The evil spell cast on Frank Black was an unfortunate event that had lasting effects on his life. It all started when Frank encountered a mysterious woman who claimed to have powers of sorcery. Intrigued by her claims, Frank allowed her to cast a spell on him, not fully realizing the consequences. At first, the spell seemed harmless. Frank noticed a slight change in his behavior, feeling more positive and energetic. However, as time went on, the effects became more pronounced.
In 1998, Frank Black fell to earth. Thompson recruited a backing band, The Catholics, from his regular pool of musicians and, over five years, set about recording quickfire albums of alt-country, blues, grunge and Stones-flecked rock’n’roll, often thrown down live in a couple of days to two-track in honour of the jazz greats. “With all of the Frank Black records that I made, I relaxed a little bit and said, ‘You know what, I’m not going to worry about if something is too pop or too country, or too traditional,’” he says. “You hear a really great Roy Orbison song and you go, how the hell are they getting away with ‘groovy-groovy-doobie-I-love-you’, and that is the most amazing f***ing song I’ve ever heard in my life…? How can I do this? Because I do want to say, ‘I love you, I feel so blue.’ I want to be that good, I want to be that great.”
Come the Svn Fngrs mini-album in 2008, Thompson s obsession had shifted to the concept of demigods, from classical legends such as Theseus and Ireland s seven-fingered Cu Chulainn to modern day incarnations sex robots and the atom bomb. It s a naive statement but you want to have world peace, you take all the guns and you basically take them out of the hands of the men and you hand them over to the women, and all the s s gonna go away.
However, as time went on, the effects became more pronounced. Frank began experiencing strange sensations and disturbing visions. The lines between reality and fantasy blurred, and Frank found it increasingly difficult to distinguish between the two.
His Gift Was a “Curse”: The Two Halloween Episodes of “Millennium” Included an All Time Classic
Christmas episodes of television are a dime a dozen, but Halloween episodes are a rarer beast. That’s why it’s especially notable that Millennium, Chris Carter’s criminally underrated series about profiler Frank Black (Lance Henriksen), had two during its brief three year run.
“…Thirteen Years Later” (1998) is a fun riff on the horror genre. “The Curse of Frank Black” (1997) is nothing short of transcendent.
“Curse” was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong, who took over showrunning Millennium when Carter became busy with The X-Files movie and fourth season. Morgan and Wong, who would go on to help create the Final Destination franchise, brought a fresh perspective to Millennium following its relentlessly dark, serial killer heavy first season. The entire season, much of it personally written by the duo, holds together incredibly well over two decades later, and “The Curse of Frank Black” is certainly no exception.
The installment concerns Frank (always vividly portrayed by Henriksen) who experiences a dark night of the soul on Halloween. Confronted literally and figuratively by the ghosts of his past, Frank conveys a multitude of emotions with a largely wordless performance. (Damn, but Henriksen is a terrific actor.) The episode is not only the best of the entire series, it’s one of the most mesmerizing hours of television I’ve ever seen. Less plot driven than a moody tone poem full of indelible Halloween imagery (and windy, ominous sound design), “The Curse of Frank Black” is both a great Halloween episode and much more.
The evening begins normally enough, at least by Frank’s standards. On a night off from detective work, he takes Jordan (Brittany Tiplady), his daughter with estranged wife Catherine, out for trick or treating. A cold open reveals that the jack-‘o-lantern he’s carved before leaving the house has relit itself. Soon, more strange events occur. Jordan, who seems to have inherited Frank’s second sight, refuses to go to a house she has a bad feeling about. Frank glimpses an eerie winged devil in the upstairs window of the same house (the most vivid image in an episode full of them). In his car, Frank’s Bobby Darin CD refuses to play, but Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ gleefully ghoulish “Little Demon” keeps sounding over the radio.
Frank winds up at his old house, where neither he nor his family live following his separation from Catherine. He finds a group of teens in the basement telling a ghost story—about him and his dark, violent past. (In the premiere, Frank brutally killed a serial killer who threatened his family in the same basement.)
At his new apartment, Frank is bombarded by the number “268,” and realizes he’s been seeing the numbers all night long. They lead him to Acts of the Apostles Chapter 26, Verse 8: “why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” In fact, the dead do appear to Frank, in the form of Crocell (Dean Winters), a depressed WWII veteran Frank met as a child on Halloween many years earlier. We see their first meeting in a gorgeous, black and white flashback in which Crocell discusses the holiday’s connection to death and his frustrated desire to see his fallen comrades. Now, he warns Frank that if he continues on his current path fighting the forces of darkness, it will result in grave consequences for him and his family.
In the light of day, Frank feels much more optimistic—but Halloween’s eerie spell lingers in the audience’s mind.
