The "Cast a Deadly Spell" trailer is a preview of the 1991 American television movie directed by Martin Campbell. The film takes place in an alternate 1948 Los Angeles, where magic is widely practiced and considered an everyday occurrence. The trailer begins with a black and white scene, portraying the iconic Hollywood sign in a state of disrepair. It sets the stage for the film's unique blend of noir and fantasy elements. The trailer then introduces the protagonist, Harry Philip Lovecraft, played by Fred Ward, a hard-boiled private detective who refuses to use magic despite its heavy integration into society. The viewer is quickly immersed in Lovecraft's world, where supernatural beings roam the streets, communication is done via spell-aided typewriters, and magic-infused crimes are rampant.
Cast a Deadly Spell (1991) & Witch Hunt (1994) Double Feature Review
Why I took them off the list: After compiling my list of underrated horror, sci-fi, and fantasy of the 90s, I decided to check out a forgotten film from the same period that I’d been meaning to watch for a long time due to its intriguing premise and bizarre mash-up of the horror/fantasy and detective/noir genres: Cast a Deadly Spell.
As a big fan of both H.P Lovecraft (the film features numerous references and nods to his work) and weird alternate history stories, I couldn’t resist checking out a film set in a 40s LA where everyone casually uses magic for long.
When I realized that the film also had a semi-sequel, Witch Hunt (it features many of the same characters but a totally different cast), I decided to make it a double feature review! So, let’s dig in!
The viewer is quickly immersed in Lovecraft's world, where supernatural beings roam the streets, communication is done via spell-aided typewriters, and magic-infused crimes are rampant. As the trailer progresses, clips of intense action sequences and glimpses into Lovecraft's investigation are shown, accompanied by glimpses of a mysterious woman. The plot revolves around Lovecraft being hired to retrieve the infamous Necronomicon, an ancient and dangerous grimoire that has the power to bring forth unimaginable evil.
Review of Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
A candidate for dissection on the ace podcast How Did This Get Made? if ever there was one, Cast a Deadly Spell is a pleasingly bizarre mix of 50’s noir with elements of arcane horror with surprisingly high production values. It’s somehow not based on existing IP but the result of an original screenplay.
It was made for HBO as a TV movie so didn’t have to break box office records, but still, this uniquely strange mash-up with its expensive-looking period setting and elaborate practical special effects would probably never get made today (unless Netflix was feeling in a particularly weird mood!)
Still, the film is hugely enjoyable and is pretty effective at setting up its premise from the start, with a simple title that reads “Los Angeles, 1948. Everybody used magic.” Cast a Deadly Spell then goes on to blend these two disparate genres of hardboiled detectives and magic users in pretty smart and impressive ways. The world-building is convincing as you believe the characters inhabit it even as incredibly out-of-place things go on around them: these magical touches are just mundane happenstance to them.
This immersion is helped by some great casting. Fred Ward makes for a fun, grizzled but somewhat goofy gumshoe detective. A very young Julianne Moore (before Safe (1994) gave her a breakout role) does a good femme fatale routine, and both Clancy Brown and David Warner do their familiar but effective sinister villain routines with fun results.
The trailer builds suspense and intrigue as Lovecraft navigates a dangerous underworld filled with sorcerers, werewolves, and other mythical creatures. The trailer is fast-paced and visually stunning, showcasing the film's impressive special effects that bring a magical 1940s Los Angeles to life. The viewer is treated to glimpses of spell-casting and magical battles, contrasting the gritty noir aesthetic with fantastical elements. Throughout the trailer, the film's dark and mysterious tone is maintained, leaving the audience wanting to see more. The atmospheric music, quick cuts, and thrilling dialogue heighten the sense of adventure and danger that awaits Lovecraft in his quest. In conclusion, the "Cast a Deadly Spell" trailer effectively captures the essence of the film, blending 1940s noir with fantasy and showcasing a unique and imaginative world. It successfully piques the viewer's interest while leaving them eager to delve into the supernatural mysteries that await in this alternate Los Angeles..
Reviews for "The Battle of Good and Evil: Exploring the Morality in 'Cast a Deadly Spell"
- John Smith - 1 star
I found the "Cast a deadly spell trailer" to be incredibly underwhelming. The whole storyline seemed confusing and disjointed, and the trailer did little to clarify things. The acting also felt very wooden and lacked any real emotion. Overall, I was highly disappointed and have no intention of watching the full movie based on this lackluster trailer.
- Emily Johnson - 2 stars
I was really excited to watch "Cast a deadly spell", but after seeing the trailer, my enthusiasm quickly dwindled. The trailer failed to capture the essence of the film and instead felt like a mishmash of random scenes. Additionally, the special effects looked incredibly cheesy and amateurish. It's a shame because I had high hopes, but after seeing this trailer, I'm not sure if I'll bother watching the full movie.
- Daniel Thompson - 1 star
I'm not usually one to judge a movie based on its trailer, but "Cast a deadly spell" was an exception. The trailer was a mess, plain and simple. The editing was all over the place, and it was difficult to follow the storyline, if there even was one. The whole thing just seemed like a confusing jumble of random footage. I can't understand how a trailer could be this poorly put together. Definitely not a movie I'll be wasting my time on.