Unfortunately, the sequel to this Halloween cult film was a total failure – today the much better original is on TV

Some films need to be experienced to understand their appeal, ideally at the right age or in the perfect company. ‘Hocus Pocus’ is such a film: for me and many like-minded people it is a strident, sometimes subtly creepy witch comedy the ultimate Halloween movie! Hard splash spectacles, disturbing horror thrillers and the like can be viewed all year round. But a journey through cursed Salem in autumn colors, where wonderfully nasty, fabulously singing witches wreak havoc on Halloween night? That is for me the cinematic essence of October!

Even though “Hocus Pocus” bombed at the box office in the early 1990s, many movie fans feel the same way I do: if they discovered the movie in childhood, during their early teens, or thanks to infectiously enthusiastic fans. Thus, a failure became a cult classic, which the Mouse House celebrates with theme park shows, lots of fan merchandise and a streaming sequel on Disney+. Unfortunately, it turned out terribly, as you can read in our FILMSTARTS review, where we gave it only 1.5 out of 5 possible stars. But The incomparable original ‘Hocus Pocus’ airs tonight, October 19, 2023, starting at 8:15 PM on Disney Channel.

Alternatively, you can do that too battle laced with puns, situational comedy and a glamorous vocal performance between three witches and two teenagers, a child, a talking tomcat and a zombie stream on Disney+. You are guaranteed more entertainment than the sequel!

Good to know: On Disney+ you can watch the damn entertaining Halloween escapade not only in the regular version. There’s a fun special hidden under “Extras”: behind-the-scenes material and (in the tradition of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”) smug commentaries are shown during the film. Including a ‘virgin’ counter – ‘Hocus Pocus’ isn’t exactly part of Disney’s daily life, after all…

“Hocus Pocus”: A virgin and three funny, evil witches

Since his family moved from Los Angeles to quiet Salem, Max (Omri Katz) has been grumbling all day. His relationship with his younger sister Dani (Thora Birch) is strained, and the local obsession with horror myths begins to get to him. Only his secret crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw) can elicit at least half-hearted enthusiasm for all the fuss. That the local legend about the deadly Sanderson sisters is true and that Max therefore urgently needs to reconsider his attitude is very clearly demonstrated on Halloween evening:

Because when Max lights a black flame candle even though he is still a virgin, he carelessly completes a ritual that leads to the return of the annoying witches Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker). . Now it’s up to Max, Dani and Allison and their supernatural companions in the form of talking cat Thackery and friendly zombie Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones) to stop the trio…

“Hocus Pocus” is not, nor does it want to be, a hard, gritty rebellion against Disney conventions. In fact, the timeless and timeless atmosphere is part of the appeal! And yet “Hocus Pocus” is . As if Disney had put on a costume for the spooky festival and under his Halloween disguise enough courage to let himself go. What other Disney movie would warrant a counting fun (or even a drinking game) on the word “virgin”?

In “Hocus Pocus” it goes Witchy fun with an enormous density of coincidental frivolities and ambiguities as the hustle and bustle of the magical trio drifts through different keys: when the sisters lure children to their hideout, suck the life out of a toddler or use their powers to fend off attackers, old-fashioned horror comes to the fore. This is reinforced by various dim sets and artifacts such as the magical candle twisted in the fat of a dead person or the magical book bound in human skin. And then there’s the fantastically disgusting makeup that turns Shape Of Water’s lead actor Doug Jones into a zombie!

Cameraman Hiro Narita (“Rocketeer”) wraps all this in strong, autumnal earth tones, over which occasionally atmospheric, theatrical shadows are cast. Director Kenny Ortega, who choreographed the dance scenes in ‘Dirty Dancing’ and was later responsible for the ‘High School Musical’ trilogy, omits these elements. Jokes, slapstick and strident jokes outgrown. And Ortega lives up to his directorial character, musically encouraged by composer John Debney (“Predators”). Although “Hocus Pocus” is not a musical, the film is largely performed rhythmically and lively!

The Chaos sisters, played with passion by Midler, Najimy and Parker, move to the beat. They act as if they have to fill the stage of a niche theater with their personality alone. And they bicker among themselves as if they were the Three Stooges in drag: This camp attitude that Ortega imposes on the script by Neil Cuthbert and “Critters 2” author Mick Garris is the magic recipe behind “Hocus Pocus.” The movie is stark, strange, non-conformist and proud of it, which he plays out with a good dose of irony without becoming a farce. “Hocus Pocus 2” tries to imitate this, but it remains a weak imitation.

The first “Hocus Pocus,” on the other hand, lets its flag fly freely in the wind – and this crazy flag is the banner for Halloween festivities: in the film there is partying and flirting and over-exaggeration in flashy costumes – with a lot of joy in it. There are macabre jokes and the film is about stepping out of yourself. Halloween in pure film culture Stop!