Since it's Hallowe'en I thought I'd do a post on one of my favourite spooky films, Hocus Pocus. :) It came out in 1993 and I used to watch it a lot as a pre-teen and teenager and still really like it now, lol.
It's about teenager Max Denison (played by Omri Katz) who moves from California to Salem, Massachusetts with his parents and little sister Dani (Thora Birch). Max isn't happy about the move and is finding it hard being the new kid in town. Now it's Hallowe'en and his parents want Max to take Dani trick or treating but he's not keen on the idea.
At school the teacher tells Max's class about the local legend of the Sanderson sisters. In 1693 there were 3 sisters called Winifred aka Winnie (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), who lived in the woods and were rumoured to be witches. The townspeople believed them responsible for the disappearance of their children and when they discovered that the sisters had kidnapped and killed Emily Binx (Amanda Shepherd/Jodie-Amy Rivera ) by sucking her life force in order to stay young, they determined to stop them once and for all. Just before she and the others were hanged, Winnie placed a curse on the town, saying that when a virgin lights the black flame candle in their house on All Hallows' Eve they will return. Afterwards the house was empty, except for a black cat. There was also no sign of Emily's older brother Thackery, who went looking for her earlier...
Max finds the story amusing and gets into a friendly debate with Allison (Vinessa Shaw), a girl who is into Hallowe'en and local traditions. He is intrigued by her but things take a down turn when he has his trainers stolen by two bullies on the way home.
That night he reluctantly takes Dani trick or treating and by chance they end up at Allison's house. She tells them that the old Sanderson house is now a closed museum and Dani persuades her to take them there. Wanting to impress Allison, Max lights the black flame candle, doubting that anything will happen. This proves to be a big mistake however because it works and the Sanderson sisters return! Now Max, Dani and Allison have until the end of the night to stop the witches from sucking the life force from more children and gaining immortality. Luckily they have an ally in Binx, the talking black cat who has been guarding the house for 300 years and is actually Emily's brother Thackery. *
*Sean Murray plays Thackeray as a human and Jason Marsden is the voice of Binx the cat.
Here's the trailer.
And a clip where the sisters are singing I put A Spell On You (and putting a spell on the people in the room!).
This is a good film with lots of funny bits and it can be enjoyed by kids and adults. The sisters have different personalities and roles; Winnie is the stricter one in charge, Mary is sillier and can sniff children out, and Sarah is ditzy and sings to lure the children in.
I used to write quotes from this down, lol. One of my favourite parts is where the bullies Jay and Ernie say about the Sanderson sisters, "Oh man, why is it always the ugly chicks that stay out late?" (and then of course they get themselves in trouble)! I also like the bit where the witches go on a bus for the first time and the part where they go into this couple's house because the man is dressed like the devil. They call him "Master", lol. The wife comes downstairs and sees him dancing with Sarah, so she gets annoyed and throws them out. I used to think that she said, "Take your tart bars and get out!" but I think it's actually, "Take your Clark bars and get out!", lol. I think it's some kind of chocolate bar.* You can watch Winnie, Mary and Sarah meeting trick or treaters and going into their "Master's" house on the IMDB page. (Click the film title).
Hocus Pocus is on TV now on Film4 (Film4+1 at 8.05pm) if you want to watch it. :)
Happy Hallowe'en!
*23/10/18: It is indeed a chocolate/candy bar! They sell them in the UK here (although they're currently out of stock): https://www.americansweets.co.uk/sweets-and-candy/chocolate-bars-and-treats/clark-bar-milk-chocolate-all-natural-2
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