Movie Review: Hocus Pocus

By Emily Winters, '17

 

        Who doesn’t love a fantastic family flick that is perfect for Halloween time? Back in July of 1993, the world was surprisingly pleased with the entertaining holiday flick Hocus Pocus. Directed by Kenny Ortega (director of High School Musical), this film, which runs around 96 minutes, is bound to please a variety of movie-goers from young to old.

 

Logo by Megan LaCombe

    When Max Dennison (Omri Katz) lights the black flame candle one Halloween night in Salem, the last thing he expects occurs: he has unwittingly awakened the Sanderson Sisters. Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy Najimy) Sanderson were killed long ago for practicing witchcraft, but have they learned their lesson? Of course not; once a witch, always a witch! Now, Max along with his little sister Dani, his classmate Allison, and a talking cat (wow!) have to save the children of Salem from the Sanderson Sisters before it is too late.

 

Photo credit Disney.com

    If you need a reason to watch Hocus Pocus, then you can find it in the standout performances done in the characters of the Sanderson sisters. Sure, maybe Mary and Sarah can be a little ditzy at times, but that doesn’t stop us from knowing that all of them are wicked to the core; especially Winifred. Of course, maybe I’m just one of those people that revel in the villains.

 

    The relationship between Max and his sister Dani always makes me smile. Even though they constantly get on each other’s nerves, they know that they will always be there to protect one another. I really enjoy that big-brother, little-sister relationship. Speaking of little sisters, I think that as a child, Thora Birch did a good job as Dani; she pulled off switching between defiant and frightened while still maintaining her innocent composure.

 

    Overall, there wasn’t anything that irked or annoyed me about this movie… which can’t be said about other family Halloween movies. I know it may be called “dated” or just plain “old,” but does it really matter? Some things can stand the test of time. Just try to look past the 90’s wardrobe and think of Full House, because really, who doesn’t love Full House?  I think that this movie does just that. Hocus Pocus is a movie that is just wholesome, fun entertainment and a great addition to any holiday movie-line up.