HOCUS POCUS Cast Member Says the First Movie Was Originally Much Darker and Scarier

Hocus Pocus is a classic Halloween movie that came out almost 30 years ago, and has held up its fanbase, even producing a sequel so popular that it became an instant hit as Disney+’s most successful original movie to date. The movies are funny and playful, making the spookiness of them just scary enough, but not so much that they aren’t appropriate for families with kids of all ages.

This almost wasn’t the case though, as we now know that the original film’s script was actually much darker and scarier than what we ended up seeing.

In a recent interview with EW, members of the first movie sat down to talk about making Hocus Pocus, and they remembered reading the first script. Vinessa Shaw, who played Allison in the movie, explained:

"I remember reading an original draft that was much scarier, and that was the draft we auditioned with. When we started shooting, it became a funny version, much lighter. It had the female Three Stooges element in it, and all the choreography that was added lent itself to a much more comedic movie bringing out the strengths of the actresses," she says of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, who return as the Sanderson Sisters, three witches from the Puritan era, in the new sequel.

"I think that's why the movie is beloved. Obviously, the witches and what they're doing — sucking the lives out of children — is scary, but the fact that it's done in a comedic fashion is palatable."

She went on to recall:

"It wasn't them fumbling around and bumping into each other, it was straightforward. It was more like the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz; it had a darker, 'I'll get you, my pretty' quality. They're a trifecta and can't do anything without the other, which was stronger in the second draft."

Omri Katz, who played Max, Allison's love interest, also remembers auditioning with a "scarier draft" of the film, saying:

"Once they had an idea of who they wanted to cast, I'm sure they had their two cents on it, too, and brought a more comedic, family-friendly, happier, not-so-sinister movie. It was a different approach... I don't remember a lot of those punchlines or one-liners being present."

Then again, Katz also admitted to being high during a lot of the filming of the movie, so it’s possible he’s not the best source of recollection.

Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 are available to stream on Disney+.