The episode has a lush, shadowy look and feel that perfectly evoke Halloween, aided by “Little Demon” and a particularly strong score by Mark Snow. The smallest touches add to the haunting effect; there’s a wonderfully creepy bit with Frank’s TV and a laughing, animated Devil (taken from an obscure 1933 film called The Mascot). It’s such a great episode that it’s little surprise that the next Halloween installment, “…Thirteen Years Later,” pales in comparison.
But it’s still an inventive hour that’s particularly fun for horror fans.
The story centers on the production of Madman Maniac, a cheap slasher film “based” on a case Frank worked, you guessed it, thirteen years earlier. Frank is less concerned by the liberties the script takes than he is with the murders that start up on set. He and partner Emma Hollis (Klea Scott, the best part of an uneven final season) come to realize that the killer is reenacting horror films: Psycho (a shower murder), The Hitcher (a crew member’s finger in the set dinner), and more. Hollis reveals her love of the genre and she and Frank sit down to watch some tapes. Frank makes profiler style analyses of Michael Myers, Mrs. Voorhees, and Freddy Krueger, and while writer Michael R. Perry mixes up some of his references, there’s a priceless one-liner regarding the Friday the 13th franchise. “Where does it go from here?” Frank asks. “…a lot of people get killed?” Hollis offers.
“…Thirteen Years Later” is an attempt at a “comedy” episode, and often a clumsy and self-indulgent one. The KISS cameo feels fairly random, although they perform the banger “Psycho Circus” during the “concert” scene of the movie-within-the-show. (Their out-of-costume cameos are blessedly not distracting.) But the murder mystery plotline is fun, and the zany cast of characters provide a fair number of laughs. The actor playing Frank in Madman Maniac has fun riffing on Henriksen’s distinctive gravitas. While similar to Scream, the premise doesn’t feel like a rip-off. And what horror fan can resist an episode featuring clips from Halloween (1978) and references to offbeat titles like Motel Hell?
Millennium is sadly unavailable on streaming services, but well worth tracking down on DVD.
The main consequence of the evil spell was the influence it had over Frank's actions. He became prone to bouts of rage and aggression, lashing out at those close to him. This put a strain on his relationships and caused him to become isolated from others. Additionally, the visions that plagued him were often nightmarish and disturbing, further contributing to his mental turmoil. Despite these hardships, Frank was determined to break the spell and regain control over his life. He sought the help of experts in the occult, searching for a solution to his predicament. They advised him to undergo a series of rituals and treatments, aimed at cleansing his spirit and breaking the hold of the evil spell. Although the process was arduous and at times frightening, Frank persevered, determined to free himself from the torment. Eventually, after months of intense effort, Frank managed to break the spell. The process involved confronting his deepest fears and facing the darkness head-on. It required immense strength and resilience, but Frank was able to overcome the evil that had held him captive for so long. The experience of the evil spell cast on Frank Black was a harrowing ordeal that left a lasting impact on his life. It served as a powerful reminder of the forces that exist beyond our comprehension and the importance of remaining vigilant against the unknown. It also taught Frank the value of inner strength and the indomitable spirit of the human soul. From that point on, he was determined to use his experiences to help others who found themselves in similar situations, offering guidance and support to those in need..
Reviews for "The Perilous Hex: Frank Black's Fight to Break the Dark Enchantment"
1. John - 2/5: I was really disappointed with "The Evil Spell Cast on Frank Black". The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters felt one-dimensional. The concept had potential, but it fell flat in execution. The acting was mediocre at best, and I found myself bored and disconnected throughout the entire movie. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one.
2. Sarah - 1/5: "The Evil Spell Cast on Frank Black" was one of the worst movies I've seen in a while. The plot was nonsensical and all over the place, making it nearly impossible to invest in the story. The special effects were cheap and laughable, which only added to the overall disappointment. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, and the acting wasn't any better. Save yourself the agony and skip this one.
3. Michael - 2/5: I had high hopes for "The Evil Spell Cast on Frank Black", but it failed to deliver. The pacing was off, with long stretches of tedious scenes that didn't contribute much to the plot. The characters were poorly developed, making it difficult to care about their fates. The movie relied too heavily on predictable horror clichés, and the scares were more laughable than terrifying. Overall, it was a forgettable experience that left me wishing for something better.
4. Emily - 3/5: "The Evil Spell Cast on Frank Black" had its moments, but overall, it fell short for me. The storyline had potential, but it was poorly executed. The acting was mediocre and lacked depth, and the dialogue often felt forced. While there were a few suspenseful scenes, they were few and far between, and the movie failed to maintain a consistent level of tension. If you're a fan of the genre, it might be worth a watch, but don't expect to be blown away.
5. David - 2/5: I love a good horror movie, but "The Evil Spell Cast on Frank Black" missed the mark for me. The plot felt convoluted and confusing, and it was difficult to decipher what was happening at times. The characters lacked development and were hard to connect with. Despite its attempts at scares, the movie relied too heavily on jump scares and predictable horror tropes, making it feel unoriginal and uninspiring. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this film.