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Movie review: Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)

Tonight I rewatched an older film I hadn't seen in about 20 years. I saw it on HBO back then and liked it a lot. It was a made-for-tv movie developed for HBO on a budget of fourteen million dollars (adjusted for inflation). The film, Cast a Deadly Spell, is set in the 1940s but it's not the 40s we know from history, as mythological beasts and magic exist and the latter is in common use.

Abstaining from magic, though, is the film's protagonist, a hardboiled, stern-faced detective known as Harry Phillip Lovecraft (yes, same initials as the famous writer) played by Fred Ward. As a P.I., he is hired to track down a stolen copy of the Necronomicon and bring it back to its owner in time for a midnight symposium.

What the film has in its favor are the score, costuming and sets. Fans of classic cars, femme fatales, and double crosses will feel right at home while they watch the film. Fred Ward looked like he was right in his element and viewers will enjoy his righteous condemnation of criminality, delivered with the same sincerity of any stalwart shamus confronting a decadent world . Despite his surroundings, Fred Ward's Phillip Lovecraft plays it cool, taking in the scenery as he uses a strike anywhere match to light a cigarette and he's ready to share his awareness (and reveal important plot details) through the usual voiceover.

Any monster movie fan will predict the plot twist coming at the end. Fans of detective movies will also recognize the usual plot patterns playing out. This doesn't really matter at all though, because this multi-genre film which blends together film noir, urban fantasy, and cosmic horror elements is charming enough for the viewer to overlook its flaws. Fans of urban fantasy/horror TRPGs will also get a kick out of one of the movie's villains, a magic-wielding hitman.

How does one see it? There are copies of it circulating on youtube. It's also available on Max, or you could always use a magnet link on 13 37x.

Final Rating: Get some wine, improvise a charcuterie board with a few packs of lunchables, and put this on. Not too bad a way to spend an evening, and Happy Halloween everybody. I give this a B-.