Disney brings back the earliest and new generation of Hocus Pocus fans with a second film. The iconic Sanderson Sisters have another chance of revenge on Salem 29 years after the 1993 original.
Summary
Hocus Pocus follows three sister witches who were executed in the height of the Salem witch trials in 1693. Winifred, Sarah, and Mary return 300 years later to ensue chaos. The first movie centered around the bonds between brothers and sisters. Where Max and his little sister move to Salem before the sister witches resurgence.
The second film opens with a little backstory of the sisters. In the 16th century Pilgrim community, Winnie must marry after the death of the girls’ parents. When Winnie refuses, the girls run away into the forbidden woods where they are speared by the Mother Witch. After getting their hand on a spell book, they begin to practice witchcraft.
Set 29 years later, Becca, Izzy and Cassie are best friends that share a love of magic. With their hometown being Salem, the Sanderson Witches’ legend lives on where they once haunted the town in 1993. However, the teenage friend group is going through a rough patch after one of the three girls gets a boyfriend. Short on Cassie, Becca and Izzy continue their Halloween traditions. Becca and Izzy awaken the Sanderson Sisters after they unknowingly light a candle allowing them to come back to Salem. The Sanderson Sisters hunt down the mayor and wreak havoc on the town and the three friends try to save Salem.
Cast
Hocus Pocus II brings back the iconic actresses, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy. The only other actor back from the original Hocus Pocus is Billy, Winnie’s past lover, played by Doug Jones. These actors, especially the trio of women, make Hocus Pocus a staple in Halloween children movies not only with their talent in acting, but musically. Many kids of the 90s and 2000s grew up watching Hocus Pocus and the actresses’ continuation in the second movie will only bring a new generation to share a love of other classic Halloween children’s movies.
The actresses of the friend group: Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo and Lilia Buckingham all bring freshness to the movie. They keep the new installment relatable to children and today’s audience.
Review
Hocus Pocus II overall does a great job in catering to those that grew up with the original but keeping a new audience in mind. The film makes space for modern references and ideas that’ll make it age well. The inclusion of a more diverse town with some participating in the town’s celebration in drag, modern home gadgets like an Alexa Speaker, and a Walgreens keeps the movie relevant.
Furthermore, the descriptive background or villain origin story of the sisters gives a better picture of their reasoning of a desire for revenge. The fun addition of the young sisters allows the audience to empathize with their situation. Gilbert, the Salem Magic Shoppe owner in Hocus Pocus II said, “They were ahead of their time and they were misunderstood” (Fletcher, 2022, 0:39:46). Th should definitely be one of the blueprints to nostalgic movies and TV shows that are reviving.
Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus II movie is available to watch on Disney +.
