TV MovieMysteryComedyHorrorFantasy

Cast a Deadly Spell

- Bullets! Demons! The end of the world! Can’t hold a man like this!

In a fantastical 1940s where magic is used by everyone, a hard-boiled detective investigates the theft of a mystical tome.

Release Date : 1991-09-07

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Pacific WesternHBO FilmsHBO

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Det. Harry Philip Lovecraft

Original Name : Fred Ward

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amos Hackshaw

Original Name : David Warner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Connie Stone

Original Name : Julianne Moore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Harry Bordon

Original Name : Clancy Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Olivia Hackshaw

Original Name : Alexandra Powers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Det. Morris Bradbury

Original Name : Charles Hallahan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hypolite Kropotkin

Original Name : Arnetia Walker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tugwell

Original Name : Raymond O'Connor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Det. Otto Grimaldi

Original Name : Peter Allas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Larry Willis / Lilly Sirwar

Original Name : Lee Tergesen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amber Peru

Original Name : Becky Mullen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Owl Wagon Manager

Original Name : Ritch Brinkley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Zombie

Original Name : Jaime Cardriche

Gender : Male

Character Name : Crooner

Original Name : John De Bello

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thadius Pilgrim

Original Name : David Downing

Gender : Male

Character Name : Butler Meadows

Original Name : Colin Drake

Gender : Male

Character Name : Werewolf

Original Name : James Eustermann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy #2

Original Name : Bradley James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bartender

Original Name : Scott Lincoln

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gargoyle

Original Name : Michael Reid MacKay

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy #1

Original Name : Robert Mickelson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Drop Dead Babe

Original Name : Beckie Mullen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Band Leader

Original Name : Curt Sobel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mickey Locksteader

Original Name : Ken Thorley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Little Girl

Original Name : Lana Underwood

Gender : Female

Character Name : Owl Wagon Dishwasher

Original Name : Kevin Weaver

Gender : Male

Character Name : Owl Wagon Cook

Original Name : George P. Wilbur

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amber Peru

Original Name : Jenny O'Hara

Gender : Female

Character Name : Oatmeal Monster

Original Name : Brian Penikas

Gender : Male

Reviews

Matt Golden

@FarSky

2021-06-23

The year: 1948. Magic is everywhere, the hallmark of progress. Hardboiled gumshoe Philip Lovecraft is a PI for hire, but his latest case, a search for a missing book called “The Necronomicon,” leads him down darker alleys than he’s ever traversed before, filled with black magic and hideous creatures intent on doing him harm. Charged with protecting a virtuous dame, finding a magical tome, and unravelling a murderous mystery, Lovecraft will have only his wits, his fists, and a trusty pistol to come out alive. And in this world, coming out undead is a distinct possibility… Supernoirtural would be the perfect word for this film. Cast a Deadly Spell is a fascinating anomaly, a rare treat and a helluva fun ride. It was made for HBO in 1991, directed by Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, Casino Royale, The Mask of Zorro) and starring Fred Ward (as Lovecraft), Clancy Brown, David Warner, and Julianne Moore as Lovecraft’s ex-lover and current gun moll, Connie Stone. And since it’s inexplicably never been released on DVD, it’s never seen the audience that it deserves. This is a pitch-perfect blend of film noir, droll comedy, and Lovecraftian horror. The script (by Joseph Dougherty) is smart, funny without being silly, and filled with perfectly-placed nods to H.P. Lovecraft’s oeuvre. Fred Ward is fantastic as the gruff, acerbic detective, turning in one of the best modern-day performances of a noir PI. He has great fun with the über-noir dialogue. Case in point: > Hackshaw: You don’t believe in magic? > Lovecraft: I believe it, just don’t use it. > Hackshaw: Why? > Lovecraft: Personal reasons. > Hackshaw: And they are? > Lovecraft: Personal. or > Olivia: That’s quite a tie. > Lovecraft: Oh, thanks. > Olivia: Did it put up much of a fight? > Lovecraft: No, I snuck up behind it. Clancy Brown makes a magnificent gangster heavy, Julianne Moore would fit perfectly alongside Barbara Stanwyck as a classic noir dame, and David Warner is in prime form. Director Campbell fully embraces the tale’s pulpy roots and directs with the most stylish flair I’ve seen out of him; it’s almost as though he filmed it in the style of the old Roger Corman shlock films, with exaggerated shots and colors cranked up to 11. The performances ground the film and the direction gives it more class than its origins as a cheap made-for-cable movie should warrant. It’s a heady, exuberant pairing. With the talent both behind and in front of the camera for this made-for-TV flick, it’s incredible that it’s never seen a DVD release. It managed an ugly VHS transfer (and, thanks to the internet, a rather cruddy but serviceable copy can be downloaded) but it’s high time for HBO to release this gem on home video. Two-fisted, brawny action, horror-tinged, a tad campy (in all the right ways)…this is a magnificently fun film that needs to seen. Highest recommendation.

GenerationofSwine

@GenerationofSwine

2023-01-11

I guess the sequel to this is Witch Hunt, which I loved, and saw BEFORE Cast a Deadly Spell. It doesn't much matter only instead of the guy Dennis Hopper, you got Fred Ward, who is probably known to everyone as either "That guy from the Right Stuff" or "Remo Williams." And I grew up in a life surrounded by pulp trash novels. Westerns, mysteries, just dime novels that most people don't proudly display on a book shelf, but were more or less everywhere in my childhood home. There was always one laying around to pick up and devour. So when Cast A Deadly Spell and Witch Hunt hit my radar, they became insta-classics. Sam Spade set in a world of magic. Hard Boiled Detective trash novels meets HP Lovecraft horror trash novels... the perfect merging. Pure pulp entertainment. And ultimately chock full of references to both genres that only a family that loves it's trash can really appreciate. I'm kind of upset there wasn't a third film.