Eastwick

Eastwick is a fictional town located in Massachusetts, created by author John Updike for his 1984 novel of the same name. The novel later inspired a 1987 film directed by George Miller and a 2009 television series. Eastwick is depicted as a charming, yet somewhat insular, New England community.

The novel and its adaptations focus on three independent women, Jane Spofford, Alexandra Medford, and Sukie Ridgeway, who are ostracized by the town's conservative society. Their lives take a dramatic turn with the arrival of a mysterious and charismatic stranger named Darryl Van Horne. Van Horne is revealed to be the devil, who uses his influence to awaken the women's latent magical abilities and encourage them to challenge the town's strictures.

The narrative explores themes of female empowerment, societal hypocrisy, and the allure of the forbidden. Eastwick itself serves as a microcosm of small-town life, highlighting its inherent pressures and the desire for freedom. The town's setting, often described with picturesque New England details, contrasts with the supernatural events that unfold. While the film introduces more overt magical elements and a comedic tone, and the television series offers a modern interpretation, the core concept of a seemingly ordinary town harboring extraordinary secrets remains central to the Eastwick narrative.