HOCUS POCUS
US, 1994, 105 minutes, Colour.
Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Omry Kurtz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Charles Rocket, Stephanie Faracy.
Directed by Kenny Ortega.
Hocus Pocus is a piece of magic nonsense designed for Disney audiences. It opens in Salem during the witch hunts of the 17th century, focusing on three witches who cast spells over the village, wanting to get children so that they could have perpetual youth. They turn a young man, who is trying to save his sister, into a cat. When they are hanged, they disappear for three hundred years, only to be revived in 1993 by a young man who lights a magic candle and reincarnates the sisters. The film is set on Halloween Eve, the sisters pursuing the children of the town, the parents not believing then put under a spell, the young man and his sister and girlfriend combating the witches. All ends happily. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sara Jessica Parker ham it up exceedingly as the witches. Omry Kurts is a sturdy young man. A very young Thora Birch is a dominatingly precocious young girl. The direction is by choreographer Kenny Ortega.
1. A popular and broad comedy? The background of Salem in the 17th century and the witch hunts? The reality and seriousness of witches and their being executed? A comic treatment?
2. The title, magic, not to be taken seriously? The three witches, their spells, the magic book with the eye? The spells and turning the young man into a cat? Raising the zombie from the dead? The magic candle and the witches coming alive in the 20th century? Audience enjoying this kind of hocus pocus?
3. Salem in the 17th century, costumes and décor? Manners? The contrast with the 20th century, teenagers, attitude, school, homes, rebellion? The Halloween costumes, the Halloween parties? The musical score – and the song about putting a spell on people?
4. The actresses portraying the three witches? Over the top performances? Grimaces, sounds, songs? The make-up and their faces? Winifred and her domination, leadership, the spells? Mary and her twisted mouth, being able to sniff out children, being bossed around by Winifred? Sarah, younger, boy-mad? Her not having any brains? Being silenced by Winifred? Their behaviour, the little girl they had lured to the house, the spells, turning the young boy trying to rescue his sister into a cat? Their being taken by the people, hanged, the spell?
5. The 20th century, the teacher explaining the history of the Sanderson sisters? Max and his disbelief? Alison and her explanations? The attitude of the young people – and Halloween?
6. Max, age, not wanting to leave California, infatuated by Alison? Riding his bike, the encounter with the two louts and their taking his sneakers? At home, dreaming about Alison, Danni and her being in the cupboard, making him take her trick or treat? The parents, their going to the party?
7. The children, the costumes, Halloween, trick or treat? The encounter with the two louts wanting the toll? Max and his being humiliated? The clashes with Danni? Going to the mansion, finding Alison, deciding to go to the Sanderson mansion?
8. The mansion, cobwebs, the lighting of the candle, the spells, the reactions? Binx and his talking, guiding the children? The reappearance of the witches?
9. The witches and their adaptation to the 20th century, the sprinkler and their being afraid of the water, the bitumen road? Going in the bus? Adapting, going to the party, sniffing out the children, singing the song about the spell, making the parents dance all night? The pursuit of the children, their continually being thwarted? Taking Danni, Max to the rescue? The confrontations, trapped in the house, burning and the smoke, their coming to life again, pursuing the car, finding the book? The ultimate confrontation and their disappearance?
10. Max as a young lad, his friendship with Alison, maturing? Danni, precocious and annoying? Vinessa and her being attractive, nice? Their friendship with Binx, his gradually changing into the young man that he was, reunited with his sister? The zombie and his turning against Winifred, losing his head, helping the children, going back to eternal rest?
11. An entertaining piece of nonsense?
