Cast a Deadly Spell

source: Cast a Deadly Spell

Damn near close. The idea of a private eye going it alone in world where magic reigns supreme is probably the ultimate extension of film noir and the hero-as-outsider. This movie captures all the charm of the Bogart 40's detective flicks and 80's type supernatural/horror F/X. It also adroitly mixes humor, horror, hard-boiled detecting, and mystery, with great performances from Fred Ward, David Warner, Clancy Brown, Alexandra Powers, Raymond O'Connor, and Julianne Moore.

I wonder why this isn't a movie that people know? After all, it is definitely unique and fun to watch, and how many films do you know that are a combination 1940s film noir and horror? Man, this is a real "curiosity piece." It's Los Angeles and 1948 and everyone, except the hero (Fred Ward) is using magic, occult witchcraft-type stuff (which this reviewer hardly endorses). Ludicrous, yes, but fascinating and funny in parts. Too bad this isn't out on DVD because the colors and atmosphere just ooze 1940s. It's also simply great entertainment. Juliane Moore looks gorgeous and Ward is likable in the lead role. He has the authentic look of a private eye, and I like the idea that he has more morals than all the other characters in the movie combined. If any story can be called truly "unique," this is one of them.

Very unserious movie, and uneventful. After half an hour I was falling asleep so I quit. Maybe it gets better, maybe if you pay closer attention it somehow improves, but yea... Basically what to expect from 90s low budget family friendly-ish movie, just worse.

A legitimate question might be, how well do H.P. Lovecraft and humor mix? Not very well, in my opinion... Neither Lovecraft nor humor benefits from the mix.

"Suppose somewhere along the line I'd changed my drinking habits." "I'd order you a sour anyway... just to watch you eat the fruit." "Sweet old Phil, subtle as a flagpole." This is the story of an unlikely hero. A man who doesn't use magic, even if everybody around him does. A man who knows it all, except how to select a tie. The movie starts with a brisk introduction into a world where everybody uses magic. It is the year 1948 and the arts are everywhere: black, white and everything in between. Young and old, men and women alike, all use it to get ahead in life; to get an edge. This is a world where there is a solution for everything and magic is the high-tech of the day. Once the story establishes that, it moves slowly and brilliantly towards the end, taking it's sweet time, never in any rush to get anywhere. And it doesn't have to, because this is one of the few TV movies that have it all: a great cast, a fantastic story and script and above all, brilliant direction. It is funny, it is witty, it is charming, it is truly one of a kind. The story is simple, with only a few characters, but all of them very well done. Fred Ward is great as detective H.P. Lovecraft, Julianne Moore is one incredible woman, Clancy Brown is great, Alexandra Powers is charming and David Warner is one class above everybody. They all have a part to play and all of them play their part brilliantly, under the masterful direction of Martin Campbell. The camera work is simply brilliant. It alternates effortlessly between close-ups - short, intense and inquisitive - and wide establishing shots, or hard long stares at one character or another, giving them ample time to show their acting skills or emotional range. The music is soft and ever present.The dialog is sharp and witty, somewhat cliché but beautifully done. There are lots of unexpected remarks and snappy comebacks and there is also one genre that is a dying breed nowadays: the monologue. A form of exposition which if done right proves to be very effective. If there is one thing that I liked most about this movie, is the little things. The script and the director spare no effort in adding countless small touches that make the world of this movie very convincing, full of life and wonder. Or danger, as the case may be. Cast a Deadly Spell. Proof that movie making is an art. 10/10.

Horror comedies are either hit or miss affairs. When they're good (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, EVIL DEAD II), they're good. When they're bad (EVIL ED), they're bad. Sadly, CAST A DEADLY SPELL falls into the latter category, but at least it tries very hard. The humour ranges from farcical to crude, and becomes downright embarrassing at times, very childish. At other times it's quite witty. There are a lot of horror movie references here for fans, and some visual jokes which are pretty good - such as the zombies at the building site. However, the gargoyle humour is just plain sad and childish and I really have no idea who could find that sort of thing funny. A couple of scenes are totally ripped out of other, better films, such as the cursed parchment in the restaurant and kitchen scene (similar to the parchment in NIGHT OF THE DEMON) and the scene where a farmer shoots at a gremlin (which is directly taken from the scene in EVIL DEAD II where Bruce Campbell shoots at his severed hand). As a film, CAST A DEADLY SPELL is not very satisfying. The plot is a muddled, twisting mish-mash of themes which never really gel together very well, being part comedy, part murder mystery, part thriller, part horror. The actors don't help. Julianne Moore is the love interest and is only mildly less annoying than she was in THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK. Clancy Brown (HIGHLANDER), a fine actor, is given little to do, while David Warner (FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE), who has starred in countless horror films, is given even less. The bulk of the film therefore rests on Fred Ward (TREMORS), but he hasn't much to do with the plot except to try and work out what's going on, while romancing Moore. Ward's wisecracking, fast talking Lovecraft is at first amusing but soon becomes tiring. If you can bear to sit through until the end, there's an okay sort of monster, but it's hardly the type of Old One that Lovecraft himself would envisage. Not very faithful to Lovecraft, it's best if you try and think of this film as a contemporary affair that merely uses the characters and monsters of Lovecraft's imagination for comic value. Otherwise, you may find yourself very offended indeed.

Many film makers tried to get something out of HPL's works, but not even THE CASE OF CHARLES DEXTER WARD came up to give a slight impression of this masterpiece. Only John Carpenter got close to it, in an "à la manière de". CAST A DEADLY SPELL, incidentally shown by a third-rate cable chain here, is a complete failure, even if the atmosphere of the "Films Noirs" of the forties is caught in a few moments. The people who made the French subtitles were not even able to spell properly the names of Yog Sothoth or Cthulhu, they probably never heard of them. The only good surprise of the film is Julianne Moore, as a devilish singer. One wonders what to admire first, her voice or her looks. The voice may be dubbed, but the looks are splendid. Fred Ward is no Humphrey Bogart. harry carasso

It is rare to find a film that can actually be funny and still mount very real tension (Ghostbusters and Galaxy Quest are two examples that have succeeded). This film does so in very good noir-ish style. Rife with inside jokes that should appeal to any fan of the hard-boiled detectives, horror movies, Lovecraft and film noir. Fred Ward and David Warner are perfectly suited in this film.

Excellent blend of classic noir picture and supernatural tale. Story is interesting. It starts out as a Maltease Falcon kind of film, but it is clearly not the same 1940's Los Angeles that has been seen in many noir films before. Thats because everyone, except the main character) use magic. LA is awash with wizards, unicorns, zombies, and still the private investigator. The makeup and effects are wonderful. Actors are good, especially Ward and Moore.