On its 32nd birthday, Ria Choolun went to the cinema to see if Hocus Pocus still holds up.
It all begins in Salem 1693; the Sanderson sisters are busy brewing their anti-aging potion. Mary, Winifred, and Sarah are in their cottage, preparing to lure the local children in. Their cottage is a staple in the film, a charming set with all décor made from scratch. It was inspired by 17th century New England architecture.
Sarah’s magical gift is her voice, Mary the super sniffer, and Winifred the enchanter. As Sarah sings “Come little children,” it is hard not to cover your ears – its eerie lyricism draws you in. The opening scene could not have defined the film any better, it is a perfect mix of mischief and magic.
Directed by Kenny Ortega, the story follows the sisters trying to navigate Salem 300 years later after being resurrected. To losing their broomsticks to catching the bus, meeting the devil, and running out of time. The sisters encounter new challenges.
For the Black Flame trio, Max, Dani, and Allison experience a whirlwind of scares, teen romance, sibling conflicts, and unexpected bravery all thanks to Max the skeptic.
The halloween favourite explores the theme found family. While Max struggles to fit in a new city and adjust to the folklore, Dani is much more at ease. It helps believing in witches. On the trails of their adventures the siblings gladly accept a new addition to their home, a feisty black cat Binx with a tragic past. The parallels between the siblings, Binx and Emily became clearer throughout the events, history truly repeats itself.
The witches’ acting style is theatrical and pantomime, an exaggerated portrayal of spooky fun. For some it may be too much or just enough, maybe the nostalgia overrides the slight cheesy charm. There were a few moments, but I don’t mind the cringe.
One of the things that I particularly enjoyed about the movie was the colour palette. The golden hues, dark greens, the deep reds and of course the costumes – all of which represent their personalities so well. Mary has a beautiful red dress paired with a hooded robe. The colourful patterns on her skirt are easily one of my favourite details. The iconic features of her look are her crooked mouth and her witch hat shaped hair.
Sarah is always in her own land of enchantment dancing and singing. She is a ditsy princess, and I love her for it. She wears a layered dress with deep purple over red and an embroidered colourful bodice with lacy sleeves. It is an angelic look for a whimsical character. Winifred has a green velvet robe matched with gold symbols decorating her deep purple dress. The bold detailing is fitting for herself appointed leadership. A feature that stands out is her bucked teeth, an intentional choice from the actor Bette Midler to display Winifred as powerful and villainous. Memorable quotes from the beloved character are “My names Winifred, what’s yours?” “Goodbye cruel world,” and “Why am I cursed with such idiot sisters.”
I would rate this film 8 out of 10 pumpkins.
Three decades later and the spell still lingers. Producer David Kirschner once said, “It’s the kind of movie that keeps finding new life.” That is the magic of Ortega’s Hocus Pocus; a timeless classic that will never die.
Want to listen to some music that gives the same feeling as the timeless classic? Then look no further.
season of the witch – Lana Del Rey
Del Rey’s cover of Donovan’s song screams fall leaves and spells. How uncoven of me not to add this in.
Witches – Alice Phoebe Lou
The epitome of cauldron mixing and swaying in the kitchen.
Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
Anything by them is magical, this song truly makes you feel like you are taken by the wind.
You showed me – The Turtles
Hauntingly dreamy, so bewitching.
The killing moon – Echo and the Bunnymen
Essential for its lunar and melancholy vibe, not mentioning it would be so devious.
Spellbound – Siouxsie and the banshees.
Dance, dance until you die around the campfire.
My girlfriend is a witch – October country
Immediately made me think of Billy Butcherson from his grave, I bet he is having a wonderful rest, so I had to.
So tonight, I might see – Mazzy star
Dreamlike fairytale
Witchcraft – Frank Sinatra
Absolutely perfect, this is a softer, smoother song compared to the rest. Captivating in its elegance.
Wonderful Woman by the smiths
The guitar’s melody takes the show making an alluring song tailored for spooky season.
