Released in July of 1993 and inspired by the 1962 Salem Witch Trials, Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” is one of the most popular and classic Halloween movies.
However, it didn’t start out that way. Mainly due to its poor marketing and strange release date, the movie was originally a flop. Many critics thought that it fell in an uncomfortable place between a movie made for kids and one made for teens and adults.
However, it’s for these reasons that Hocus Pocus stood out and survived the test of time. Many changes to U.S. cultural standards aided in this success, as typical children’s media has become more lenient in determining what is considered “too scary” for kids. Disney persisted, and continued to air it through various channels. It eventually led to the growing sales of DVD and VHS tapes because of the nostalgia.
The basis is that Max, his younger sister Danny and his crush Lorainne accidentally bring back three cruel, children-eating witches from the dead. With the help of Binx, a boy from the 1960s magicked into an immortal cat, they try to save themselves and the whole town. It’s rated PG for some mild language, and it may be scary for some children.
“The comedic relief the cat brought was good because it got dark at the end of the movie,” commented Grace Hutka, a self-proclaimed fanatic of the original Hocus Pocus. Even though there was a sinister plot, Binx and the overall acting helped lighten the mood into a more family-friendly atmosphere.
It’s no surprise that such a fantastic movie won a Saturn Award for the Best Costume Design. “Think about the trick-or-treaters, and obviously the witches’ dresses,” says Hutka, “I think it should get more costume awards.” The movie was also nominated for Best Fantasy Film and Best Special Effects.
“Other people should watch it because it’s just a classic…it’s a good movie,” says Hutka. Hocus Pocus and its sequel are on Disney+, and it’s the perfect must-watch Halloween movie! After all, it’s just a bunch of hocus pocus!
