It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus!
I’ve loved this film for 20 years. 20 years! As far as I can remember, this came out in the cinema back in October 1993 when I was a little girl. While I missed it on the big screen, I’ve made up for that by watching this delightfully spooky movie a few times a year, okay, way more this year since my three year old niece adores Hocus Pocus at the moment. And if she wants to put it on again when she visits, I can hardly say no. 🙂
The year is 1693 and The Sanderson Sisters, Winifred (Winnie), Sarah and Mary, played by the fabulous Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, are up to no good. The townsfolk are none too happy when they discover the body of one of their children murdered by the witches. The three sisters are hanged for their evil spell (sucking the life out a child), but before they die, Winnie manages to cast one last spell.
“On all Hallows Eve when the moon is round, a virgin will summon us from under the ground. We shall be back, and the lives of all the children of Salem shall be ours.”
Fast forward 300 hundred years and teenager Max, new kid in town, decides the best way to impress a girl is to bring her to the Sanderson Sisters museum, the former residence of our three witches, and drag his little sister along. There, he lights the black flame candle, the very same candle that is said to bring back the witches should it be lit by a virgin. Fun and fabulous Halloween high-jinks ensue.
The autumn colours, the pumpkins, the costumes, the black cat, and all the trimmings of Halloween are present in Hocus Pocus. The setting, the landscape, the cinematography are just stunning. The film was shot twenty years ago but it’s aged so well. The cast is superb. I love every single character. I remember having the biggest crush on Omri Katz who plays Max when I was a kid – I loved him in Eerie Indiana. Anyone remember that show? I think he gave up the acting gig shortly after Hocus Pocus, a pity. I asked my niece who her favourite witch was and she chose Sarah. I couldn’t pick. They’re each a hoot in their own way.
For anyone who is a big fan of Halloween and hasn’t seen Hocus Pocus yet, please go rent or buy it this year. Fun for the whole family guaranteed!
Happy Halloween everyone. I’ll leave you with a performance by The Sanderson Sisters. “I put a spell on you, and now you’re gone gone gone – so long…”
****
****
Emma's Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction 