Hocus Pocus
“I put a spell on you. And now, you’re mine.” No truer words have been spoken than those of the Sanderson sisters. And this Halloween season, it looks like their legacy will continue. If you haven’t seen the second (or first) movie on Disney+, I recommend that you do not read any further — there are plenty of spoilers ahead. I started watching these witches when I was a young child. Unsurprisingly, I was horrified to watch as they sucked the literal life out of a child in the first of the movie franchise! I didn’t know it was based off of a bedtime story, told by producer and cowriter David Kirschner. This was a family-favorite pastime around Halloween.
Halloween is the season of mischief and creativity. It’s your annual opportunity to dress up — unless you like to cosplay, in which case it’s Halloween all year round in the best way possible. This season is also your chance to indulge in some wonderfully spooky movies. In Hocus Pocus, the sisters act at the peak of comedy. I love Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, who is portrayed as the dumb one; but if you pay close attention in both films, she has intelligent moments, as well as an empathy that the other sisters lack. Bette Midler, who plays Winifred, is funny yet evil — you can’t help but love her. She brings a touch of her Broadway past to this character, and even keeps Winifred and her drama alive to this present day. Kathy Najimy plays Mary Sanderson, and somehow makes this character so loveable. She is the follower of the group, but also a huge comedic relief when things get too serious.
In the first movie, we were never given a background on how the Sanderson sisters came to be. Luckily, the second move in the franchise dives just enough into this history. As a result, you can understand the pass down that happens near the end.
Each character plays off each other like a symphony, made for a kids and adults alike. I personally loved the first movie, and when I was younger, had a crush on both Allison and Thackery Binx; but in the second one, I related more to Becca, Izzy and Cassie. I also adored the performance of the young Sanderson sisters. Taylor Henderson playing young Winifred was great casting choice. She made it feel like there was no difference between younger and older Winifred, and her ability to make them feel like one and the same displays her blossoming star power. Juju Journey Brenner as young Sarah Sanderson was spot on as well, perfectly embodying Sarah Jessica Parker’s role with her few lines. In fact, I would have loved both younger and older Sarah to have more lines in both movies. Nina Kitchen as young Mary is another actress that I wish had more lines — but she did an incredible job playing her character. These young actors seem to get the characters perfectly, from mannerisms to speech patterns and body language.
If you haven’t seen either movie, I highly recommend both Hocus Pocus and its sequel to watch this spooky season. Happy movie watching, and Happy Halloween!
