As the Halloween season draws near, many of us eagerly dust off the beloved cult classics to immerse ourselves in the spooky spirit of the holiday. However, for one concerned mother, there’s one film she strongly advises parents against allowing their children to watch: Hocus Pocus 2.
Hocus Pocus 2, released last year, serves as a sequel to the iconic original, Hocus Pocus, which first graced our screens way back in 1998. The anticipation surrounding this follow-up had been brewing for nearly three decades. While fans eagerly awaited the return of the Sanderson sisters, one Texas mother expressed an adamant wish that they had never returned at all. She voiced her apprehension that the film might cast harmful spells through the television screen, igniting concerns of witchcraft and blood sacrifices.
Jamie Gooch, a mother of three, shared her reservations about the film, which became available on Disney+ on September 30th of last year. She articulated her concerns to KWTX, emphasizing the film’s potential to corrupt young viewers with themes of witchcraft and sinister rituals. Gooch stated, “A worst-case scenario is: you unleash hell on your kids and in your home. The whole movie is based on witches harvesting children for blood sacrifices.”
Hocus Pocus 2, explicitly aimed at families and young children, brought Gooch into the spotlight after she initially took to social media to voice her objections. In a now-deleted Facebook post, she cautioned, “Do not watch this film,” expressing her fear that it might introduce harmful elements into viewers’ lives. She argued that the seemingly innocent movie could be a vessel for dark spells. While Gooch acknowledged that her opinion might provoke controversy, she believed the potential risks outweighed any entertainment value.
In her words, “I was a little bit scared when I hit post because I was afraid of the reaction that I would get… the post was for people who’ve been on the fence on the decisions they need to make for their family.” Gooch’s message extended beyond the film itself; she emphasized the need for vigilance in monitoring the media consumed by families throughout the year.
“I think it goes further than just a movie, it goes further than Halloween, it’s a year-round thing,” she stressed. “We constantly need to be cautious of what we’re consuming, what we’re bringing in and what we’re sending out.” Her experiences had led her to believe that there are tangible consequences to the content we consume, manifested in our daily lives. She remarked, “I believe whatever comes in our TV screens: there are things attached to that, I’ve seen for myself the things that I’ve watched with my eyes or heard over a TV screen, they’ve become manifested in real life, and then I think ‘oh my gosh, what did I consume?’”
Gooch acknowledged that some individuals have labeled her “crazy,” but she remains content with the overall “positive” reaction to her cautionary message.
The debate continues over whether Hocus Pocus 2, released last year, is a suitable choice for Halloween viewing. As parents and families prepare for the spooky season, they must weigh the potential effects of the content they choose to consume, considering both entertainment value and any unforeseen consequences that may accompany it.
