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General Chat => Film & TV => Topic started by: karlos on 11 September, 2023, 11:40:36 AM

Title: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: karlos on 11 September, 2023, 11:40:36 AM
...is now on YouTube.

I'm guessing you've never heard of it as it had no release at all over here, as far as I can tell.

It's a cracking mix of 40s LA noir and Lovecraft/magic.

Incredible cast, full of lovely ideas and world-building, I think you cats would dig it.
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: Colin YNWA on 11 September, 2023, 11:55:24 AM
Your right I'd never heard of this (seems to be a TV Movie ???) has an excellent cast - and Director in Martin Campbell so will before check this out as soon as possible.

It seems that with a bit of digging you can find some relatively obsure and fun Sci-fi gems on YouTube.

Thanks for the heads up.
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: karlos on 11 September, 2023, 01:35:30 PM
My pleasure, Colin.

It is indeed a TV movie, made for HBO, and clearly with quite a few bucks spent on it.

There is a sequel, Witch Hunt, starring Dennis Hopper and directed by Paul Schrader, no less, also on YouTube.

I know nothing about that one but it's certainly on my watch list.
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 13 September, 2023, 01:01:08 PM

I absolutely loved this, thanks for the heads-up. It's the kind of story that, in comic form, would fit snugly into 2000AD and probably be a classic. Great stuff!

Got the sequel all queued up and ready to play...

Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: karlos on 13 September, 2023, 11:12:23 PM
Glad to be of service!

Just finished it and i totally agree - it was a lot of fun.

I'm half an hour into Witch Hunt and, cast changes aside, it's very entertaining.
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 14 September, 2023, 04:11:12 AM

Yep, a worthy sequel.

Colour me impressed.

Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: Colin YNWA on 16 September, 2023, 03:27:54 PM
Well I watched this and while I'm not as enamored with it as you folks its great fun. It did feel a little all over the place in tone, its tongue so firmly in its cheek when it was trying to be intense and thrilling it didn't always work. At times it reminded me of Who Framed Roger Rabbit! The ending was kinda telegraphed. And come on calling the lead H Phillip Lovecraft was far too on the nose.

For all that I really enjoyed it as fun Saturday afternoon distraction. I'm impressed that something like this even existed and everyone seemed to have immense fun hamming the whole thing up. So once again thanks for the heads up.

Watched the trailer for the sequel (after getting it confused with a film from a couple of years ago) and hmmm it looks very 80s!
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: JayzusB.Christ on 22 September, 2023, 09:23:52 AM
I'll have a watch tonight, cheers, Karlos.
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: karlos on 22 September, 2023, 08:03:14 PM
Hope you enjoy, Jayzus!
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: JayzusB.Christ on 23 September, 2023, 01:58:01 PM
Dick Tracy meets Harry Potter with a John Smith climax. Utterly daft but loads of fun. Thanks again, Karlos!

Always good to see Julianne Moore - I was in a scene with her as an extra about 20 years ago, and hadn't a breeze who she was.  Thought she was some up-and-coming unknown. Now I realise she was already a big Hollywood star, and I was just clueless.

And those gremlins - well, if HBO didn't get permission from Warner Bros for their look, then I don't know how the feck they avoided a court case.
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: karlos on 23 September, 2023, 06:34:57 PM
Very glad to hear you enjoyed it, Jayzus!

Give the sequel a try if you get the chance - it's worth a look.
Title: Re: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Post by: JayzusB.Christ on 24 September, 2023, 07:21:34 PM
I will!