Terry, I really enjoyed both these movies, and I agree with you that with you that I would have loved to see HBO make more of these movies. I really loved Fred Ward in Cast a Deadly Spell. Fred's acting in this reminded me of his work in Tremors. It looks like I know the double feature I will be rewatching this weekend.
Nice one, Terry. Two movies, neither of which I had any idea existed. Love the premise of both. I am unashamedly a big fan of those 20th century 'Pulp' horror writers - HP Lovecraft, Robert E Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and Frank Belknap Long - all of whom used similar tropes - often from each other. It's a very rich, and fun seam of material. I'll have to find DVD copies of both movies. I do rather like the idea of Dave Bautista as a '40s private eye. I can definitely see it. He could certainly carry it off. Thanks again. 👍👍👍
Here's another couple of movies that got by me when they were made, so I missed them. I've only seen them once each within the last year. I love Noir movies almost as much as Sci Fi (Yes, I love the Blade runners). These movies were a hoot to watch! I went to a thrift store that supports foster children, and got 10 DVD's for a dollar (US)!!! We have had foster kids, so we get a discount. They have so many DVD's and a few VHS tapes. There were about 10 - 3 foot long shelves with DVD's, and each shelf had just as many DVS;'s behind the front rows.!!! I am not a DVD collector, so I was super selective in my choices. I'm not much of a movie re-watcher, so they had to be movies that I want to watch with the grand kids, and are not easy to find online. Thanks for all the recommendations, Terry!
Even though Cast a Deadly Spell is one of my favorite films, I had no idea about the pseudo-sequel, Witch Hunt! Thanks, Terry, I'll try to find it. Maybe streaming.
Dang! I was hoping you were going to reveal Umbrella had released these on Blu-ray. I've been a fan of "Cast A Deadly Spell" since I saw it during it's original run on HBO.
I remember watching CADS on VHS - I envy your DVD copy, as I recall the VHS image being very soft, even for the time. Maybe it had been watched too many times. When I saw it I had no idea it would lean so heavily into H. P. Lovecraft territory, and I recall my delight as the plot unfolded. I also remember the imaginative death of a thousand (paper) cuts. I will watch ANY movie that has David Warner in it. I feel that Schrader was trying a bit too hard to be clever in WH, as if he felt that he was slumming it in television (as people did at the time) and was trying to show that he was above it all, but I really must watch it again. I have always thought that Schrader is one of the greatest directors who ISN'T a great director...
I’m an L.A. area resident. Industrial and government video producer. One man band. Thus I was always on the side sorta. Way back One of my helper staff (a student) was a Film Guy. Super dedicated. Super knowledgeable. Film Talks with him were always amazing. Any way, now he works for Marvel. A Large Font name on credits. Anyway……. Wading into entertainment industry I sure got a sense of it. My take: “People think Hollywood is fast cars and fast woman. It’s really just fast food.” M. Creighton .
I have seen Cast A Deadly Spell. It was a good movie in large part because of the world building and the talented cast. I do wonder if the frequent edge that older movies seem to have in creating compelling realities is connected to their relative inferiority in terms of special effects. A story teller who can conjure images out of thin air probably can get by being less skilled as a raconteur.
Ah! I remember when "To Cast a Deadly Spell" came out. A 40s noir/Lovecraftian comedy? Stop reading my mind, Hollywood! Between that and "The Resurrected", it was like they were making movies for me specifically. Also, "Deadly Spell" seemed to be a high-water mark for practical special effects. Maybe 'high water mark' is not quite right, they were very smart in the way they used the practical effects. I have actually shown "To Cast a Deadly Spell" to multiple people and they are always pleasantly surprised by it. "Witch Hunter", I only watched once and it didn't do much for me, but I think I owe it a re-watch.
"Gotham" (which I saw as "The Dead Can't Lie") came out a little before these 2. Also a PI in a world a little shifted from our own. I loved it and I don't think anyone else has seen it. Virginia Madsen was great in it (and in Candyman another very different urban fantasy).
