Hocus Pocus 2 Review: This Sequel Will Put a Spell On You

In a world where franchises are a curse and nothing is sacred, Hocus Pocus 2 fights off evil intentions with the power of nostalgia.

No, it’s not the original. But for one brief moment, we are transported back to those crisp fall days, wrapped in blankets, watching Disney Channel’s latest Halloween marathon, and the morning feels glorious.

That ability to resurrect a genre we thought we had lost to the nineties forever, however shallow, is as good as real magic.

A cheap thrill left to run amuck, this caper comes alive as a nostalgic celebration of the wicked and weird, only losing its sparkle to tedious bouts of Harry Potter-like action.

The reintroduction to Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy’s coven of sinisterly silly witches is practically seamless as if Disney plucked them straight from the 1993 classic. Moreover, the superb build-up to their arrival has the air fizzing with anticipation.

This crackling cauldron of camp has it all: drag queens, meta callbacks, a flashmob, and Billy Butcherson failing to understand a society driven to fear by The Walking Dead.

Come for a good time, and you will be treated to harmless Halloween hijinks and surface-level scares reminiscent of the original. Unfortunately, to expect more from this sequel is to fall short of the on-brand fun it’s peddling.

Boo-tiful Backstories

Whatever worries lingering around this high-stakes sequel quickly evaporate in the presence of that phenomenal opening flashback.

The Sanderson Sisters’ origin story is everything you could want from a sequel attempting to tread new ground honorably. First, it gives us a piece of these diabolical witches that is human, insecure even. It also offers a playful backstory for poor Billy and Sarah’s eerie “Come Little Children” call.

The haunting tale threads an intricate web of whimsical trauma fitting for Disney villains of this caliber.

There’s little room for error when delving into cult film lore, and the actresses tasked with bringing the young sisters to life do not let us down. From mannerisms to features, these scene-stealing Sanderson look-alikes will have you wondering if a prequel series would have been a more fitting fate.

And Hannah Waddingham’s brief appearance is icing on this deliciously spooky cake. Who wouldn’t be honored to be eaten by this transfixing witch?

The Next Generation

Hocus Pocus 2 musters admiration for refusing to conform to trapping missteps. These teens have hobbies, families, and personas that don’t fit into neat archetype boxes, much like the original film’s characters.

So, jump-starting this premise with children meddling in witchcraft is much easier to wave off.

The decision to use the Sanderson Sisters as the catalyst for a new coven of good witches to emerge is a fitting, full-circle concept worth adapting. Friends breaking the cycle of toxic witchcraft to save Salem rather than destroy it is the story evolution you want to see.

And how refreshing it is to see this concept embrace the resourcefulness of clever teen protagonists.

We miss Max, our prodigal himbo virgin of chaos, dearly. But I won’t lie; it’s been a pleasure watching Becca put his problem-solving skills to shame with her impressively sharp wit. From her lotion sales pitch to trapping them in a circle of salt with a water bottle, Becca proves her smarts are a greater force than any magic.

Same Old Tricks

With Hocus Pocus 2 eager to tread new ground, it’s somewhat frustrating to see the Sanderson Sisters stay frozen in time.

Early on, Gilbert acknowledges he called upon the witches to prove they are capable of good. Of course, the sisters enjoy their wickedness, but what’s the sense in delving into their origin and humoring the idea of growth to have our villains snap back into form?

It’s as if this movie wanted to build on the iconic characters but chickened out in fear it couldn’t have the fun chase scenes and bewitching dance mobs. TV is crawling with complex villains, and these witchy sisters can be more than a cheap parlor trick.

Winifred realizing power is nothing without her sisters by her side is a sweet note of growth to end on, but it would be ten times more potent if weaved throughout the story.

For a franchise that has the rare opportunity to explore Halloween from the monster’s perspective, the refusal to break from tradition to accommodate their growth cheapens the spoils.

A Fitting Farewell

There’s always the desire for more — more cameos, more development, more callbacks to the cult classic. When a film’s famous slogan is “just a bunch of hocus pocus,” you hope someone will utter it in disbelief as the Sanderson Sisters fly by.

But Hocus Pocus 2‘s lack of sentiment still charms us with a spectacular spell of nostalgia that burrows itself deep in the candy apple stands and crunch of leaves underfoot. This movie radiates spooky season energy stuck in a time warp.

The Sanderson Sisters’ evildoing proves just as potent the second time around. Now, if only we could let their legacy rest in peace.

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Hocus Pocus 2 is streaming now on Disney+.

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