Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the spooky spirit than by indulging in some fun, festive films. It’s hard to find words to describe the extent to which I adore the cult classic Halloween film Hocus Pocus— it’s been my family’s favorite seasonal watch since before I could even remember. Like many of us, I was thrilled to learn of the sequel to my all-time favorite Halloween film being made. After nearly two years of anticipation, here we are! Hocus Pocus 2 has been released into the world (much like the Sanderson Sisters into Salem), and I’m here to share my opinions on the much awaited sequel.
Hocus Pocus 2 is well aware of its roots, and does a great job of paying homage to its predecessor. There are dozens of nods towards the OG— moments that had me grabbing my friends’ arms in excitement, shouting, “Oh my gosh! That’s from the original!” A handful of original cast members return (most notably, all three of the Sanderson Sisters), and other OG characters are mentioned, making this film feel like a reunion between fans of Hocus Pocus and close friends. Of course, you don’t have to have watched the original to enjoy the spunky storyline of this film (if you haven’t seen it though, I HIGHLY recommend).
The Sanderson Sisters’ characterizations and dynamics are perfectly undisturbed; their comfortingly familiar chemistry truly lies at the heart of this film. The scenes featuring the three of them invoke the most nostalgia, radiating the same aura as the first film, while also touching on themes of sisterhood that might just tug at your heartstrings.
The film’s atmosphere is understandably different from that of the first. You’ve simply got to attribute that fact to the matter of time elapsed between the two. Filmmaking in the 90s and filmmaking today are hardly comparable, especially in regards to Disney productions. It’s worth mentioning that the change in atmosphere is also largely due to the change in directors (Kenny Ortega directed the original, Anne Fletcher directed the sequel). That’s not to say that this new atmosphere moves away from the original in a negative direction, because it doesn’t— it’s just different. The film actually uses its depictions of modernity to its advantage, crafting humorous moments in the Sanderson Sisters’ reactions to modern-day automated products like Amazon’s Alexa.
Hocus Pocus wouldn’t be Hocus Pocus without magic, and it’s magic that Hocus Pocus 2 delivers. The film presents us with a number of spells and magical concepts that we can recognize from the original film, such as the infamous black flame candle, the spell book, and the sisters’ desire to magically obtain immortality. It also provides us with some new demonstrations of magic (almost Harry Potter-style, which some may think strays a bit too far from the more traditional witchery of the Sanderson Sisters in the original).
The members of the original cast employed within this film were no doubt the film’s biggest pull, but the new cast members also brought young, modern, fresh aspects to the legacy of Hocus Pocus. The younger cast members favorably appeal to a new generation of 21st century kids, who might have grown up watching the more timely 90s rendition of this tale but can now see aspects of themselves interacting with the legend of the Sanderson Sisters in this new development.
To sum things up, Hocus Pocus 2 is a fun, funny, and enjoyable entry in the genre of Halloween films that succeeds in extending and modernizing the legacy of the film that came before it. Yes, it’s silly, and it’s campy, but that’s almost what I love about it. Hocus Pocus 2 doesn’t take itself too seriously; to me, it behaves the way Hocus Pocus does, how a family-friendly Halloween film should behave. Maybe it’s the Halloween lover in me, or the film lover, or the Hocus Pocus fanatic— but I personally have no serious complaints.
I strongly recommend you check this film out, if not for its nostalgic sentiments, to help set your October mood and get you into the Halloween spirit!