Hocus Pocus *** (1993, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw) – Classic Movie Review 1840

Director Kenny Ortega’s 1993 movie Hocus Pocus is an amusing, high-spirited Halloween fantasy comedy from the Walt Disney studio. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy give engaging turns as three witch sisters hanged in 1693 who are accidentally resurrected on Halloween night by a Salem’s lot of Massachusetts kids investigating a haunted house 300 years later. Now the two teenagers, a young girl and an immortal cat have to put an end to the witches’ reign of terror.

Even under all the make-up, Midler, Parker and Najimy make quite an impression, while the child actors are as squeaky clean as they are squeaky voiced.

Director Kenny Ortega’s handling and Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert’s screenplay lack quite enough finesse and pizzazz to make it special for adults. But there are enough jokes and one wizard production number, ‘I Put a Spell on You’, to make it entertaining, especially for older children and teens.

Bette Midler plays Winifred ‘Winnie’ Sanderson, the smart leader of the sisters, Sarah Jessica Parker plays Sarah Sanderson, the dim-wit sister who uses her siren-like voice to lure in children, and Kathy Najimy plays Mary Sanderson, the middle witch who can smell out children. Doug Jones plays Billy Butcherson, an ex-boyfriend poisoned by Winifred in 1693 and resurrected as a zombie 300 years later.

Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Amanda Shepherd, Stephanie Faracy, Larry Bagby and Charles Rocket also appear.

It was a box office failure, losing Disney around $16.5 million, but has become a cult classic through regular airings on Disney Channel and Freeform around Halloween.

In November 2014, a belated sequel is being promised as the actresses say ‘we’re in!’

Finally, Hocus Pocus 2 is scheduled to be released on Disney+ in 2022 for Halloween, with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Doug Jones reprising their roles from the first film. It is directed by Anne Fletcher and written by Jen D’Angelo.  Production began on October 18, 2021, in Newport, Rhode Island.

Garry Marshall (1934–2016) has a cameo as the Devil and Penny Marshall (the younger sister of Garry) as The Master’s Wife. 

The Princess Diaries star Anne Hathaway paid warm tribute to Garry Marshall, who died on July 19 2016, aged 81: ‘He was goodness itself”. He directed a series of delightful confections over more than three decades: The Flamingo Kid (1984), Overboard (1987), Beaches (1988) also with Bette Midler, Pretty Woman (1990), The Princess Diaries (2001), The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement (2004), Raising Helen (2004), Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve and Mother’s Day (2016).

Penny Marshall (October 15, 1943 – December 17, 2018).

The cast are Bette Midler as Winnie Sanderson, Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Omri Katz as Max Dennison, Thora Birch as Dani Dennison, Vinessa Shaw as Allison, Charles Rocket as Dave Dennison, Stephanie Faracy as Jenny Dennison, Larry Bagby as Ernie/Ice, Tobias Jelinek as Jay, Sean Murray as Thackery Binx, Jason Marsden as voice of Thackery Binx, Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson, an ex-boyfriend poisoned by Winifred in 1693 and resurrected as a zombie 300 years later, Amanda Shepherd as Emily Binx, Kathleen Freeman as Miss Olin, Steve Voboril as Elijah, Norbert Weisser as Mr. Binx, Garry Marshall (uncredited) as Master Devil, and Penny Marshall (uncredited) as Medusa Lady.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1840

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