| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this movie involves a plot to suck the life force out of children (and one little girl dies that way). A couple of high school bullies harass a male classmate in a graveyard, asking him for "smokes" and "hash" and finally stealing his shoes. There are mild sexual references, such as a high school boy hugging his pillow and murmuring, "Oh, Allison, you're so soft," as well as some frisky flirting from one of the witches. The main character is teased about being a virgin. The body of an "unfaithful lover" rises from the grave. Main features of the story are a book bound in human skin and a candle made from the fat of a hanged man. A tale is told about the Devil, and there are various gross-out moments. But it's important to note that all of the above is done in the playful, spooky spirit of Halloween.
Three hundred years ago in Salem, Mass., three witches murdered a little girl and cursed her older brother, Thackery, turning him into an immortal cat. The witches, better known as the Sanderson Sisters, are hanged for the crime, but just before their sentence is carried out, Winnie Sanderson (Bette Midler), casts a spell to bring them back to life on a future Halloween night. When present-day high schooler Max lights a bewitched candle, he unwittingly performs the exact act that will bring the sisters back to life. With the help of Thackery, Max and his friends do their best to outwit, outrun, and outlast the witches.
HOCUS POCUS is full of silly moments. Some of the best scenes involve the Sanderson Sisters -- Winnie, Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) -- walking through Salem on Halloween night, encountering costumed children. They perform "I Put a Spell on You" at a dance and mistake a man dressed as the Devil for the real thing and call him their "master." There are plot holes, and a lot of the film is predictable, but it's good Halloween fun nonetheless.
Families who like this movie might also enjoy The Worst Witch or Escape to Witch Mountain.
Families can talk about scary stories, and parents can share their memories of Halloween. What's your all-time favorite costume? How do you want to dress up this year?
Depending on kids' age, they may be interested in learning about the Salem witch trials.
If kids are at all spooked by the movie, families can talk about why. What scared you? Do you think it was meant to be scary?
| Topics: | monsters, ghosts, and vampires |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
| Director: | Kenny Ortega |
| Cast: | Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thora Birch |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 16, 1993 |
| DVD release date: | June 4, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | for some scary sequences, and for language. |