Hocus Pocus: the prime example of witches

Witches can be many things in contemporary society, but in the movie Hocus Pocus, the witches still have many of the characteristics of witches from the readings.  For those of you that haven’t seen the movie, three sisters were witches in Salem during the Salem witch-hunts.  They were hanged for taking children and when questioned about it, their response is sort of a joke (the missing child was turned into a cat which is at the hanging).  As they die, they cast a spell. 

Years later a virgin lights the Black-flame candle and brings them back to life.   The witches have until sunrise on Halloween to take the soles of children.  If they do, they can remain alive.  The problem that arises is the people that lit the candle steal their spell book, given to them by the devil.  Instead of hunting children, they must first find the spell book.  On their hunt they find what they think is the Satan.  They spend time in his home and call him Master.  The sister’s also take a bus during their search.  This is the point we see evidence of sexual deviance from one of the sisters as she flirts with the bus driver.

They appear as immortal when they are burned alive and come back to life.  They can fly on broomsticks and vacuums.  Salt keeps them away and they can’t set foot on hollow ground (graveyards). 

Most importantly, once they get the spell book back they begin to brew the potion and the seductive sister sets out on her broom.  Her singing puts the children of the town in a trance and they all walk willingly toward the sister’s home.  This resembles the witches eating children.