One of those rare movies that has been slowly reappraised with time, Kenny Ortega’s 1993 Disney family flick Hocus Pocus was panned by critics upon its release. Much like other films, including It’s a Wonderful Life, television played a major role in its rejuvenation (as well as its release for home purchase), finding a more than willing audience each and every Halloween as part of ABC Family’s 13 Days of Halloween – grabbing well over two million viewers (record breaking numbers) and transforming it into a true cult classic.
At the third annual CAPE (Cornwall and Area Pop Expo), I chatted with up and coming actress Kimberly Leemans. Getting her start on America’s Next Top Model back in 2007, she has transitioned into the realm of television and film. Perhaps best known for her turn as Crystal in the first Hilltop episode, 2016’s “Knots Untie”, in the hit television show The Walking Dead, she had the unenviable task of punching fan favourite Rick right-off-the-bat. . . she is then taken down by Michonne. Still wandering around in the zombie filled world, we will have to wait and see when she reappears.
Also nabbing roles on television shows such as Nashville, The Vampire Diaries, as well as several others, she has also graced the silver screen in the spoof flick 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Squeeze, and Fire City: End of Days, to name a few. She is also the star of the upcoming short film, The Big Swim.
When the conversation turned to her favourite film, she highlighted the above mentioned Disney movie as being at the top of her list (it was one of the first motion pictures she was obsessed with). Asking if it influenced her to become an actor, she corrected me, saying that it made her, “want to be a witch”. Make sure to watch the interview below to hear about her time on America’s Next Top Model, The Walking Dead, The Big Swim as well as more on Hocus Pocus.
Revolving around a triumvirate of nasty witch sisters, the brains of the operation (and I use that term lightly) is Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler), the bossy, buck-toothed leader of the gang who seems to take much enjoyment in keeping her boy-obsessed younger sister Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and crooked-mouthed third sibling Mary (Kathy Najimy) focussed on the task at hand.
Beginning three hundred years earlier on All Hallows’ Eve 1693 during the Salem Witch Trials, the enchantresses lure a young girl from the nearby town to their in-the-woods house. Spotted by her heroic brother Thackery (Sean Murray), he follows after passing along word to round up the townsfolk. Hatching a makeshift plan, he is no match for Winifred’s powers and fails in his quest to rescue his sister (a scene that many have taken offense to) – they steal her life-force (killing her) to make them more youthful (with lackluster effect). Turning the boy into a never-dying cat, the witches are sent to the gallows for their vile actions.
Three hundred years later, the Dennison family has moved to Salem from Los Angeles. Cheerful daughter Dani (Thora Birch) is excited to be in the new town, but her older brother Max (Omri Katz), a disgruntled teen, is less than happy with the move. Trying to woo a popular girl, Allison (Vinessa Shaw), he also has to deal with a pair of threatening, dim-witted bullies, Jay (Tobias Jelinek) and Ernie ‘Ice’ (Larry Bagby).
With their parents, Dave (Charles Rocket) and Jenny (Stephanie Faracy), going to a funky Halloween party, Max grudgingly takes his little sister out trick or treating. Eventually landing on Allison’s expansive doorstep, the three end up going to visit the former home and present day museum (under renovation) of the Sanderson Sisters. Not buying into all of the codswallop revolving around the supposed tall tale, Max lights the Black Flame Candle that is said to resurrect the trio. . . and lo and behold, they come back to life.
The witches are given Halloween day to make a potion in order to steal more children’s souls, but the three youngins have the wherewithal to grab their magic spell book – mostly thanks to the wise old talking cat. Stepping into the twentieth century, the witches must contend with the modern world (pavement, buses and a candy giving man dressed as Satan each give them fits) as well as the wily kids as they try to retrieve their extremely important tome. Will Max, Allison, Dany and Thackery the cat be able to outsmart and evade the witches, banishing them into the nothingness they came from?
A fun little film, Midler, Parker and Najimy have a field day with the material. Prancing around and enjoying being the maniacal, out-there villains, they bring both humour and some scariness to their performances. They summon a man they punished from their past, Bully Butcherson (Doug Jones – the usually heavily made-up horror/sci-fi maestro – think Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy), his mouth sewn shut; the zombie must hobble around after the pesky kids.
Also featuring some showstopping numbers, Midler takes the reigns on a toe-tapping rendition of “I Put a Spell on You” that helps enchant Salem partygoers as Max tries to warn them of the renewed plot of the Sanderson Sisters. The songs fit nicely into the story, not ruining the flow of its pace.
With some funny sight gags (after their brooms are stolen, they are forced to use a modern broom, a mop and a vacuum as modes of transportation), beautifully decorated sets (the Halloween decor will make you yearn for some more holiday-adventurous neighbours) and a certain visual flair, Hocus Pocus is an easy watch (especially during the month of October). With an open ending, it is ripe for a sequel – and, in recent years, rumours have continued to persist that one may come. Though there is definitely an issue (it feels like the filmmakers are confused regarding the timeline of Halloween evening), the continuity errors do not really deter from the enjoyability of the film. Don’t lose your head over the controversial opening, check this one out to see a movie with a surprising amount of heart and soul.