Fortnight of Fright 2014: Hocus Pocus (Morgan from Gone With the Words)

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Welcome to our third annual FORTNIGHT OF FRIGHT event!
October 17th – October 31st, 2013

Two years ago, Alyssa (Books Take You Places) and I really bonded over our mutual love of Halloween and came up with the idea for A FORTNIGHT OF FRIGHT: a two-week long event celebrating everything Halloween and horror-related! We decided to bring it back again for the third annual Fortnight of Fright event, this time along with Amy (Tripping Over Books), so this event is brought to you by all of the gals from On the Same Page!

Today, Morgan from Gone With the Words is telling us all about one of her favorite Halloween movies (and one of mine too!) — HOCUS POCUS! I’ll let her take it away!


First off, writing a blog post about something you love so much is HARD. I get it now! I just want to shout HOCUS POCUS. Sistahhhhs! Boooooook! And hope everyone understands me and nods along happily. Which most of you might, but just in case I will attempt professionalism of the fangirl variety.



When I began thinking of a Halloween blog post to contribute to A Fortnight of Fright, my mind kept circling back to the Sanderson Sisters. If anyone asked me what the greatest Halloween movie of all time is, I would answer Hocus Pocus without hesitation.

It’s not just because it’s one of my favorite movies in general — I’ll watch it in July, March, December, anytime, in addition to all of October. Heck, I’ve watched it twice in the same day before. It’s also because I’ve never met or talked to another person who doesn’t like Hocus Pocus! Seriously. I don’t even know what I’d do if I met someone who disliked it. It’s practically a requirement of our generation! The official Disney Fan Club, D23, even held a screening last year to celebrate the movie’s 20th anniversary!


For those who haven’t seen it, Hocus Pocus is an American horror comedy from 1993 about a trio of witches, the Sanderson Sisters, who are inadvertently resurrected by a cynical teenager, his younger sister, and his crush. It’s the perfect blend of spookiness, sass, humor, magic, and Halloween spirit. There are cute boys, talking cats, evil witches, and a book made out of human skin. In other words, it has everything!

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It’s creepy AND silly and the perfect blend of Halloween elements. Small New England town, beautiful fall colors, graveyards, crumbling witchcraft museum. The historical accuracy is questionable to say the least but I gladly overlook it in favor of childhood memories and cheesy goodness. Honestly though, how did Winifred learn what a driver’s permit is?! And is this the most times that the word virgin has ever been spoken in a children’s movie? Those darn black flame candles…

 

The first time I saw Hocus Pocus was in a small local theater when I was 7 years old. I was with my parents and my little sister, and all I remember was thinking the movie was so scary! Haha!! The beginning is definitely creepy and seeing nooses and dangling feet isn’t exactly child-friendly. Nowadays, ABC Family and many other channels play it constantly throughout September and October. Even though I know I watched it a lot as a kid, it became a real favorite in college. I bought the dvd and watched it All. The. Time. Still do 😉 And this time of year not a day goes by where I don’t see someone (LOTS of someones!) mention Hocus Pocus on social media. I love it!! After all, if you don’t tweet about it, did it really happen?

The best way to enjoy Hocus Pocus, in my opinion, is with friends, cozy sweaters, mugs of hot chocolate or tea and baked goods! Preferably Halloween funfetti cupcakes or something equally festive, with spice or caramel in the name. Or those Pillsbury sugar cookies with Halloween designs on them 🙂 But I’ve been known to watch it by myself ohhhh, all the time.

I love the bewitching quality of the opening scene, and of Sarah Jessica Parker’s creepy song later in the movie. I love Thackery Binx, even though Thackery is a completely stupid name and I want to call him Zachary. I love that I was the same age as Dani when the movie came out. I love the three little girls dressed as the Sanderson Sisters. I love BOOOOOOOOK and I put a spell on you (Hello Salem!)…. I just love it all. The characters. The cute brother-sister relationship, and Max’s crush on Alison. I love Winifred’s statue too, wish they would add it to the Haunted Mansion grounds at Disneyland.

Hocus Pocus was released in July 1993 and didn’t do particularly well at the box office but has become a beloved cult classic for good reason. It’s Halloween in movie form- I’m still looking for two friends to dress up as the Sanderson sisters with me someday!

Thanks to On the Same Page for hosting A Fortnight of Fright, and thanks to Brittany for hosting my guest post on her blog!

Let me know in the comments: have you seen Hocus Pocus? Do you watch it every year? What’s your favorite Halloween movie?

Hi, I'm Brittany!
Hi, I'm Brittany!

I'm an avid reader, candle-maker, and audiobook lover! Here you'll find book reviews, fun blog posts, and my other loves of photography & craft beer!

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15 thoughts on “Fortnight of Fright 2014: Hocus Pocus (Morgan from Gone With the Words)

  1. Christina @ My Life In Books

    So much love for Hocus Pocus!! Sarah Jessica Parker’s song always gets me, it’s so haunting. And let’s be real, who DIDN’T have a crush on Thackery (especially as a cat)?! But the real question is which Sanderson sister would you be for Halloween? 😉

    Reply
    1. Morgan @ Gone with the Words

      So haunting! It’s the perfect amount of creepy otherworldliness. Hmmm I’m not sure which sister I would be! I want to say Winifred but I don’t think I could pull it off haha. Maybe Sarah if I get a blonde wig. I like to twirl around and sing a lot 😉

      Reply
  2. Asheley (@BookwormAsheley)

    Oh my goodness! I just admitted to Estelle @readinggals a couple of days ago that I’ve never seen this movie and as a result of this conversation, I have a post it note up on my kitchen cabinet of the airdates for when it is showing on ABCFamily in the next few days! I can’t believe I’ve made it so far thru my life NOT seeing something that everyone loves so much. (: I must fix this.

    Reply
  3. Coral Shires

    Great post, Morgan! You brought the film back to life for me as well as lots of fun memories. Here’s to a spooky Halloween~

    Reply
  4. Charleen

    YES! Best Halloween movie ever!

    Of course, I’m a big wimp when it comes to scary movies. I hate the slasher ones, and even a lot that are less gory and more suspense are just too much for me to take. But Hocus Pocus is perfect for me. (I watched it a couple weeks ago and had “I Put a Spell on You” stuck in my head for days… actually, nvm, it’s still there.)

    Reply
    1. Morgan @ Gone with the Words

      Haha perfect! It gets stuck in my head too. I’m not a fan of scary or gory movies either and I have a weird relationship with suspense… I like the story, I like the idea of being scared but then I get TOO scared. So yes, Hocus Pocus is the best 😀

      Reply

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