Hocus Pocus 2 review

Fellow, witches, vampires, ghouls, and pumpkin spice lovers it’s officially spooky season. It’s time to decorate your house with pumpkins, find your favourite cosy jumper and spend the afternoon warming-up with a pumpkin spiced drink whilst watching a spooky film. Luckily, this year we have a new instant classic to watch on the rainiest of afternoons, The Sanderson Sisters are back (evil laugh) in Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2!! Does the sequel live up to the highly popular 1993 film Hocus Pocus? Thanks to Disney I was able to find out before Hocus Pocus 2 releases on Disney plus on the 30th of September. This is a spoiler free review.

29 years have passed since the 17th century witches; The Sanderson Sisters were resurrected to terrorise Salem on Halloween night. Not once in 29 years has a Black Flame Candle been lit…until now. Winnie (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Najimy) return to once again wreak havoc and steal souls. Standing between the witches and their permanent resurrection are three witchcraft obsessed teens: Becca (Whitney Peak), Izzy (Belissa Escobedo) and Cassie (Lilia Buckingham) who are great additions to the cast. The bulk of the film is set within one night, Halloween, considering the compact timescale of events, nothing feels rushed, each storyline hits perfectly. Laughs are frequent, scares are limited, and the vibes are spooky. Characters develop as the film progresses, giving us depth and emotion as the film reaches its final moments. 

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy faultlessly take on their roles once again, as if no time has passed at all. Their chemistry captivating, the perfect combination of wickedness and naïveté. From their first moments on screen, they remind us exactly why Hocus Pocus became such an insanely iconic film in the 90s, all three women once again giving outstanding performances. Plus, their musical numbers are sensational! Doug Jones reprises his role as Billy Butcherson, the friendly zombie. Jones brings humour and heart once again to the role. It's great to re-join these characters in an all-new story.

 

Hocus Pocus 2 captures the spooky, funny but not scary vibe of the first film, faultlessly. Making it the perfect film for viewers of all ages, especially for those that like me scare easily. The film engaging, ensuring you will laugh out loud, and gasp is dramatic shock, for a really enjoyable viewing experience. Visually Disney gives us the high production value it’s known for, with great sets, vibrant costumes and very marketable props (like Book). These elements combine to create the perfect Halloween town for a spooky tale such as this. 

There is no doubt in my mind that this will be an instant Halloween classic, especially if you are a lover of the first film. My only disappointment is we won’t be able to experience the film in cinemas, which would have been fun! There is scope for a third instalment perhaps with the three teens returning, which would be pretty fun. Hocus Pocus 2 is a worthy sequel, that continues the story of The Sanderson Sisters in a hilariously spooky movie. 

Thank you for reading! I'm off to find myself a toffee apple (aka candy apple for the American readers). 

Check out my thoughts on the Hocus Pocus here: 42 Thoughts I Had Whilst Watching Hocus Pocus

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