Is It REALLY Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus? | Hocus Pocus Movie Review

Hocus Pocus Movie Poster. Image from: https://share.google/images/jV7ZI2aZmEWbYaned

For the month of October, I really want us to focus on the theme of Halloween and all things spooky. So today I thought we would start with a classic, not so scary, Disney favorite: Hocus Pocus. Put on your cloaks, grab your brooms, and let's get on into the review.

Have You Seen Hocus Pocus?

Okay, before we get started, I have to confess something. I had not seen Hocus Pocus before this year...that I remember. Maybe I watched glimpses of it as a kid, but I don't know. I don't remember it. I do know I have never sat down and watched the whole movie. And I know, I know, I've heard it all. Trust me, I know.

Recently, I was cast as Sarah Sanderson in a parody stage production that one of my friends wrote, so I figured I needed to watch it and do a character study. Plus I also wanted to see what all the hype is about. Spoiler alert, I loved it.

This movie is everything Halloween. It's spooky, but it's also funny. It's got some dark themes, which I did really like, but good triumphs over evil in the end. I loved this movie. It definitely wasn't making me jump kind of scary. It's not super gory, but it was spooky. There were definitely a few scenes that I know would have terrified me as a kid, hence why I probably didn't watch it. I was a really big scaredy cat back then. Honestly, I'm kind of a big scaredy cat now.

Dark Themes & The Spooky Sister Dynamic

As I wrote, it wasn't super scary or anything. They just touched on some dark themes. I really loved the tone of this movie, though. It had dark humor, was funny and very sarcastic.

I really like the banter between all the sisters. I love their dynamics. You have Winifred: the commanding and utterly just evil leader. Then you have Mary: she's loyal and she's obedient, kind of the right-hand woman. And then you have Sarah: the ditzy but also alluring siren, you know, because they use her voice to draw in children. But they all fit together very well. They all have their quirks, and they all have their place in the coven. So I was definitely enjoying the relationship dynamics and just cracking up at their different personalities.

Speaking of dark themes, the scene in the beginning where it shows their feet when they get hung in Salem was a jaw-dropper. I was so not expecting that from Disney. But also, I mean, that's exactly what would have happened back then. So, I'm glad they did show it. I just wasn't expecting it, but I still think it was tasteful. They don't show them being graphically strung up, but you can tell by context clues what's happening. It definitely got your attention because I was like, "Wait a second! What is happening?" This is the beginning of the movie, and they're dead. The whole opening in general was eye-catching. It immediately hooked me in. I was drawn into the story, and I wanted to know what was gonna happen.

The Sanderson Sisters Explore the 90s

I loved watching the sisters go through the 90s. Seeing them be introduced to all this new technology and indoor plumbing was absolutely hilarious. Watching them interact and explore with everything was great, and they had some of the best little jokes and little moments that you would miss if you weren't paying attention. I just loved watching them navigate the world. It was really well thought out to me that they didn't just let them pretend and say, "Oh, okay, like we understand everything," because no, they would not have known anything. I just really loved watching them figure things out as they went. It added more comedy to the otherwise dark mission they were on.

Classic Kid Dynamics

The kids were good. All the actors were great, but I loved Dani. She is so sassy and so hilarious. Honestly, she's just such a good depiction of a little sister. Her and Max's relationship was very, very on point. I loved their banter and their fights. They really captured a big brother/little sister dynamic.

Max was also such a cutie pie. You know, he's got the whole angsty, "I miss my home. I wish we'd never moved here!" thing going on. He's got a crush on Allison, and they've got a really cute back and forth. It's just precious. The whole thing is precious.

Hocus Pocus Bits & Pieces (Details)

Also, we do need to talk about the lighting of the movie. I really enjoyed it. It wasn't super bright. I don't want to say it was dull because it wasn't, but it it had this really interesting color scheme throughout. Like I said, it wasn't super bright or anything. It was just spooky. That's really the best word I can use to describe it. I also loved the costumes. They completely matched the world we were in and each character's personality really well.

The entire movie was fantastic. I really enjoyed every minute of it. I love the music. I loved Sarah's little like luring song that she sings when they bring the children in. Oh, and I loved I Put A Spell On You. Talk about iconic. Hello?? Beautiful job. It's stuck in my head, actually. I love the dancing, and I love the parents' costumes when they go to their little party. That was cute.

The talking cat, too, being Thackery. I loved his little addition to everything. Also, when he gets run over by the bus and they're all crying, thinking that he's dead, and then he's like, "dude, I have nine lives. What up? Let's go." It was so funny. I love him. Then, he gets to reunite with his sister at the end, and he's no longer a cat. That's really sweet. It's heartwarming.

Plot Hole?

One little thing that I am confused about: are Max and Allison immune to Sarah's song? Because all the kids are following her voice. You know, she's singing it, they're getting all these kids in Salem to come towards them. They're all following Sarah's voice and being lured to their house. But somehow Max and Allison are fine. Is it just them that are immune to it? Is there like an age range of 'if you're under 16, this song really gets to you,' but if you're not, then you're fine? Or is it just Max and Allison specifically are immune because there's something special about them? Or is it just a plot hole? I don't know.

I did ask that question out loud when I saw them not going under the trance when everyone else was, but I'm not gonna dwell on it, okay? I was confused about it though, and I still don't know the answer.

Rating/Final Thoughts

This is a cute movie. I know this is a short review. There's nothing super crazy about it. There's nothing wild, and I don't want to analyze it too much because that's not really what it's for. You know what I mean? It's a cute movie, and I can see why people love it.

It's very nostalgic and fun. It has its quirks. I enjoyed watching it. There are definitely some cheesy jokes and you know, things that you can make fun of, but it's fun. I got to watch it with the two other people playing the other Sanderson Sisters in this production that I'm in, and we had a blast watching it together. It's definitely not the most amazing movie I've ever seen. Obviously, I didn't go into it thinking that, but I'm gonna give it a 3/5.

It was a solid movie, very fun. I'll probably watch it next Halloween. It's great for this time of year. It's really fun. It's good if you don't like super scary or anything, and you should watch it if you want to sort of dip your toe into the world of Halloween/horror movies. It was good. It was definitely a great movie to start off the spooky season.

Don't forget about the MCU Timeline Rewatch. I will be posting my reviews on this blog as well.