Don't light the black flame candle! (Hocus Pocus (DVD))

Member Name: drewboy

Product:	Hocus Pocus (DVD)
Date:	22/06/05 (1123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hillarious, Brill Characters, Can watch again and again

Disadvantages: Slightly adult themes, lack of DVD features.

Three hundred years ago in the United States, there is a house on the edge of Salem Massachusetts. Inside this house you hear the cackling of three old witches known as the Sanderson sisters as they huddle around their cauldron, adding ghastly ingredients into a wicked brew. Across the room, there sits a young girl dressed in white robes of the time, waiting for the witches to finish their spell and take her soul so they can live in eternal youth.

Unknown to the witches, the girls brother is watching in the shadows, waiting to leap to his sisters rescue and foil their evil plan. So, as the witches edge towards their victim, forcing her to drink their poison, Zachery leaps out in a desperate bid to snatch her from their clutches however they were just too strong and the eldest sister, Winnifred (Midler) uses her powers to immobilise him then casts a spell on him to turn him into an immortal cat so that he can wallow in his failure to rescue his sister for all eternity.

However, just as they finish sucking the life force out of the young girl, the townsfolk of the olden days storm the witches house, capture the witches and set them up on with nooses to be hanged for their retched deeds. Unremorseful, they cast a spell from their evil book bestowed to them by the devil himself that will raise them from the grave when a virgin lights the black flame candle on all hallows een so that they can return and carry out their evil plan. Then the witches hang.

It’s now 1993 in Salem and the 31st of October has become the day that kids the world over know as Halloween. Witches, goblins, devils and fairies walk the streets in search of candy. Max is uninterested however has been forced by his parents to take his younger sister out trick or treating. Luck comes his way however when they end up at the house of the girl of his dreams who tells them the tale of the old Sanderson sisters house and that her mother used to run a museum there. Not letting the chance to spend some time with his perfect woman he suggests they go down there to take in the atmosphere of the evening.

Once there, they have a look around and Max finds a candle with a story attached to it. Trying hard to impress Allison he suggests they light the candle to see if it really is a black flame but no sooner has he done this all the lights go out and the distinctive cackling of the sisters can be heard coming through the doors………..


This film is fantastic. I remember watching it as a kid and even though I was in my early teens when it came out, I was still captivated my the interacting between the three sisters and how they adapted to the strange new fangled devices and how people act that have changed in the three hundred years since they were hanged. Simple things that we use in our daily lives were used to twart their every move with hilarious consequences and the very inventive use of a vacuum cleaner had me in stitches the first time I watched it.

The characterisation of the sisters was spot on and provided no end of laughs as the story progressed. From Winnifred who is the elder and leader of the trio being rather vain even though she really has no reason to be, to the second rather plump sister Mary (Nanjimy) who clumsily hung on every word Winnifred utters to the beautiful but rather dim and slightly insane Sarah (Parker) who never listened to a word said to her rather preferring to go after any male she could find. They bounce of each other with hilarious dialogue unending enthusiasm for the purpose they have.

The acting from the three main characters is faultless and you could easily imagine the laughs they must have had making this film. Midler is perfect for the role of the scheming and evil Winnifred and carries this off with such great effect while Nanjimy take sthe goofy Mary along with perfection and leaves you rolling about as she tries to get the approval of the elder sister. Parker for me stole the show as she just threw herself into the part of Sarah as she pranced about singing little ditties and shows little care or regard for anything around her and happily stays in her own little insane world. The other characters in the film did a good job as the heroes however I did not feel that they had a chance of shining next to the evil three and did kind of fade into the background as you were left itching for the witches to make their next appearance.

Director Kenny Ortega did a marvellous job of making the film suitable eerie even though it is primarily a comedy. The fact that he is more known as a choreographer (notable films Pretty in Pink, Dirty Dancing, Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar) shines through as the witches move around in such well timed and dance like steps throughout the film. This also leads to the hilarious song in the middle where they cast a spell on all the parents, also giving Midler her chance to show off her vocal talents. He ensures that the comic timing of the dialogue is perfect and that is all flows like it should and adds to the whole fantasy. Costumes and make up well so over the top with a camp feel to them and added to the acting to make the witches the most lovable characters, even though the were essentially the baddies of the piece.

The only downside that I would see in the film is that there are a couple of themes in the film that I would have said were a bit to old for a kids audience. The fact that the candle has to be lit by a virgin would in my mind, make a lot of parents squirm when their little eight year old pipes up from the corner to act what that is. Also, with Parkers character being a little sex mad, I feel this does not quite fit in with the family theme that the film was supposed to be going for. This does add to the enjoyment for us older kids though..!

As for the DVD side of things, that is really about it. There are no extra's other than being able to put subtitles on and have the language set to English, French or Italian. The menu system however is fairly easy to navigate with Middler in the background crooning away until you hit the play button.


All in all though, a highly recommended film that will have you laughing and singing along that I can easily sit an watch time after time. I have given it 4 stars as with the couple of themes that I think were out of place but other than that, a joy to watch.

Cast List

Bette Midler .... Winifred Sanderson
Sarah Jessica Parker .... Sarah Sanderson
Kathy Najimy .... Mary Sanderson
Omri Katz .... Max Dennison
Thora Birch .... Dani Dennison
Vinessa Shaw .... Allison
Amanda Shepherd .... Emily Binx
Larry Bagby .... Ernie/'Ice'
Tobias Jelinek .... Jay
Stephanie Faracy .... Jenny Dennison
Charles Rocket .... Dave Dennison
Doug Jones .... Billy Butcherson
Karyn Malchus .... Headless Billy Butcherson
Sean Murray .... Thackery Binx

Thanks for reading!

drew x

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