I've previously talked about 'Hocus Pocus' on my list of family Halloween films where it ranked pretty high. It's funny how time can change people's opinions sometimes and this film is a wonderful example of that. Back in July of 1993 when 'Hocus Pocus' first premiered, it was given a mixed to negative reception from the critics while audiences failed to fall under its spell resulting in a lukewarm box office as well. 25 years later, the film has become a huge phenomenon thanks to yearly airings on television and a fond love from Millennials so let's take a deeper look into the film and see if all the new hype makes for a worthwhile movie.
In Salem, Massachusetts the Sanderson sisters are hung for practicing witchcraft and taking the lives of several children. 300 years later, a young boy named Max moves to Salem from Los Angeles and as usual in movie worlds, he's not having the best time adjusting. He begins to soften up when he meets the popular girl in school and they and Max's little sister set out to explore the abandoned Sanderson's homestead. Max makes the mistake of raising the witches from the dead and shenanigans ensue.
The main problem with 'Hocus Pocus' when looking at it with my critical eye is that it suffers from a specific plot cliche. The sisters are chasing and making death threats to three children but like 'The Blob' or 'Killer Klowns' before it, no one believes them. However, with this movie all they'd have to do is say that these people are trying to hurt them and leave out that they're 300 year old witches. I guess there would be no movie but still films with stupid characters get on my nerves. What does hold up best in 'Hocus Pocus' is the humor. It plays the 'fish out of water' angle which is again cliche but the jokes themselves are written well that you still laugh. A joke early on is the witches encounter a bus and ask the driver if that they desire children. While this is an obvious joke, Bette Midler and her fellow members deliver the jokes so well, using old time language and some surprising innuendo (this was an unusual angle for Disney at the time) for some of the best lines such as referring a schoolhouse as a prison for children.
The kids are all okay and not too obnoxious or unlikeable like many family flicks of the time. Max is shown to be a selfish jerk at the beginning but by the end you see he truly cares for his sister Dani. Dani herself is also not as annoying as you'd expect, keeping her composure and remaining strong willed even in the face of death. The only member who sadly seems underutilized is Allison who is portrayed as both smart and beautiful but despite her supposed knowledge of the sisters, the spotlight is ultimately on Max & Dani's relationship leaving her sorta out of place.
What really surprised me when re-watching the movie is the special effects still really hold up despite being more than 25 years old. Other than the early CGI work on the talking cat Blinx the composite shots and animated graphics don't stand out in high definition like many before it. The practical effects are also high end and gruesome with Winnie's spell book being an homage to 'Evil Dead' and popular monster actor Doug Jones as the undead Billy Butcherson. If there's anything to truly praise about 'Hocus Pocus' it's gotta be these amazing effects.
The music is also memorable and is part of the amazing cult following the film has, with a new rendition of the classic 'I Put A Spell On You' along with the original piece 'Come Little Children' which are both now on everyone's Halloween Playlist. The score is also very well done, almost channeling a mixture of Jerry Goldsmith's 'Poltergeist' with the work of Danny Elfman. I recommend picking up the soundtrack album for your next Halloween party.
'Hocus Pocus' may have weak story elements to it, but the harshness of those original reviews seem a bit much. This is still a fun film that everyone can enjoy during the Halloween season that has just enough edge for the older crowd who grew up with it. It may be a bit overrated these days, but make no mistake this is still a great movie to binge during your midnight marathon.
4/5
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