| Director | Renny Harlin |
|---|---|
| Budget | $20 million |
| Box office | $37.6 million |
In Ipswich, Massachusetts, 4 high school boys – Caleb Danvers, Pogue Parry, Reid Garwin and Tyler Simms, collectively known as the "Sons of Ipswich" – possess magical abilities as the descendants of the four remaining colonial witch families. Magic manifests on a witch's 13th birthday and grows stronger until they "ascend" at 18, upon which their powers increase significantly. However, use of magic can be addictive, with overuse causing accelerated aging, insanity, and death.
At a bonfire party the Sons meet Sarah Wenham and Chase Collins, both new students at their school; Caleb and Sarah become romantically involved soon thereafter. When a student is found dead near the school campus, various paranormal occurrences begin to occur, with Sarah and Pogue's girlfriend Kate Tunney being the primary targets. Caleb suspects Reid, the most reckless of the group, but he denies the accusation. After Caleb observes Chase using magic during a swimming competition, he discovers that Chase is the descendent of a 5th family of witches long believed to be extinct. As the Sons discuss this revelation, Pogue learns that Kate has been rendered comatose by a spell. He confronts Chase, but is defeated and hospitalized.
Caleb confronts Chase, who reveals that he was adopted; unaware of the origin and cost of his powers, he became addicted to them, and believes he can stave off the ill effects of overuse by forcing other ascended witches to transfer their power to him. Caleb reveals the truth to Sarah and takes her to his father William, whose 44-year-old body is decrepitly aged from magic abuse. When Sarah suggests that one of the other three Sons transfer their power to Caleb so he could fight Chase, he refuses as it would cost the person offering their life.
On the night of Caleb's 18th birthday, he leaves to face Chase while Reid and Tyler safeguard Sarah, though Chase easily kidnaps her and demands Caleb's powers for her return. He refuses and the two duel, though Caleb is outmatched even after he ascends mid-battle. William sacrifices his life by transferring his powers to Caleb: with his father's power infused within him, he strikes Chase with a final blow that engulfs him. Sarah, Kate and Pogue recover, and Caleb and Sarah drive off hand-in-hand.