Friendships are important in life, and it is worth the effort to try and reconcile when there is conflict or misunderstanding. Becca, an aspiring witch, needs the help of her friends during an adventurous and dangerous Halloween night.

Hocus Pocus 2 is the long-awaited sequel of a classic Halloween movie from 1993. The Sanderson sisters, witches who want to eat the souls of kids so they can stay young, are back for mischief when Becca and her friend Izzy perform a witch ceremony in the woods on Halloween. They’ve been tricked, however. The “black candle” is real, made by Sanderson witch-fan and adult Gilbert. The current mayor is a descendant of a preacher that treated the Sanderson sisters badly, so the witches seek to destroy the mayor as revenge.

The mayor is the father of Cassie, another teen that was once good friends with Becca but is now estranged. Through mishaps and misadventures, Becca and Izzy try to thwart the Sanderson sisters from wreaking havoc on Halloween night and killing Cassie’s dad.

The three main stars are back as the Sanderson sisters – Bette Midler as Winnie, Kathy Najimy as Mary, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah. The special effects are a little better and the musical numbers are fun. Fans of the original Hocus Pocus will also enjoy this movie, and the theme of both physical and friendship-type sisterhood is consistent and well done.

The movie is very clean with little to no language, sex, or nudity. The conversation about virginity and needing to be one for the black candle to work might be too mature for younger kids. The scary images are more funny and slapstick than frightening. The main issue for some parents might be how the main character, Becca, aspires to be a witch herself and the magical/witchcraft elements are more realistic than comedic.

The Dove Take

While Hocus Pocus 2 is a return of classic characters, there will be concern for some parents with a more realistic witchcraft theme.