Hocus Pocus
Kenny Ortega directed the Disney musical comedy Hocus Pocus, which was released in theaters on July 16, 1993. The film is about three witch sisters, Winifred (played by Bette Midler), Sarah (played by Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary Sanderson (played by Kathy Nijimy) in Salem, Massachusetts who were executed because of their horrible use of witchcraft including sucking the life out of a young girl named Emily. Her brother, Thackery Binx, tried to intervene in the death of his sister but instead was turned into a black cat with the ability to speak (voice by Jason Marsden). Before the witch sisters died, they placed a curse on their home that would bring them back to life if a virgin ever lit the Black-Flamed Candle inside the home. Thackery, in the form of a cat, guards the home to make sure no one would ever light the candle.
Three hundred years later, in 1993, a teenage boy Max (played by Omri Katz) and his sister Dani (played by Thora Birch) move to Salem from Los Angeles. Max falls for a girl named Allison (played by Vinessa Shaw) who has knowledge of the legend of the Sanderson Sisters. On Halloween night, Max, Dani and Allison visit the old house of the witches, which has since become a museum, and Max lights the Black-Flamed Candle, summoning the powerful magic of the three witch sisters and bringing them back to life. Thus the story unfolds as Max, Dani and Allison must stop the witches’ desire to suck the life out of all of the town’s children. The movie is chocked full of special effects and hilarious moments such as the Sanderson Sisters riding vacuum cleaners instead of brooms or performing "I Put a Spell On You" at the town Halloween party.
Producers on the film were David Kirschner and Steven Haft. Written by David Kirschner (story), Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert (screenplay).
Awards:
- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films USA: Saturn Award for Best Costumes (Mary E Vogt).
- Young Artist Award: Best Youth Actress Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy (Thora Birch)
Reviews:
Hocus Pocus on Internet Movie Database
Hocus Pocus on Wikipedia
