As Halloween rolls in, Disney+ releases a new movie, “Hocus Pocus 2”. 

The sequel starred the same three actors, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, as the first movie. Together, these women were known as the Sanderson Sisters, the witches of Salem Massachusetts.

The sisters all work together to gather children to suck the youth out of them. In the first film, the black flame candle was lit and whenever this happened the witches would come back for one day. This would only happen if the candle was lit by a virgin.

The same went for the sequel. 

This movie began by explaining the backstory of the Sanderson Sister’s lives, which explained a few unanswered questions from the first movie.

It described the story line behind Billy Butcherson, and how he was the main witch’s “ex lover.” It also tells us where they got their powers from and by whom.

The movie was filled with comedy, and you can definitely get a good laugh watching it.

While all the characters were being tortured and chased by a group of witches, a shop owner and “ex lover” Billy, were just having a blast at a fair.

As in the first movie, there are few scenes where the witches will break out into song, making it into a musical.  Midler, besides acting, is a singer and has written many songs including “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “From a distance.” 

 The film also included some big name songs like the 1978 hit “One Way or Another” by the band “Blondie”. However, in this movie they remade it to fit better, by adding in lyrics such as, “ We’ll fly our broomsticks downtown.”

The other two songs sung by the actors were, “The Witches Are Back” and “Yes Salem, We’re Back.”  These songs were all about the movie and nothing else. 

Director Anne Fletcher (“The Proposal”), decided to take on the sequel to the 90’s hit movie, “Hocus Pocus.” Getting a 6.8/10 on IMDb and a 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie could be considered a success.

 All in all, not that bad, although if you had seen the original “Hocus Pocus” you will know that this new movie will never compare to the first.