The Sanderson sisters are back! Almost thirty years ago, Hocus Pocus introduced a trio of memorable Salem witches who wreaked havoc on Halloween night when accidentally resurrected by the Black Flame Candle. The candle gets lit once more in the long-awaited sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, introducing a new generation to the enchanting world of Halloween witchery. Nearly three decades later, the Sanderson sisters still cast a magical spell, offering nostalgic callbacks with a modern take on sisterhood.
It’s Halloween in Salem. High school student Becca (Whitney Peak) picks up last-minute supplies from a local witchcraft store. Store owner Gilbert (Sam Richardson) regales a costumed audience with tales of infamous Salem witches Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy). Or rather, a story that reveals why the young sisters turned to witchcraft in the first place. Becca heads to her favorite spot in the woods to celebrate her sixteenth birthday with pal Izzy (Belissa Escobedo). But before friend Cassie (Lilia Buckingham) can join, Becca and Izzy accidentally summon the Sanderson sisters, who quickly set about wreaking havoc on the town.
(L-R): Belissa Escobedo as Izzy and Whitney Peak as Becca in Disney’s live-action HOCUS POCUS 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Director Anne Fletcher, working from a screenplay by Jen D’Angelo, marries nostalgia with a modern story for a new generation. The sequel offers the familiar elements that made the original memorable while adding a few new layers to the Sandersons’ history. Iconic lines, song spells cast over unsuspecting Halloween partygoers, black cats, the fleshy spell book, and lovable zombie Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones) all make grand returns.
This time, however, the Sanderson sisters’ initial foray into modern times has become canon; they’re recognized as Salem Halloween icons. It’s not just new technology Winifred, Sarah, and Mary must navigate, but seeing strangers dressed as themselves on the streets. That meta approach leads to a few charming and wry gags.
Even when repeating some of the same jokes from the previous movie, albeit for a new audience, Midler, Parker, and Najimy still have that magic touch. It’s as if no time has passed; they slip right back into their roles with ease and summon the same energy and enchanting charm. Peak holds her own among them as the newcomer forced to thwart their plans. Through Becca, Fletcher, and D’Angelo’s aim becomes clear; this sequel takes a fresh approach to celebrating sisterhood. Not just among the Sanderson sisters but in the power that Becca draws from her friendships with Izzy and Cassie. The parallels between the older trio of sisters and the younger trio of “sisters” may seem obvious, but it’s infectious and triumphant all the same.
Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson in HOCUS POCUS 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Putting that emphasis on themes of sisterhood means that the witches aren’t as spooky or menacing this time. Any sense of danger is diminished by its affection for the past and its characters. The set pieces aren’t quite as varied or three-dimensional in this sequel. Dark, witchy woods looks more like an artificial sound stage than a place of power. That could be by design in tamping down the terror for a youthful audience, but it’s noticeable all the same. What isn’t dampened is the Halloween spirit or the apparent love Midler, Parker, and Najimy have for their characters. Dance numbers, cheerful undead shenanigans, spells, and an entire town decked out for the best holiday of the year all elicit cozy Fall feels.
Hocus Pocus 2 captures the memories of the original yet doesn’t retread the exact same ground. The Sanderson sisters’ return feels like a warm hug among old friends. They bring with them a feel-good message and enough Halloween treats to bewitch a younger generation. This sequel is as sweet and decadent as a gourmet caramel apple at a Halloween festival.
Hocus Pocus 2 debuts on Disney+ on September 30.
