Hocus Pocus - Halloween Fun

Our family has certain movies that we like to watch depending on the season. For Halloween the movies of choice are Hocus Pocus, and High Spirits.

Hocus Pocus is a wonderful film made by Walt Disney company that pokes fun at the supernatural. Since Halloween is a time for people to deal with their fear of the unknown, comedy is a great way to help kids get over their fear of "monsters". In this comedy, good wins, bad is defeated, and alls well with the world.

The beginning starts with a little history lesson. It references the Salem Witch Trials. Many innocent people lost their lives during that period of American History. Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are the characterization of the "Witch" of seventeenth century New England. The ugly, evil concept of a witch is a commercial characterization. True "Witches" of the time were just common folk that learned about the herbs of the area they lived in and were able to cure illnesses. The word Wicca means wise and knowledge is something that frightens people.

Zachary Binks awakes to find his sister gone from their house. He goes to find her and discovers that the Sanderson sisters are trying to do "Black Magic" on his sister.The spell they are trying to do is to perpetuate their youth. The little girl is killed. They turn Zachary into a black cat that is immortal. They are hanged for their crime against the community, but before they die they cast a spell to enable them to return if a virgin lights a certain candle in their house - the Black Flame candle.

Three hundred years pass, and Salem has gone through many changes. A new kid in town, Max Dennison and his family just moved to town from California. Max is a very modern kid, that is a skeptic. Doesn't believe in anything supernatural. His kid sister, Danni is about the same age as Zachary Binks sister Emily was when she died. OH, Max is a Virgin!

My younger son Matthew, has watched this movie many years, but it was just this year that he asked "The Question" - What's a Virgin?
His dad calmly said "He is", and dropped the subject. Childhood is fading fast - sigh!

Anyway, Max hates his new school, is being picked on by bullies, and is informed by his sister that "You're taking me Trick-Or-Treating".
He is at a point where he really doesn't appreciate his sister - yet!

After being accosted by the bullies on Halloween night, he and his sister end up at Allison's house. Allison is a girl from school that Max really likes. She is a rich girl with a fancy house, and is bored with her parents Halloween party. She tells them that her mother used to be the curator of the Sanderson Sisters Museum.

The kids go to the house and Max lights the black flame candle despite the protests of Allison, and Danni. As soon as he lights it, he realizes that it's a big mistake. Light bulbs start breaking, and the wind starts blowing, and the witches are back!

The rest of the movie deals with the kids running from the Sanderson Sisters, the Sanderson Sisters need to redo the spell so they can stay past Halloween night, and the attempt by the kids to rid Salem once and for all of the Sanderson Sisters.

This is a great movie to get into the "Spirit" of Halloween. It's not overly graphic, and the good guys win! A great combination that's suitable for kids from about five or six and up.