By Joey Amaro and Ryan Woods – Advocate Editors

“Hocus Pocus” is a fantasy comedy film produced by Disney in 1993. Directed by Kenny Ortega, it stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. The movie is set in Salem, MA, and has become a fairly well-known Halloween movie thanks to its blend of comedy, magic, and the generally spooky nature of the film.

The film is about a child named Max who brings the Sanderson sisters back to life on Halloween night. Max, his little sister Dani and their friend Allison have to work out how to stop the witches before the sun comes up. With the aid of a talking black cat called Binx, they go on a proper adventure, full of laughs.

One of the film’s great strengths is its humour. Each of the witches has a distinct personality which makes them very entertaining. Winifred is the bossy, powerful one, Sarah is the silly one, and Mary is the funny, lovable one. Bette Midler is absolutely superb as Winifred, making her both frightening and funny. The scene where the witches perform “I Put a Spell on You” at the Halloween party is absolutely brilliant. The music, the dancing and the costumes all work perfectly to create a great scene. There are also some excellent Halloween decorations and sets which really do help to establish the atmosphere. As with “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” it’s a film that successfully blends the scary with the funny and is therefore a film that can be enjoyed by a very wide age range.

“Hocus Pocus” is a memorable film, but it does have a few flaws. Some of the scenes go rather quickly, and a number of the story points could have been explained in more detail. Max makes a number of questionable decisions which create issues for the other characters. It could have benefited from a bit more time being spent on the development of the friendships. A few of the jokes may also feel a bit dated in comparison to some of the newer films. More character development and a bit more explanation of the various events would have been a huge improvement.

Overall “Hocus Pocus” is a very entertaining Halloween film with great acting, some very funny moments and some excellent music. The three witches are what really make the film and the general creepy factor is spot on, making it the ideal film to watch in October. It does have a few flaws but it is still a fun film to watch with the family and friends. “Hocus Pocus” is definitely one of the better Halloween films out there for those who are after a bit of comedy and adventure.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars