![]() They fully embrace the magic and mystique. Max is the skeptic whereas Allison and Dani are the believers. Set during the spooky season, it’s not surprising that the film, much like its contemporary Halloweentown, imparts a message about honoring the sacred holiday. “It’s the one night of the year where the spirits of the dead can return to Earth.” “It just so happens that Halloween is based on the ancient feast called All Hallows Eve,” says Allison ( Vinessa Shaw), smirking. But the roots of the holiday stretch back to ancient culture. Max scoffs, claiming Halloween was “invented by the candy companies. Now, there are those who say that on Halloween Night, a black cat still guards the old Sanderson House, warding off any who might make the Witches come back to life.” “And so, the Sanderson Sisters were hanged by the Salem town folk. Neither his Father nor his Mother nor the entire town ever knew what became of him those 300 years ago,” says Miss Olin. So, she naturally dresses up as a witch for trick-or-treating.ĭuring the first day of school, Max attends a class in which Miss Olin ( Kathleen Freeman) regales the tale of the three sisters and how Thackery Binx ( Sean Murray) met a fate worse than death: eternal life as a feline. Max plays the cynical, too-cool-for-school older brother who hates Halloween (boy, did I have such a crush on him…), while Dani loves everything about the holiday, including the Sanderson Sisters. Max ( Omri Katz) and his sister Dani ( Thora Birch) have recently moved to the area, leaving behind the sun and sandy California beaches. What was once the witch’s home, perfectly nestled in the wood, has now been turned into a museum, which shuttered due to a series of mysterious events. It was a time when tubular was in the vernacular among teens and boomboxes were all the rage. Gone are the Puritan bonnets and cockel hats, exchanged for oversized jeans, tie-dye, and sideways baseball caps. The film then jumps 300 years and picks up in 1993 Salem. Even now, it’s still an image burned into my brain. It’s unflinchingly unafraid to go to such an unsettling place. That’s rather disturbing for a PG-rated children’s movie. Winifred, Sarah, and Mary are hung for their crimes – and the film actually shows the hanging, or at least the dangling feet. While dealing with eating children’s souls, it laces up its narrative with tongue-in-cheek jokes about a dead man’s toe and how they’re just “spending a quiet evening at home” when the torch-wielding townsfolk show up at their doorstep. It walks the line between comedy and horror, never sacrificing one for the other. Inside, three witchy sisters Winifred ( Bette Midler), Sarah ( Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary ( Kathy Najimy) gather around a bubbling cauldron as they cook up a potion that will allow them to suck the lives from all the children of Salem. ![]() Thackery makes a mad dash out into the woods to a secluded cabin. One morning, Thackery awakens to find his sister missing and a plume of purple smoke rising in the distance. With a score composed by John Debney, Hocus Pocus begins its tale in 1690s Salem, where a young girl named Emily ( Amanda Shepherd) lives with her brother Thackery Binx ( Sean Murray) and their parents. Screenwriters Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert perfectly balance these elements to deliver a timeless story about youthful curiosity, the importance of sibling relationships, and the bonds of friendship. It made me a horror fan with its oddball humor, strong messaging about holding onto one’s imagination, and just enough darkness to worm into your brain. It lives next to Tourist Trap, Halloween II, and Poltergeist as my genre entry points. ![]() I honestly don’t remember the first time I watched it I only recall watching it every Halloween since I was seven. For many, it was their very first spooky movie. But more importantly, Hocus Pocus defines an entire generation of horror fans. There’s a reason we got a completely unnecessary sequel last fall. In the era of TV reboots, remakes, and requels, millennials yearn for their childhood and a simpler time. Hocus Pocus endures because of nostalgia. It’s still an extraordinarily fun picture 30 years later. In fact, its legacy is as strong as ever. ![]() It’s got a talking black cat, spooky spellcasting, a zombie, and three children-eating witches – oh my! Released in the height of summer (July 12), the Kenny Ortega-directed feature hasn’t lost its allure. From its opening frame, the 1993 film contains all the magic and wonder you could want from a gateway horror movie – earning its place next to other ‘90s essentials like Halloweentown.
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