The Truth About ‘Hocus Pocus’ Taking Place in Salem, Massachusetts
Okay, I fully understand that I may lose some fans, friends, and family for what you are about to read...but that is okay.
I must say it.
Sometimes public opinions get taken so far that other opinions, though maybe right, are left to be forgotten about or not even acknowledged.
Like that Hocus Pocus is not that good of a movie.
I said it. I stand by it. I think us New Englanders love Hocus Pocus for two reasons.
Firstly, it takes place in our neck of the woods: Salem, Massachusetts. There is so much history around Salem. However, just because a movie took place there, does not automatically mean that it's good.
Sure, it makes it cool and unique to us, but not good.
Two, Hocus Pocus is one of the few Halloween movies that is not particularly scary. If you're not into scary movies, much like myself, the Halloween holiday options are few and far between.
It's not like Christmas, where there are unlimited amount of movies available.
I think Hocus Pocus has been blown way out of proportion. The "comedy" is not funny. Really, there aren't laugh-out-loud moments. In fact, the only comedy I get is the cringe comedy. The "can't look away because it is so bad" comedy.
There is no real scary aspect, either. If the movies does not crush the comedy aspect, then it must crush the scariness, right? Wrong. Not scary...creepy, if anything.
The characters are creepy, annoying, and if you ask me, flat. There's nothing special about the Sanderson Sisters. The accents, the lips, and the teeth are all to focus viewers' attention away from the poor script, story, and characters themselves.
The movie is okay. And if you like it, awesome. But let's not pretend it is the Elf of Halloween movies, because it's not even close.
That is my biggest issue with the movie, and the only reason I feel inclined to write about it. People make Hocus Pocus seem like the Elf or Grinch of Halloween. It cannot be.
Holiday movies are meant to be so much more. They are supposed to capture everyone. Mom, Dad, teenaged Jimmie, and little sister Jo should all be able to love and appreciate a holiday movie.
There's no way that can be done through the annoying characters, poorly-written lines, and overrated Hocus Pocus.
Just because it is one of the FEW options for Halloween movies that is not scary, does not make it good. I would take Casper, Beetlejuice, The Little Vampire, Scooby-Doo, and other family-friendly Halloween movies over the Sanderson Sisters and Hocus Pocus any day.
All this said, if you like the movie, AMAZING. This is your time of year. Grab a blanket, cup of warm cider, and enjoy.
I just don't think it deserves the hype it's gotten.
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