Hocus Pocus 2 is one of the worst films of 2022; the story is incredibly hokey, lacks any substance to capture the audience’s attention, and the musical numbers are either forgettable or completely embarrassing. Full disclosure; I am not the target audience for this content as I did not grow up seeing the original 1993 film and therefore I do not have any nostalgia that affected my viewing experience and thought the original film was nothing extraordinary. If you are a diehard Hocus Pocus fan, you may want to take my opinion with a grain of salt and perhaps this film will be what you are hoping for but for anyone who didn’t care for the original entry- this sequel does nothing new to win you over.

The Sanderson sisters- Winnie, Mary, and Sarah (reprised by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker respectfully) have returned to Salem on Halloween day. High school students Becca, Cassie, and Izzy (played by Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, and Belissa Escobedo respectfully) attempt to stop the sisters before they take over the town.

There is little appeal with this family friendly film other than to relive nostalgia some people have for this cult-followed flick or to introduce youngsters to a tamed spooky film. The Sanderson sisters have a quirky quick-witted flair that didn’t produce a single laugh nor did their presence convey any dread or real terror. I understand that’s not the tone screenwriters are aiming for but when the intention is to be funny and I am not amused nor in suspense, the film begins to become a drag.

None of the musical numbers are memorable perhaps besides the eye-brow-raising choice to include Blondie’s classic, “One Way or Another” (which is admittingly catchy, but it’s not original nor conducive to the sinister intentions and it feels completely out of place). 

Hocus Pocus 2 is silly and is fully aware of what it wants to be. If you can get on board and have fun with the sisters you might enjoy this film more than I did. The actors do well with what they are given but the unengaging screenplay did not give me anything intriguing to latch onto. The film begins with a flashback I thought added flesh to the trio of sisters but the film fails to delve any further into how their past makes them who they are.