Why Hocus Pocus 2 is inferior to its predecessor

By now, people have already seen the long-awaited sequel that is Hocus Pocus 2 and are either happy to see it or disappointed with the outcome. Of course, it’s been nearly thirty years since the last movie, but it seems that the sequel has failed to live up to expectations that the original set.

The film sees the return of the Sanderson sisters by two teenagers named Becca and Izzy who light the Black Flame Candle that brings said witches back to life. The film currently rests at a barely fresh 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, which seems more than generous with what material the talented actors were given.

The film really seems to lose sight of what it tries to achieve and the pay-off seems very lackluster. Disney+ has had a lot of good and bad content but this seems to be under the bad category. Here’s why Hocus Pocus 2 is not as good as the original.

There’s no new magic on Hocus Pocus 2

Despite a talented cast, it is very self-evident that the film covers no new ground. A couple teenagers light a black candle and resurrect a group of witches, only for a tertiary character named Billy Butcherson to appear halfway through the film to help the main characters stop the witches.

It sounds like the filmmakers decided to rehash the old story to save time and make it more nostalgic for viewers. This might work for some movies, but if somebody is watching a movie sequel and the sequel fails to build on the original film, it seems like a waste of a watch. Moreover, most people know that the witches will lose and everything will be restored to its former glory. With that being said, the surprise is long gone.

Hocus Pocus 2 quality

The easiest critique that anyone could make about this Disney sequel is the fact that it has the quality of that of a Disney Channel Original Movie from the 2000s. You can’t call it visually groundbreaking because, like its plot, the film’s visuals aren’t anything new to behold.

The film puts itself in a tween category that seems too childish for adults and out of place for the children that are watching it. It makes sense that the film was released on Disney+, when people think long and hard about it. It’s something that belongs on the platform no matter how good or bad it is. It seems the studio made use of the platform and knew that the film would most likely bomb at the box office, which is why it was dumped for streaming.

There wasn’t enough hype for Hocus Pocus 2

Fans know that long-awaited sequels are made as a result of intense hype from fans. There might have been some hype surrounding Hocus Pocus 2, but it’s obvious that the spell has worn off the second time around. Had there been more excitement about the prospect of a sequel with a better marketing plan and distribution, then more people would have gotten behind this.

The film ultimately seemed like a half-baked answer to the far-superior predecessor. If anything, people are better off watching the 1993 cult classic this Halloween.