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In equal parts nostalgic and fresh, Hocus Pocus 2 ticks all the boxes of a legacy sequel whilst flexing a few new tricks. It’s funny, spooky and surprisingly emotional in places, and is bolstered by an excellent cast, fun musical numbers and hilarious set-pieces. Here are some of the movie’s best moments. Spoilers are within.
10 The Young Sandersons
Hocus Pocus 2 opens with a flashback to 1653, when the notorious Sanderson sisters are just young girls. It’s a bit of an origin story, painting extra details onto the tapestry of their nefarious deeds over the years.
The cast absolutely sells this sequence, with Taylor Paige Henderson, Nina Kitchen and Juju Journey Brener (playing the childhood versions of Winifred, Mary and Sarah respectively) absolutely nailing their roles. Henderson, in particular, has Bette Midler’s mannerisms down to a tee.
9 The Originals
Initial plans were to remake the original Hocus Pocus, but the public outcry was so vast that Disney did the only logical thing…bringing back the OG cast for the sequel.
Despite it being 29 years since their first appearance, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker all slip beautifully back into their roles as Salem’s most infamous sisters. Their individual mannerisms, rapport with each other and the fiendish campery of their shenanigans is as sharp as ever. We also get Doug Jones back as Billy Butcherson, and he steals every scene he’s in, naturally.
8 Strong Female Representation
With a female director and a prominent female-led cast, Hocus Pocus 2 definitely passes the Bechdel Test. In 2022, female representation is more vital than ever.
From Hannah Waddingham’s wonderfully arch Mother Witch, to the three girls at the center of the latest bout of magical mayhem (more on them later), and of course the Sanderson Sisters themselves, Hocus Pocus 2 is full of strong, powerful and very funny women who all get ample opportunity to shine.
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7 The New Coven
Whilst it’s a shame that some of the other original cast members were unable to return, Hocus Pocus 2 gives us a new group of protagonists who are instantly likable and a perfect match for Winifred and her siblings.
Whitney Peak oozes charisma as the white witch Becca – a strong-willed heroine whose bravery and cunning help her win the day. She’s joined by Belissa Escobedo as Izzy, whose comic timing is spot on. Throw in Lilia Buckingham as Cassie, and you have an all-new coven to be rooting for.
6 Mayor Traske
Tony Hale plays Mayor Traske (as well as his ancestor in the pre-credits scene). The father of Cassie, Traske is an absolute dork of a character whose plight for the best candy apple in Salem is both hilarious and quietly heart-breaking.
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A notable comedy actor, Tony Hale was another case of pitch-perfect casting for this sequel. As Reverand Traske, his reaction to finding a spider on his arm is side-splitting stuff, and when his later incarnation gets surrounded by a flash mob and enthusiastically joins in, you can’t help but chuckle.
5 Mary’s Roombas
In the original, Mary has to resort to flying on a hoover when her broomstick is stolen. In Hocus Pocus 2, she upgrades to some roombas.
Not only is the image of Mary trying to navigate flight whilst standing on them so funny, the roombas also have a little bit of life of their own. At one point we see them chowing down on popcorn, and later on they rescue the sisters from a ‘salty’ situation.
4 Book
Book is yet another iconic character in the Hocus Pocus canon. A silent tome, he gets more screen time and more personality in the sequel.
After finding out how a young Winifred comes by Book, later on we see him change allegiances during the final battle. In between, there’s an amusing sequence in which he starts to sweat when Becca is searching for him, and he even sheds a tear after his former owner once again fades to dust.
3 Chaos In Walgreens
Perhaps a homage to a deleted scene from the original, Hocus Pocus 2 sees the Sandersons invade a local Walgreens supermarket on the hunt for souls. Of course, this is 300 years into their future, so all manner of hijinks ensue.
Believing that the souls of dead children are inside various skincare lotions and facemasks, the sisters start to drink all manner of hygiene products. Mary hilariously takes a bite out of a facemask, believing it to be a child’s face.
2 The Musical Number
One of the biggest moments in Hocus Pocus was THAT musical number. Hocus Pocus 2 delivers a suitably fitting update, remaking the classic Blondie song “One Way Or Another”.
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Altering the lyrics to make them witchier (“We’ll fly our broomsticks downtown”) and nastier (“We’ll scoop you up for a flight and we’ll take a bite”), the song is an infectious hit. It plays out as Winifred enchants a whole crowd and turns them into a flashmob, as the sisters go hunting for mayor Traske. Definitely a future essential for all Halloween playlists.
1 An Emotional Ending
Disney has had a little bit of a trend going for a while now in which it has been trying to humanize some of its most notorious villains. Hocus Pocus 2 doesn’t stray too far into this territory (the Sandersons are child-murderers after all), but we do see a bit of heart.
Towards the end, Winifred loses her two sisters, and we see a genuinely affectionate side to her. Bette Midler sells the moment beautifully, as Winifred laments that true power is nothing without one’s coven. It’s a surprising change of pace for the movie, and one that had many reaching for the tissues.
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