“Hocus Pocus 2” Review: It’s Mayhem In Salem Once Again!

With spooky season set to begin in a few days, “Hocus Pocus 2”, the sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy has finally swooped in, levitating broomsticks, undead zombies, devilish cauldron chants, and all…

When Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson first attempted to cast a spell on audiences in 1993, it wasn’t exactly a Halloween miracle. Despite its initial dry box office and reports that the studio lost money, the film did go on to become a beloved cult classic with runs of it being celebrated on television. And now, it’s cemented its position in history as a one-of-a-kind Halloween family fun fest!

The buck-toothed Winifred (Bette Midler), the pale blond Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and doofus Mary (Kathy Najimi) were all real-life caricatures. Each of them had their quirks with the elder Winnie having the most knowledge of the dark arts, Sarah having a siren-like voice to lure children in, and Mary using that nose of hers to sniff out the scent of children.

But oh, benevolent isn’t a word you’d use to describe these witches. Ah yes, with their sultry “come hither” and gleeful prancing, one had to be careful or they would become astral dinner. Indeed, that is what happened to Emily Binx, a girl who falls victim to these creatures during the opening minutes of the first film. However, with the efforts of the young Dennison siblings and Alisson Watts, the sisters are sent into oblivion and have not been heard of since.

29 years pass and we return to the little town of Salem to catch up on another set of teenagers who are facing their own little adolescent issues. Becca (Whitney Peak) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo) are both at odds with Cassie (Lilia Buckingham), their (former) friend who has risen in popularity and is now shunning them. Instead of practising an annual Halloween tradition with her two friends, Cassie has a whole party planned for the night.

Regardless, after Becca and Izzy receive a strange candle from Gilbert (Sam Richardson), the owner of their local magic shop, they accidentally unleash the Sanderson Sisters upon Salem. With the vile trio wasting no time in embracing their newfound lease on life and intending to keep it that way by chowing down on a fresh soul, it is up to Becca and Izzy to put a halt to this madness.

The premise is familiar with the whole concept of being a fish-out-water-attempting-to-reach-a-goal trope being employed here once again. Once the trio find themselves back in our world, they are in admiration of post-Millenium human culture. As their eyes witness the innovations of Silicone Valley for the very first time, it is amusing to see them try to interact and integrate. Indeed, one of the first things they do is… find transport. And what better place to get a vehicle than in Walgreens? Indeed, one of the best running gags comes with the sisters looking for cleaning products in place of brooms, which have become obsolete.

With the exception of Winifred, Sarah and Mary both pick up an electronic mop and a pair of Sharks Robot Vacuums… and they friggin’ glippity-glide in those! It is a comical mix of absurdity and glee but that’s the whole point of it. With a property like this, you wouldn’t just put one of your limbs in while the other remains out. No, you go with both hands in and do the “Hocus Pocus” cause’ that’s what it’s all about.

With the events of the 1993 film now a folk legend within the vicinity, much of the lore has continued to build around the town. There are green, purple, and red memorabilia adorning the streets. Carnivals sing the cautionary tale of Emily Binx. Hell, there’s even a costume contest dedicated to the unholy trinity. Despite the frankly morbid and terrifying nature of their existence, this town worships them. Even the witches’ magic book somehow finds its way into a glass case in Gilbert’s magic shop.

As far as returning characters go, many fans might be disappointed that the main protagonists of the first film do not show up – although they did try to get Thora Birch back. Yet, it kind of feels like that should have been that way anyway. Sometimes, the way forward is not to look back. We need new characters to play within a certain sandbox while keeping in the spirit of what came before.

On the other hand, it was still a delight to have to disturb Doug Jones’ Billy Butcherson from his eternal slumber. The tall and talented actor has played multiple roles that cover his body from head to toe since the inception of his career and revisiting this role is kinda tubular. It kind of makes narrative sense too (in zombie terms). (We do have a valid question though as to whether Billy Butcher from “The Boys” would take a liking to his… son?)

Just like in the first film, characterisation is rather light and there isn’t much to dive into when it comes to the motivations of each personality. Becca and her friends are just trying to right their wrongs after accidentally freeing the witches. On the other hand, the coven just wants to extend their life past their expiry hour.

There is also another absurd sub-plot which expands upon the sisters’ past in Salem. Their caretaker and figurative Father make them bitter and cold, and to them, he is their mortal enemy. Fast forward a couple of centuries, and they’re still holding a grudge, especially when they see that the Mayor, played by an eccentric Tony Hale, shares the same visage as the man they despised so far back. Yup, absolutely ridiculous!

Yet, there is one constant that we might deem a positive and that is the embedded theme of sisterhood. Throughout the course of the film, Becca, Izzy, and Cassie are at odds with one another but soon find that only by working together and by believing in one another can they truly prevail. This also applies to Winnie, Sarah, and Mary when they realise that being apart from one another spells an end to the meaning of their existence.

Doing a sequel like this is a novel idea for the sake of bringing the fun nostalgic memories of a Halloween classic back. And you have to trust that your longtime favourites do what they do best for the show. And they do! The three witches slip back into the magical slippers they wore almost 3 decades ago with their captivating screen presence and entertainment value.

That being said, do we want more sequels with the main trio from here on? Absolutely not. And don’t get us wrong, we’re not (w)itchin’ about having franchise fatigue after just two movies (ok, maybe?) but it’s also about the limitations in storytelling that the constructed ending has produced. Where the plot leaves the vile but lovable witches off seems to be more of a swansong. We can’t believe we’re saying this, but “Hocus Pocus 2” kind of does a “Maverick” in the sense that the latter hands over the reins to a potential successor and signs it off with an epilogue.

If a follow-up is ever done, these long-time leads should not return to full capacity. Their time in Salem is done and to have them return would be a disservice to the ideas and developments established within this sequel. This will then beg the question, is it still “Hocus Pocus” without Bette, Sarah, and Kathy? The answer is still no, which ties back to what we stated in our previous paragraph.

In the end, “Hocus Pocus 2” delivers on what was expected of it and is a fair, fun bit of entertainment for the fam during spooooky season. It’s absurd, stuffed with silly moments, and develops upon the legacy of these cartoon personalities. And that’s okay! Will it be another Halloween classic like the first film? We bet it could. Yet, only time will tell.

“Hocus Pocus 2” casts a spell on Disney+ this 30 September.

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