Cast a Deadly Spell

7/21/2013

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 Roya

1/11/2023

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 ulti