'Hocus Pocus 2' Is A Fantastic Follow-Up To The First Film
Image Source: TV Insider
Long have we waited. 29 years after their first resurrection in Hocus Pocus, the Sanderson sisters are back. Hocus Pocus 2 sees them ready to take over Salem once again.
We begin our story way back in time, Salem 1653, a young Winifred Sanderson returns home furious after the town’s Reverend Traske wants to force her into marriage on the day of her birthday. She naturally refused, but never saw what happened next coming. The townsfolk tried to take her sisters, Mary and Sarah; however, in the middle of chaos caused by a spider, the three sisters manage to escape.
RELATED:
The sisters run into “the forbidden forest”. Deep in the forest, they meet a witch, who tells Winnie how powerful she is and can be. This witch gifts her the Book and they seek to take revenge on the Reverend. This starts their path to witchcraft, one that will continue for centuries to come. Fast forward to present-day Salem 29 years after the Sanderson sisters were brought back by the Black Flame Candle. We find teenagers Becca and Izzy preparing to celebrate both Halloween and Becca’s birthday. They ran into their friend Cassie, who is throwing a Halloween party instead and did not invite them. Later in the afternoon Becca and Izzy visit a Magic Shop, run by enthusiastic Gilbert; he gifts Becca a candle for her birthday.
When Becca lights the candle she finds out is another Black Flame Candle which brings back the Sanderson sisters once again. Quickly the Sandersons surround the girls and right before the witches lay a hand on them Izzy lies they are 40 and Becca follows up telling the Sandersons they idolize them and brought them back from death. The girls guide the Sandersons to a pharmacy and trick them into believing beauty products contain children’s souls, thus keeping all witches young forever without needing to prepare potions. The modern era strikes, and the Sanderson sisters see their reflection in a very unflattering round mirror and turn back to Becca and Izzy who protect themselves with salt, blocking their dark magic.
Image Source: Digital Spy
The girls escape from the store and go back to Gilbert’s Magic Shop, seeking the book to hide it from the Sandersons. Gilbert opens the book and the characteristic light beam shoot from it, then he proceeds to confess it was all part of his plan for the girls to bring back the Sanderson sisters. They exchange a few words before the Sanderson sisters appear at the front door of what used to be their cottage. Using her powers and help from her sisters Winnie traps Becca and Izzy in the basement and vanishes the stairs. While celebrating Mary notices some fliers of Mayor Traske. This enrages Winifred to the point she decides she does not care about the potion anymore, what she wants is to perform Magicae Maxima, a spell that transforms a witch into her most powerful self. Winnie curses Gilbert and sends him on a quest to collect all the ingredients for the ritual.
Using some Angelica leaves and unknown powers Becca and Izzy manage to escape the basement and rush to Cassie’s house to keep Mayor Traske safe. Meanwhile, Gilbert finds the grave of Billy Butcherson who wakes up and agrees to help Gilbert on his quest, believing he is helping to destroy the witches. Winnie, Mary, and Sarah started their own search for Mayor Traske throughout the city. Cursing the townsfolk, flying across Salem, and following Cassie’s boyfriend, Mike finally led them to the Traske household. When Cassie spots the witches flying in the middle of the streets Becca interrupts her obvious questions and redirects their attention towards planning to trap the witches.
The plan succeeded and the three friends manage to trap the Sisters inside a circle of salt. We can appreciate a brief moment in which the girls are finally talking and expressing their feelings; the reconciliation is near until Cassie is taken away to the forest. The Sanderson managed to escape the circle of salt using Roombas to clean the salt and now there is nothing stopping them from performing their ritual. Back where it all began, in the forbidden forest, Becca and Izzy followed the witches to save their friend. Becca finally realizes she is a witch and decided to stand against the Sandersons, however, it is too late: the ritual has begun, and now all three of the Sisters have gained new powers. Mary and Sarah are finally able to shoot lightning from their hands, we can even see Sarah standing up to Winifred after she was called a fool. Despite her sister’s new powers (and constant support) Winifred is not amused and even calls them parasites.
Image Source: UNILAD
Even though Becca took the Book Winifred is determined to complete the spell and sets off to do so. Poor Winnie did not read the warning. Once the spell was complete, she gained all the power she could want, but for a price, for her two sisters vanished in front of her eyes; even with all the power in the world, she could not save them. Full of grief and repentance Winifred begs Becca, Izzy, and Cassie to reunite her with her sisters, even at the cost of her new powers. The girls sympathize with Winnie and cast the only spell Book offers to aid the situation. Mary and Sarah never came back, instead, Winnie starts to fade away as well and she happily accepts her fate, longing to be reunited with her sisters; after all, Mother Witch was right, “a witch is nothing without her coven”. With the three witches gone their evil deeds vanish as well and Billy Butcherson can finally rest, he fades away into the night and finally finds peace. The three friends, now conciliated, walk away back to their home, side by side just as Winifred, Mary, and Sarah used to.
The complete movie is a delight. There are many great moments in the movie: from comedic bits to unexpected character development. The movie is, of course, not meant to be scary but to be fun, and entertaining, and they achieve it perfectly. One can even see the characters react like real people and the script even mocks obvious complaints viewers usually have towards this kind of movie. All in all is a very complete experience, an amazing and very organic follow-up to the 1993 classic we all remember fondly.
Hocus Pocus 2 is streaming now on Disney+.
READ NEXT:
Source(s): Disney+