It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus.|Jul. 16, 1993|USA|96 Min.|PG
Genre: Comedy;Family;Fantasy
Description: In Salem, Massachusetts, on October 31, 1693, Thackery Binx sees his younger sister Emily being taken by the Sanderson sisters, three witches named Winifred, Sarah, and Mary. Despite his efforts to save her, Emily’s life force is drained, rejuvenating the witches. Thackery is cursed to live eternally as a black cat, burdened by guilt for failing to protect his sister. The townspeople soon capture the sisters and sentence them to death for the murders of Thackery and Emily. Before their execution, Winifred casts a spell to resurrect the witches on All Hallows’ Eve if a virgin lights the Black Flame Candle in their cottage. Thackery vows to guard the cottage to prevent their return.
Three hundred years later, on Halloween in 1993, Max Dennison reluctantly takes his sister Dani trick-or-treating and meets Allison, his new crush. The trio visits the Sanderson cottage, now a museum, where Max accidentally resurrects the witches. They target Dani, but Max saves her and steals Winifred’s spellbook with guidance from Binx, the immortal cat. Seeking safety, they flee to a cemetery, believing the hallowed ground will protect them. However, the witches follow and summon Billy Butcherson, Winifred’s former lover, to aid their pursuit.
Using Mary’s heightened sense of smell, the witches chase the children through the town. Winifred explains that they must drain a child’s life by sunrise or turn to dust. The children outsmart the witches by luring them into a pottery kiln and burning them alive. Just as they celebrate their victory, the witches’ curse revives them once more.
Cast director: Bettiann Fishman
Cast actor: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Amanda Shepherd, Larry Bagby, Tobias Jelinek, Stephanie Faracy
Original name: Hocus Pocus