HOCUS POCUS 2 BRINGS BACK MAGICAL MEMORIES
By Stella Nagle
The new Hocus Pocus 2 is a fantastic film that brought on all the right amounts of nostalgia as our three favorite witches were reborn.
The original movie was made 29 years ago and was an exciting release for all ages. This sequel begins by taking us back to the early days of the Salem Witch Trials, with the Sanderson sisters as young teens.
The town, led by Reverend Trask, is turned upside down when the oldest of the Sanderson sisters, Winifred, goes against the church by declining the marriage of a boy named John Pritchet.
This opening scene looks straight out of The Crucible, the Arthur Miller play that has become a classic for all Masco juniors, with its same housing and clothing. The Reverend attempts to banish the girls from Salem, calling them rotten apples. Just as the three are forcibly removed from their house, Winifred's birthday gift, a large spider, jumps onto the reverend, causing a huge commotion. The three are banished from the town and use the chaos to run into the woods, escaping the grasp of the reverend.
It is in these woods where the three girls meet a witch. After trying to eat them, she realizes that Winifred, with the help of her two sisters, has the potential to help her become a powerful witch coven of their own. The girls agree, and the story flashes forwards to the present day.
The exposition, in the beginning, gives us a never-before-seen look into the sisters' lives before becoming the famous witches Hocus Pocus viewers know and love. The camera work within this first scene is incredible. Making the appearance of the witch an amazing scene to watch.
When the movie picks back up, it is 2022, and we meet two teen girls named Becca and Izzy. It is Halloween and Becca's 16th birthday. After school, the two girls plan on doing their Halloween tradition of a scary movie marathon and a scary birthday wish in the woods. However, this year as the two are making their way to the woods; they stop by their favorite Salem witch shop, where Becca is given a black flame candle.
It is an old wives’ tale that only a virgin on their 16th birthday can bring back the Sanderson sisters by making a wish with a black flame candle.
This movie's foreshadowing makes it less scary than a stereotypical horror movie while maintaining the perfect Halloween feel. Friendship is shown throughout the movie with the continuous stream of problem-solving. Becca and Izzy are two characters that, while in a very strange situation, remain relatable. Their emotions between being scared of the witches while being pitiful of their lack of 20th-century knowledge. The girl’s’ reaction to the witches is what we expect of any teen in their position.
The two, unfazed, leave the shop with the gift and head to the woods. As they begin their tradition of a spooky birthday wish, they light the black flame candle, and the three Sanderson sisters appear. Terrified, Becca and Izzy try to run, but the witches need to eat a child to remain youthful. Becca, scared to be eaten, tells the witches that this is a regular thing, even going as far as to say they are sold at Walgreens.
The three sisters believe Becca, leading the five to the drugstore. Seeing these three, who lived centuries ago, try to navigate the modern world is extremely comical. The witch's reaction to everyday items allows for comedic relief for viewers.
Their struggle with the automatic doors to enter Walgreens is something that made me laugh out loud. It is here that the witches realize they have been tricked. Outraged and vengeful, they seek out the mayor of the town. The mayor, who happens to be Becca and Izzy's friend's dad, is related to the reverend the witches so heavily hate. The Mayor is now the target of the three witches. The struggle and adventure in this movie are immense. The girls struggle to help stop the witches and rebuild an old friendship. This is a fantastic movie with the perfect balance of horror and comedy.
Hocus Pocus 2 hits home with a large audience, with characters from the original making a reappearance. The movie feels familiar without being similar. The nostalgia of seeing Halloween’s favorite characters again holding the same energy as the original made the movie a must-watch. While the same actors play the Sanderson sisters, the new storyline makes the movie feel refreshed and new. The nostalgia, paired with the theme of friendship, allows kids and adults to relate to this fantastic, feel-good movie. This is a movie that should be on everyone's Halloween movie list.