundtrack is all about her crush.

Thorn walks (apparently no one in this burg has a car) to a white 2 story colonial house with a picket fence (conviently leaving the gate open. She goes around the back to a shed, lights some candles, puts some things from jars in a mortar and pestle style cup and breathes in the aroma. Peeping Fred and trespassing Daph watch her

Velma comes up with a plan to catch the Ghost and aks The Hex Girls to come back out for the big reveal. They only do it because Ben Ravencroft asks. They spring their trap, catch and unmask the ghost and it turns out to be Mr. McKnight the town pharmacist who sells "I Survived the Witch's Ghosts" T-shirts. He's also Thorn (aka Sally McKnight)'s dad. But Mr. McKnight didn't act alone. 5 of the townsfolk (including the mayor) are in on it. All but The Hex Girls.

At Ben Ravencroft's swanky pad, Fred apologies for suspecting them. What Fred & Daphne saw Thorn breathe was peppermint and cloves- herbal vapors to soothe her vocal chords. The "witch" act is a gimmick for their band. They're eco-goths sorta like Wiccans- except Thorn who's 1/16th on her mother's side of the family. Luna's dad's a dentist who made the band's fangs. The Hex Girls admire the beautiful portrait of Sarah Ravencroft.

Interesting to speculate that here Shaggy's awful quick to jump into Luna's arms when Scooby bared his pointy canine teeth. Does he like Luna? Luna isn't impressed however.

The mayor and Mr. McKnight come over to apologize and say they found Sarah Ravencroft's grave marker. Scooby finds where Sarah's spell book is. Ben reveals his evil plot, frees Sarah and wacky hijinks ensue...Blah, Blah, Blah

Ben ties up the mayor, Mr. McKnight, and The Hex Girls, yet leaves the Scoobies conviently free. Velma gets the idea that only way to trap the witch is to have someone with Wiccan blood read the spell. Afterall, Ben freed her and he has it too. Luna and Dusk leave and Thorn want to go too. But Velma convinces her to stay (afterall her dad is still trapped you know). Velma finds the right spell and Thorn reads it.

Ancient evil get thee hence. Only good can recupence. For the misdeeds you have done. Witch return from which you've come

And Thorn saves the day! Of course the whole piligram village is destroyed and there's no marquee witch to bring the crowds. Only The Hex Girls to perform... oh yeah and a GIANT turkey!

The Hex Girls perform "Earth, Wind, Fire, & Air" accompanied by the Scoobies (or is it "Those Meddlin' Kids"?). As the mayor, Thorn's dad, and the giant turkey get down and funky with their bad selves.

What Do I Think?

I've been watching Scooby-Doo through it's various incarnations. Original Scooby (in syndication thank you), the ones with Scooby-Dum, Scrappy-Doo, 13 Ghosts, New Scooby-Doo Movies (my fave I think), A Pup Named, etc, and the return with "SD on Zombie Island" was a welcome moving forward with a new twist. A kind of new generation X Filesque style. Everyone's grown up and gotten jobs and have potential romances. And now it's really scary instead of funny scary. As much fun for adults as for kids. It was old school meets new school.

Now I'm a bit biased since I was featured in "Scooby -Doo and the Legend of the Vampire" (but there are just so many things that I'm gonna nitpick on in my review for it.

But I enjoyed "SDWG" the most of any of the SD movie OVA so far. Not just for The Hex Girls, but the writing, animation (the fall foiliage and The Hex Girls' concert footage is beautifully done) the music. Plus the fact that they made a soundtrack with extra Hex Girl songs on it- shows that it was a top notch production led by Joe Hanna and William Barbera.