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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Last year, on this occasion, I wrote an article about the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, so this year, to celebrate the event I decided to write about another film that I used to watch around this period with my sisters: Hocus Pocus, from 1993. To be honest, I remember that, every time, after watching the film, I would be scared at night, fearing that the three witches would come to my room and catch me, yet I would never switch channels if the movie was on.
Hocus Pocus is a horror, mixed with comedy and fantasy film, from the United States. The story was written by Neil Cuthbert and Mick Garris, based on a story by Garris and David Kirschner. The movie was directed by Kenny Ortega and produced by Steven Haft and David Kirschner.
The movie is starred by Bette Midler as the main antagonist Winifred (or Winnie) Sanderson - the leader and older sister of the Sanderson trio, very temperamental, dramatic and sadistic (what makes her the most dangerous of the three witches, because she does not mind hurting someone); Winnie is very determined and competent, something that her sisters lack; If there is something that she truly loves in the World it is her spellbook, which was given to her personally by the Devil -, Kathy Ann Najimy as Mary Sanderson - the middle sister who is always trying her best to stay on Winnie's good side, complimenting her excessively and repeating whatever the older sister says; Mary is the most caring out of the three, but only between the three - and Sarah Jessica Parker as the younger sister Sarah Sanderson - the most beautiful of the Sanderson sisters, and although, not the smartest one, she has a unique, valuable and dangerous power: she has an enchanting siren-like voice.
Everything starts in the year 1693, on the 31 of October near the city of Salem, Massachusetts (Today this city cultural identity is very connected with the several witch trials in the years of 1692 and 1692 in which more than 200 people were accused of witchery: nineteen of them (fourteen women and five men) were found guilty, and consequently sentenced to death, and executed. In addition, others died following the trials. In fact, it was the deadliest witch hunt in the history of the United States of America.). The Sanderson sisters that were losing youth day by day, send Sarah on a mission to attract a child to their old house located in the forests of Salem. Sarah uses the power that she owns, that I referred previously, and with her voice she lures a little girl named Emily Binx (Amanda Shepherd), taking her to her sisters. What would the evil sisters want from a child? If you have seen similar movies, the reason is pretty obvious: they want to steal from Emily her juvenility in order to regain their own. For that, they use a spell on the young girl, but unfortunately, Emily ends up dying in the process. What the witches didn't know is that Emily's older brother saw his sister being spirited away by Sarah and followed them. However, Thackery Binx (Sean Murray) fails to prevent Emily's death, and in the confront with the witches, they end up transforming him into an immortal cat (the cat is voiced by Jason Marsden), doomed to live for all eternity with the guilt of his failure to save Emily. These events have as a result the villagers' fury, who capture the witches. In the moment of the execution Winifred casts one final spell declaring that on Halloween night when the moon is full, a virgin will summon them back from the dead, allowing them to once again claim the lives of all the children in Salem.
Three centuries pass, and in the Halloween of 1993 Max Dennison (Omri Haim Katz) comes into action. There is always someone that decides to do something not intelligent at all, in the Halloween, isn't it? At the beginning of the movie, he shows to be a rebellious teenager, angry with the moving his family from Los Angeles to Salem, Massachusetts. He is very sceptical of the supernatural. Further, upset, he takes his younger sister Danielle (Thora Birch) to trick-or-treating, and they run into Allison Watts (Vinessa Shaw), Max classmate and curiously, crush. Allison immediately forms a close friendship with Dani, and Max, to impress her, challenges her to show him the house that once belonged to the Sanderson sisters and convince him that witches were real.
Of course that the three of them go all happy and excited to the Sanderson house, and what does Max do once inside? Our main character lights the Black Flame Candle and inadvertently resurrects the witches, fulfilling the prophecy launched by Winnie three hundred years ago. The sisters are delighted for being back to life and feel even more fortunate when Mary announces that she smells children (Mary has a strong sense of smell and is superb at tracking down children). They almost caught Dani, but Max confronts them, ending up being a victim of Winifred power. You would expect that after so many years she would be a little rusty - not at all, and she stays fascinated with that. Luckily, Alisson manages to wallop Mary with a frying pan as Dani hits Winifred and Sara with her candy bag. Before Winnie can retaliate, a black cat suddenly attacks her, giving Dani enough time to wake up an unconscious Max. Max triggers the sprinklers, convincing the witches that it's a "burning rain of death". In the middle of the confusion, the cat orders Max to grab Winnie's spellbook. Like I said beforehand, the spellbook is a precious item to the Sanderson sisters, especially Winnie, being the source of a lot of spells and potions to cause misfortune to others. Regarding the cat that appeared out of nowhere, it's Thackery, the last victim of the witches wickedness, before their execution in 1693.
Winnie, Mary and Sarah now are focused to go after Max, his sister Dani, Allison, and Thackery. Additionally, they want to continue with their plan to suck out the souls of all of Salem's children. Furthermore, let's not forget that from a moment to another, Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson see themselves in the 20th century and are shocked by the huge differences in comparison with their time, inclusive they get horrified when they discover that Halloween has become a holiday.
A series of events take place - including the scene when our innocent characters found their parents at a Halloween party enchanted by Winifred to dance and sing until death, and even the rise of the zombie Billy Butcherson ordered by Winnie to chase Max, Dani and Alisson. Billy had a tragic life: he was once Winnie's lover, but she killed him and sewed his mouth shut with a dull needle so he couldn't tell her secrets, even in death. At first it seems that he is on the bad side, however, he cuts his stitched up mouth and insults Winifred, joining the group of young heroes.
At one point, the witches kidnap Dani, and Sarah uses her siren-like singing to mesmerize Salem's children, attracting them to the Sanderson’s house. Max and Allison rescue Dani and Thackery by tricking the witches into believing that the sunrise came an hour early. Maybe it's about time that I inform you that the Sanderson sisters only had one night to fulfil their intentions.
When it seems that everything will end badly for Max, Alisson, Dani and Thackery and that the witches will be able to achieve their goals, the sun rises. Seriously, this is what saves them from Winnie, Mary and Sarah, since moments before they almost suck out the soul from Dani, and Max's as well because in an attempt to save his little sister, he drank the potion that would allow the witches to, well... suck his soul. Also, Thackery, who was responsible for Winnie to have dropped the potion, was sadly thrown to the ground and mortally wounded. So we can conclude pretty much everyone but Thackery, were very lucky at the end because the sun rose and the witches were reduced to dust. On the other hand, although Thackery death was very touching, his soul was free and he finally is able to reunite with his sister Emily, after many years of guilt, suffering and loneliness - all this aggravated by still being in the form of a cat. He bids farewell to Max, Dani and Alisson, tanking for their help, and walks into the afterlife with Emily. I particularly enjoyed Thackery character and story throughout the movie. He got the ideal ending, together with his sister. Moreover, the parents are released from the spell, and Bill the zombie returns to his grave. Max, Dani and Allison get their happy ending from their adventure.
To sum up, Hocus Pocus is an enjoyable film, with a very entertaining plot and interesting characters. In my opinion, is one of those movies, that you can gather all the family in the living room, on Halloween's night, and everyone will have a great time.
Here is the trailer of Hocus Pocus:
Nb: I do not own any of these videos, gifs and pictures and I am not trying to infringe copyright here.
Have a BOOtiful Halloween!
Mariana Nunes
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