COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN: DAY 19-“HOCUS POCUS”

In honor of the witching season, we’ll profile a new Halloween-centric title every day throughout the month of October.

THE COUNTDOWN SWITCHES GEARS AND OFFERS UP A BELOVED HALLOWEEN-INSPIRED COMEDY FOR FOLKS OF ALL AGES.

Article by Vanessa Hunt

HOCUS POCUS (PG)-1993

(SPOILERS AHEAD!)

Three witchy sisters, two teens, one tween, and a black cat – that is the recipe for one of the greatest Halloween movies that didn’t actually open in theatres during the Halloween season. July 16, 1993 brought us HOCUS POCUS, starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. Although it was considered a box office flop and widely received negative reviews from critics, HOCUS POCUS now boasts one of the largest cult followings as a mainly family-friendly Halloween tale.

The movie opens in Salem, Massachusetts in 1693, and follows  Thackery Binx (portrayed by Sean Murray and voiced by Jason Marsden) as he attempts to save his sister, Emily, from the immortality-seeking Sanderson sisters. Poor Thackery not only fails in his attempt, but he also finds himself changed into a black cat and forced to guard the Sanderson house for 300 years after the sisters are hanged for witchcraft, but not before Winifred vows that a virgin will summon them back from the dead. While this scene may come off as a little campy, it perfectly sets the tone of the movie and shows that director Kenny Ortega (of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL fame for you Disney junkies out there) isn’t afraid to leave the audience feeling a little unsettled, as is evident by the swinging of the witches’ legs after they are hanged.

The tale then flashes forward 300 years as we meet Max Dennison (Omri Katz)–a teenager who is adjusting poorly to his family’s move from L.A. to Salem. He is a stereotypical moody teenager who falls for the pretty, out-of-his-league girl in his class. In an attempt to woo said girl, Max gives her his number in front of the other students, a move that made even 8-year-old me feel uncomfortable for him. After being rejected by her, Max returns home to pout about his current situation, only to be mocked by his little sister, whom he then has to take out trick-or-treating. The siblings end up at the home of Max’s crush, Allison, and the three of them decide to visit the old Sanderson house where virgin Max lights the black flame candle and brings our three favorite witches back to life. It is that one action that sends our heroes into a night of chaos. This just goes to show that making stupid decisions to impress a girl is not always a good idea.

HOCUS POCUS then takes the viewer on a wild ride through Salem, making stops at the cemetery, the sewers, City Hall where the Dennison parents are dancing the night away, and even Jacob Bailey High School where a large kiln is used to “defeat” the sisters, or so our heroes think. This ride culminates in a showdown in the cemetery where the witches ultimately meet their doom and our heroes come off victorious, ridding their little town of the evil that was three singing, dancing, sassy witch sisters. There is an element of likeability to the sisters that makes me sad to see them die, but then I have to remember that their ultimate goal was to suck the lives out of all the children in Salem and I am brought back to reality, of sorts, and reminded that these three witches were really evil!

Every year when I watch this movie, I notice something new. There are so many levels to it that allow children and adults to be entertained. I certainly didn’t understand all of the virgin jokes, the mother’s Madonna costume, the “yabos” scene, or the Ice and Jay dialogue while I was a kid, but those are things that as an adult I giggle at and shake my head as I say to myelf; “I can’t believe they’re showing this stuff in a kids movie.”

To keep HOCUS POCUS fresh for myself each year, I’ve started analyzing a different character each time I watch it. It may be the English Literature major in me coming out, but there is just so much to each of these characters that Ortega shows us, that I know isn’t just coincidence. Last year, I started with my favorite character, Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler), and this year, my character of choice was Mary (expertly portrayed by Kathy Najimy). I always feel bad for Mary because of how she is treated by Winifred. She craves attention and validation from her sister, but is rarely given it. Her exclamations of “I smell a child…” are usually coupled with a tone that suggests she is looking to be praised by her sister, but she is met with less than enthusiastic responses. At the beginning of the movie, Mary knows that another child has entered their home when Thackery Binx comes to rescue Emily, but Mary is met with a response from Winifred; “What dost thou call that?” Winifred shows little confidence in her sister, but Mary still stays loyal to her and recognizes that Winifred is in charge. In the end, when the witches’ brooms have been stolen, it is Mary who ends up with the short end of the stick. Winifred rides the broom from the storage closet, Sarah rides a mop, but poor Mary has to settle for a vacuum. She takes it in stride, though, exclaiming, “Broom ho!” as she rides off into the night.

