Something Wicked This Way Comes Summary

In a small town in Illinois, two thirteen-year-old friends, William Halloway and James Nightshade, anticipate their upcoming birthdays. Their lives take a mysterious turn when a storm predictor salesman warns them of an impending storm and gifts Jim with a lightning rod. In the meantime, they explore the newly arrived late-season carnival, Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show, with a mix of excitement and trepidation. They both have a strange encounter on a supposedly broken carousel when Mr. Cooger, one of the carnival bosses, rides it backward, turning him into a twelve-year-old boy.

Intrigued and horrified, the boys track the de-aged Mr. Cooger who introduces himself to their teacher, Miss Foley, as her lost nephew. When Jim tries to ride the magical carousel to change his own age, Will intervenes, causing the carousel to spin out of control, aging Mr. Cooger to over a hundred years. They return later with the police, only to find Mr. Cooger gone and replaced by a new act, Mr. Electrico. When they cross paths with a distressed young girl, who turns out to be Miss Foley, they are blocked from reaching her by a carnival parade. With the carnival crew searching for them, they seek refuge in the town library where they meet Will's father, Charles Halloway, who advises them to face their fears with love.

Their hiding spot is discovered by Mr. Dark, the Illustrated Man, who traps the boys and attempts to stop Charles's heart using the Dust Witch's magic. Charles, however, saves himself by laughing, which drives the Witch away. Undeterred, he moves forward to rescue his son and Jim. Utilising the power of laughter and joy, he outwits Mr. Dark, destroys the Mirror Maze, and kills the Witch. As Jim is lured towards the carousel, Charles's love transforms the boy version of Mr. Dark, leading to the carnival's collapse. The boys finally revive Jim, who had fallen into a near-death stupor, through their joyous laughter and singing.