Hocus Pocus

-As October continues, so do the Halloween-themed reviews.-

1993's Hocus Pocus is an interesting case of a subpar movie that didn't do that well initially upon it's release, going on to become something of a Halloween staple. 

The story about three witches (played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) who return to modern day (1993) Salem in hopes of reclaiming their youth is an entertaining watch. The comedy is hit and miss, the acting is uneven, and it's one of those films that feels like it's struggling to keep the plot on track as characters keep having to remind each other of various supernatural rules and the abilities of the three witches. With that being said, it does have some genuinely funny moments. It is a family film, so there is never anything scary but it does have a lot of Halloween imagery with the witches, costumes, trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, cemetery scenes, etc. This makes the film good background noise for pumpkin carving or putting up Halloween decorations. 

Obviously not a recommend if you're looking for some scares, but if you have kids or just want to take a break from the blood-and-guts slasher flicks and enjoy something a bit lighter then this will do fine.

2.5 out of 5