What it was REALLY like to be one of the ‘Hocus Pocus’ kids
When October rolls around, there’s one movie title that never fails to make our hearts sing with Halloween spirit: Hocus Pocus.
We love Hocus Pocus because the 1993 film is the perfect combination of All Hallows’ Eve magic and nostalgia. Honestly, the autumn season wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t watch this movie at least five times. That’s why we’re extremely excited to hear that ABC spoke with the cast about what it was like filming this endlessly wonderful movie.
“The fact that Hocus Pocus found a niche in that world where it cannot be extricated from the holiday itself to me is really amazing,” said Thora Birch, who was only 10 years old when she played the role of Dani Dennison. “I’m really surprised, but humbled and happy to be a part of something like that. I had the best time on that film — maybe more than any other movie I worked on.”
The actress also mentioned that she became close with Omri Katz (who played her big brother Max) and Vinessa Shaw (who played Allison). “All three of us, we got along great,” Birch explained. “Me and Vinessa, whenever we see each other, it’s like old friends getting back together. She’s just a wonderful person.” As for the immortal cat Binx — they weren’t the best of friends. “Dani was in love with the cat. For me, I had an issue whenever the cat came up,” she added, laughing. “There were a number of live cats, animatronic cats – the thing with the cat was a toss-up. You never knew what would happen.”
It turns out that Shaw – who was 16 years old when she played Allison – feels the exact same way about Birch (which is making us feel all the magic, nostalgia vibes). “Oh my gosh, we loved each other,” Shaw revealed. “Thora and I would sing a million songs and run around and be crazy on the Disney lot. Tim Allen’s show ‘Home Improvement’ was filming, so the kids of Hocus Pocus and Home Improvement were on the lot and high-fiving each other. We hung out with Doug Jones [the zombie, Billy Butcherson] and laughed with him and Sean Murray and we really just had the best time.”
She also added that being on set with the other cast members was like being “kids in a candy store.” (Can you imagine the beautiful Jonathan Taylor Thomas hanging out with heartthrob Sean Murray?! It’s almost too much. Almost.)
Additionally, the Allison actress shared a beautiful moment with one of the Sanderson sisters. “I’d talk with Sarah Jessica Parker and she’d ask me if I really loved what I did as an actress,” Shaw recalled. “She’d say ‘It’s a wonderful job if you love it.’ So, she was just very sweet and curious and made me feel really comfortable.”
Not only did we get sweet snippets of the actors’ experience, we got some exciting news… “I’m actually, on Halloween, going to show my daughter Hocus Pocus for the first time,” said 37-year-old Sean Murray, who acted as Thackery Binx when he was 14. “Now, I have people in their early 40’s coming up to me who grew up with the movie and now their kids are growing up with the movie, I’m glad to have been a part of it.” Let the Hocus Pocus October tradition live on forever and ever!
Murray also reveals, “It was the most amazing set I’ve ever seen, even ’til this day.” (Can someone please invent a time machine so we can transport ourselves there??) And he has some lovely things to say about his cast mates. “Vinessa I’d say I was closest too and Thora was the most wonderful thing ever,” Murray said. “We’d be on and off with the set teacher in the trailer and she’d write little hearts on the paper I was working on. If you mention it to her today she’ll say ‘Oh no, I didn’t do that.’”
So, being behind-the-scenes of Hocus Pocus is just as bewitching as we’d always imagined. Now, we’d like to leave you with this:
[Images via Twitter]
