gilded lilies are redundant

Hocus Pocus Review: Not Exactly Spoiler-Free

So Hocus Pocus is an old movie, and a Disney movie at that. If we forget that for a little bit we can also describe it as an action-fantasy movie. It really was a wonderful movie that was created during the early 90s about witches coming from 300 years ago. It explores, briefly the effect of modernity on fantastic ideas. Since it’s on tonight abcFamily, I decided to make the review tonight.

Here are reasons why I think it’s a superb, underrated and marvelous piece of work:

1. The script: It is perfectly colloquial. All the young people are portrayed so accurately for the 90s. It’s one of those moments that you realize “true” 90s kids must have been born in the 80s. I think there are so many great puns and intentional anachronisms in the film that were obviously meticulously carried out.

2. Characters: Aren’t stock. It also shows that being a virgin, albiet can be shameful, is pretty damn useful. The witches are brought back because a virgin lit the candle. I mean how more unlikely could they have made a curse? the recurring motif of older brother saving his younger sister is so endearing and a very efficient way of creating a lean form of sentimentality. The witches are actually so refreshing because they include  such different women who seemingly work together against everyone else.
3. None of the “extra” part are really extra. Like when the sisters end up at “satan’s house” or the children tell a cop and the audience is told he’s not really a cop. And those moments we see that the parents are still partying so that’s a bit foreboding. All of these moments actually further the story and validate why these characters are singled out for their quest.

4. The music: If the other things didn’t convince you it was a great movie, this should.

Not only is a wonderful score to add to the shenanigans the Dennisons get up to but there are such original remakes of well known songs. Witchcraft by Frank Sinatra is sung by a zombie at a town hall party, I Put a Spell on You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins is sung by Winfred Sanderson who manipulates it against the parents. And lastly, the poem accredited to Edgar Allan Poe (Brock Walsh?),  ”Come Little Children” that is sung by Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker) is absolutely impeccable. It is the song that lures the children to the witches.

5.  the historical aspect of the movie made me love it as a kid. I loved to research about the Sanderson sisters so I understand that can just be me, but i still find the entire Salem Witch Trials intriguing. 

So the reason why I think Hocus Pocus is just cast aside as a Disney Movie is because the movies after it with a Halloween theme obviously aren’t so great 
 But it does everything a good movie does do, especially the originality aspect. Give it a watch if you haven’t and if you can, give me some good Disney Halloween movies?