Mary spouts off some of my favorite lines in the entire movie, and I also appreciate her love of food. She is even informational as she explains to Winifred and the audience what “scrod” is as that is what she smells instead of children before their fateful journey to the high school. This all leads up to my favorite line in HOCUS POCUS. I recall rewinding my worn out VHS tape to listen to this specific line so many  times that I thought my parents might chuck the tape out the door. This infamous line is the last thing Mary utters, breaking the fourth wall as she looks straight into the camera while the sun comes up;  “Uh oh, uh, buh-bye.” Mary then promptly explodes into a mass of red mist and sparkling dust. In the end, Mary was simply a witch who only wanted her sister’s acceptance.

For years, HOCUS POCUS has claimed the top spot on my list of favorite movies, and I believe it’s because it is an all-out ride of humor, campy scares, ridiculous dialogue, and sass. While this movie may not be considered Oscar-worthy, it stays with you and leaves you singing Winifred and Sarah’s songs and quoting Mary’s hilarious lines for days. I imagine I have watched this movie over 70 times, and it’s still just as entertaining to me now as it was 20 years ago. It resonates with viewers because it allows us to be scared while still having some fun. Really, who didn’t get scared by the moment when the skeleton rises out of its coffin at the first house Max and Dani are shown trick-or-treating at (a bit of foreshadowing there, Disney?).  Or how about when Billy Butcherson comes flailing out of his coffin?

While Winifred Sanderson may not have reached immortality in the way that she was searching for throughout the movie, I think it is safe to say, in her own words, that these three sisters are on their way to living “forever, not just until tomorrow.” Hocus Pocus will continue to be a staple movie each Halloween.

Now, do yourself a favor and go turn on the television. You’re sure to find at least one channel that is currently playing this cult hit. Your Halloween season will be all the better for it.

COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN

October 18th-“The Exorcist”– Click Here
October 17th-“Prince of Darkness”– Click Here
October 16th- “The Omen” – Click Here
October 15th-“Dawn of the Dead”– Click Here
October 14th- Student Bodies”–Click Here
October 13th-“Habit”–Click Here
October 12th- “The Twilight Zone” – Click Here
October 11th- “Creepshow” – Click Here
October 10th-“Shaun of the Dead“-Click Here
October 9th-“Invasion of the Body Snatchers”– Click Here
October 8th-“The Final Girls”–Click Here
October 7th-“Something Wicked This Way Comes”–Click Here
October 6th- “We Are Still Here”–Click Here
October 5th-“Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn”–Click Here
October 4th- “Phantom of the Paradise“-Click Here
October 3rd-“Poltergeist“-Click Here
October 2nd-“The Babadook“-Click Here
October 1st-“John Carpenter’s The Thing“-Click Here

About Author

Adam Mast

Adam Mast has been a lifelong film enthusiast dating back to age 6 when his parents took him to see a little movie called JAWS at a drive-in theater in Northern California. This would lead him to several writing stints for various publications and outlets. Mast would also have a hand in several film projects of various shapes and sizes. In 2014, Mast would join forces with colleague John Pugh to create Cinemast.net as a means discuss film from a fan and analytical perspective. Together, Mast and Pugh would also create the 501 (C)(3) nonprofit, Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah (FMASU) in 2017. FMASU’s mission is to encourage, inspire and educate filmmaking talent and to preserve film history. Adam currently resides in southern Utah with his amazing wife, Tonja, and their four wonderful children.

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