by Michael Lyons
Like so many 90s movies, VHS saved Hocus Pocus.
When the film was released in the middle of the summer of 1993, it pretty much didn't stand a chance and was trampled by so many other summer behemoths (like Jurassic Park) and pummeled by poor reviews.
It seemed as if Hocus Pocus would fade away with so many other forgotten family films. But, an entire generation of kids was being weaned on VHS, latching on to specific movies and watching them on repeat.
A number of underperforming 90s films, from The Sandlot to Disney's own A Goofy Movie, benefitted from this. With Hocus Pocus, there was the added revelation through the years that the movie is ideal for the Halloween season.
Soon, multiple showings on a number of cable channels throughout the season led to a wave of a resurgence that begot merchandise and appearances by the Sanderson Sisters at Disney theme parks (both of which were non-existent in 1993, when the film was first released), as well as a legacy sequel that debuted last fall on Disney+.
As the film celebrates its thirtieth anniversary this year, audiences have embraced Hocus Pocus for what it truly is - wicked fun!
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are the Sanderson Sisters - Winifred, Sarah, and Mary, respectively.
They are part of a rich, fictional legend in Salem, Massachusetts, where they were hanged in 1693 until a teenage boy named Max (Omri Katz) accidentally brings them back in 1993 by lighting a mystical candle on Halloween.
The Sanderson sisters want to steal children's energy to return to life and become younger. They do this by spending all Halloween night running "Amuck! Amuck! Amuck!" (to quote Sarah) through the town.
This is where Hocus Pocus excels and is most likely why it has found its audience through the years. Director Kenny Ortega does nice work of providing the Halloween backdrop and crafting an entertaining adventure, and with young actors in the lead, the film takes on a Goonies-like feel.
The three leads, Midler, Parker, and Najimy, all look like they're having the time of their lives, and that infectious, fun spirit buoys the entire film. There are also solid performances by Katz and the young stars, Thora Birch as his sister Dani, and Vanessa Shaw as love interest Allison.
Stephanie Faracy and Charles Rocket are a hoot as Max and Dani's clueless parents, and Doug Jones is amazing, contorting his body as the zombie Billy Butcherson.
In cameos, real-life brother and sister Garry and Penny Marshall steal their scene as a bickering couple handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Gliding through all of Hocus Pocus is a darker tone (the movie begins with a hanging and includes an eerie song about stealing children's souls) that adds a unique element of black comedy to the proceedings.
It's no wonder that the film has found its audience three decades later and become a Halloween staple.
Thank you, VHS. You're no longer with us, but we appreciate you saving Hocus Pocus!
Happy Halloween, everyone!
For more of my articles, podcasts and to learn more about my boo, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance, head over to my website: Words From Lyons !
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