The Hobus Picus Curse is a legendary curse that has haunted the people of a small village for centuries. According to local folklore, the curse was cast by an evil sorcerer named Arcturus who was banished from the village many years ago. It is said that Arcturus grew jealous of the prosperity and happiness of the villagers and sought to bring them misery and suffering. He cursed the village with the Hobus Picus Curse, which translates to "the curse of eternal misfortune." The curse is said to manifest in various ways. The villagers have reported experiencing a series of unfortunate events such as crop failures, illnesses, and natural disasters.
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Set almost exactly 30 years after the 93 film, Hocus Pocus 2 primarily follows three adolescent girls who once were their own makeshift coven of wiccans Becca Whitney Peak , Izzy Belissa Escobedo , and Cassie Lilia Buckingham. Unfortunately, the candle works a little too well , when it summons the Sanderson Sisters of Winifred Midler , Sarah Parker , and Mary Najimy back from the dead.
The villagers have reported experiencing a series of unfortunate events such as crop failures, illnesses, and natural disasters. It is also believed that anyone who tries to leave the village will be plagued by misfortune wherever they go. Many villagers believe that the only way to lift the curse is to find the lost amulet of Arcturus and destroy it.
Hocus Pocus 2 Review: Sanderson Witches Can’t Break the Disney Sequel Curse
Hocus Pocus 2 is leaps and bounds better than most second helpings of Disney nostalgia, but the sequel still can’t climb out of its own grave.
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It’s unlikely even Disney knew they had a classic Halloween scene on their hands when they put microphones in front of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, and said “sing.” Yet the original Hocus Pocus of 1993 conjured real magic from the moment Midler teased, “I put a spell on you, and now you’re mine” to the scene’s finale in which Midler cursed all the adults of Salem to dance until they die! Thirty years on, that spell endures still, making the scene and the movie it’s borne from a stone cold holiday classic.
Hence Hocus Pocus 2’s fundamental dilemma.
Redoing such iconography is always the greatest intimidation, yet biggest audience expectation, that comes with remakes, reboots, and legacy sequels. And it’s a kind of credit to Hocus Pocus 2 that the movie is unafraid of going full tilt for it. In fact, the most lavish of the three(!) musical sequences in the sequel is bigger than anything seen in the original, at least in terms of extras: Midler and company, as the resurrected Sanderson Sisters, stand once more on a stage in front of the adults of Salem, and this time have a whole Halloween festival at their command. So when the Beaches star belts Blondie’s “One Way or Another,” the denizens just don’t dance, they become a proverbial army of synchronized ‘70s rockers out to do Winifred Sanderson’s bidding.
It’s bigger, yet infinitely smaller. Among the more pedantic, narrative issues of the retread is that there’s no explanation for how Winifred knows a Blondie song, whereas in the original movie Winifred is seen eyeballing a sexy Halloween skeleton singer as he belts Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins’ classic. More importantly, however, the sequence in the original felt surprising. It came out of nowhere and was giddy while also being a little sinister. The three evil witches were turning all the authority figures in the movie, including the protagonists’ parents, into damned marionettes, leaving the children alone. It was a bold narrative twist on top of a spectacular musical sequence. And it didn’t feel derivative.
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Of course it’s unfair on some level to be comparing a new, perfectly innocuous family movie on streaming so intensely with the original, and yet the problem with nostalgia sequels is they retrace their predecessors’ footprints so studiously that it’s impossible to separate them. Not that Hocus Pocus 2’s target audience of 12 and under will necessarily care. And as a family entertainment, the sequel is not without its charms, cursed or otherwise.
Set almost exactly 30 years after the ‘93 film, Hocus Pocus 2 primarily follows three adolescent girls who once were their own makeshift coven of wiccans: Becca (Whitney Peak), Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), and Cassie (Lilia Buckingham). The trio used to celebrate Becca’s Oct. 31 birthday every year by going into the woods and practicing spells. But after entering high school, Cassie has drifted away, favoring the company of her boyfriend and the cool kids.
So Becca and Izzy are down to a dyad when they go into the woods on Halloween night and light a Black Flame Candle, gifted to them by their goofy magic store owner Gilbert (Sam Richardson). Unfortunately, the candle works a little too well, when it summons the Sanderson Sisters of Winifred (Midler), Sarah (Parker), and Mary (Najimy) back from the dead. The trio immediately break into a song, and are then breaking bad… especially after they realize the estranged Cassie and her nerdy father (Tony Hale) are descended from the Puritan reverend who banished them from Salem more than 300 years ago!
Hocus Pocus 2 works well enough whenever its three leading witches are onscreen. Three decades may have passed since these three actresses last committed to running amok, amok, amok, but each is visibly elated to be back with the other two, doing the same shenanigans again. They sing, they cackle, and they pratfall with a relish that’s infectious.
Granted, most of the witchery they get up to is just repackaged bits from the 1993 movie, but there’s a passion among the stars that’s undeniable. Whereas so many belated Disney sequels and remakes—from this month’s soulless Pinocchio to last year’s dire Home Alone retread—seem to come from a place of fiduciary obligation, the affection director Anne Fletcher and these actresses have for those performances is undeniable.
Yet the movie really only is a showcase to revisit those performances and bask in their campiness; it’s a reunion special masquerading as a movie. While it’s nice to finally have a Disney movie about kids going on an adventure again, unlike the brother-sister dynamic between Omri Katz and Thora Birch in the original movie, or even the tragedy of the animatronic black cat they called Thackery Binx, there’s no emotional investment by the screenplay or the direction in Becca’s storyline. It’s perfunctory, like most of the plot machinations throughout the movie.
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Photo Credit: IMDB
Legend has it that the amulet contains the source of the curse's power, and by breaking it, the curse will be nullified. Over the years, many brave individuals have set out on a quest to find the amulet and lift the curse. However, all have failed, and the curse continues to torment the villagers. Despite the hardships caused by the curse, the people of the village have not lost hope. They continue to live their lives to the best of their ability, supporting each other through difficult times. The curse has fostered a strong sense of community among the villagers, as they band together to face the challenges brought on by the curse. The Hobus Picus Curse remains a prominent part of the village's identity and folklore. It serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of the villagers in the face of adversity. While the curse may still haunt the village, the people continue to fight against it, hoping that one day they will find a way to break its hold. In conclusion, the Hobus Picus Curse is a legendary curse that has plagued a small village for generations. It has brought misfortune and suffering to the villagers, but they have not given up hope in their quest to find a way to lift the curse. The curse has fostered a strong sense of community and resilience among the villagers, who continue to support each other through difficult times. The curse remains a prominent part of the village's folklore, serving as a reminder of the strength and determination of its inhabitants..
Reviews for "The Haunted History of the Hobus Picus Curse"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I found "Hobus picus curse" to be incredibly boring and unengaging. The plot was confusing, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. The writing style felt disjointed and lacked depth. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Justin - 1 star - "Hobus picus curse" was a complete waste of my time. The story was predictable and lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. I found myself skimming through the pages just to finish it. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling read.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I was hoping for a thrilling and captivating read, but "Hobus picus curse" fell flat. The pacing was too slow, and the plot lacked excitement. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, I found this book to be mediocre and forgettable.
4. David - 3 stars - While "Hobus picus curse" had an interesting concept, the execution was lacking. The pacing was inconsistent, making it hard to stay engaged. The plot had potential, but it was overshadowed by weak character development and predictable twists. I was left feeling underwhelmed by this book.