I will check it out. Somehow, I missed it. Fred Ward was a great actor at playing the average joe. A cult classic of his Time Rider, which is both cheesy but entertaining, is worth a look for low-budget 80's science fiction.
Thanks for the movie suggestions. Today is the last day of ImageOut, which is our local LGBTQ+ fall film festival. Unfortunately I missed 'Carnage for Christmas', 2024 release.
I've loved CaDS as many years as I have been unable to find a copy of Witch Hunt. Those are the janky style and era of FX that speak to me and hit my eye well
Sorry to double-dip-I just saw (finally) Witch Hunt which has been on RUclips all along, evidently. I now take your point about the FX in a bit more agreement, WH seems like a great script that didn't get the care and respect and budget the first film enjoyed. I liked Witch Hunt but mourn what could have been
Big fan of Cast A Deadly Spell -- but had never heard of Witch Hunt. Now can I play a PAL DVD??? Oh -- with all of the HP Lovecraft references in CADS, I also noticed that 'Kropotkin' was the name of the likeable Soviet spy in The President's Analyst (and an actual Russian anarchist) -- I wonder if that was on purpose (though obviously the characters are quite different)....
I vaguely recall the first film, it is on Max (in the US anyway). Not a genre I've really thought about. Would stuff like Highlander, What We Do in the Shadows, Night Shift/Day Shift or The Crow fit there?
I once saw detective movie that takes place in a parallel universe where everything runs on magic. One day someone is killed and no one knows how, but they find some pieces of lead (bullets) lead in him. Someone found a way to go back and forth between the two dimensions. I con't remember the name of the movie.
Back in the 90s there was a bit of shock in the movies you review,s more of a raise the eyebrows of the audience unfortunley nowadays the lack of attention from audiences the directors pummel the viewers with time shifting and effects cad
Despite some interesting ideas kicking around in it, I was deeply and near-instantly disappointed by Witch Hunt, while Spell has always charmed me (appropriately enough). I think it may come to my simply liking Ward more than Hopper. Spell is worth hunting down, I can't recommend it too highly. I could, however, have a decent time with a Penelope Ann Miller film festival: The Freshman, Awakenings, Carlito's Way, The Shadow, and a personal favorite, The Relic. Thanks, Ter.
I really liked CAST A DEADLY SPELL-wasn't so high on WITCH HUNT, though. I think the problem was Schrader lacks the deftness of touch that a tongue-in-cheek hard boiled PI mystery with magic requires. Both as a director and a writer, Paul Schrader's strength is in what Pauline Kael called "clobber drama"- Schrader wants to beat you over the head with how significant the parallels between the McCarthy witch hunts and this literal version are, and it doesn't really work. It doesn't help that Dennis Hopper, who needs to be our normal focal point in this mid century America universe with magic, is just too weird in a Dennis Hopper way to fully succeed. The best parts of WITCH HUNT are the ones with Eric Bogosian as a McCarthyite Senator, because Bogosian has the intensity of a Paul Schrader character, so both actor and director fit the character perfectly. I don't know if Fred Ward would have worked with Paul Schrader that well, because while he has the lightness of touch this material needs, Shrader is incapable of understanding or respecting that.
Terry, I really enjoyed both these movies, and I agree with you that with you that I would have loved to see HBO make more of these movies. I really loved Fred Ward in Cast a Deadly Spell. Fred's acting in this reminded me of his work in Tremors. It looks like I know the double feature I will be rewatching this weekend.
Good choice! They're 90s gems.
Nice one, Terry. Two movies, neither of which I had any idea existed. Love the premise of both. I am unashamedly a big fan of those 20th century 'Pulp' horror writers - HP Lovecraft, Robert E Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and Frank Belknap Long - all of whom used similar tropes - often from each other. It's a very rich, and fun seam of material.
I'll have to find DVD copies of both movies.
I do rather like the idea of Dave Bautista as a '40s private eye. I can definitely see it. He could certainly carry it off.
Thanks again.
👍👍👍
Bautista is such an underrated actor. He has depth and skills.
Terry: Nice job finding 2 "retro-90's" movies that are "retro-40's/50's" genres.
Also, magic!
Here's another couple of movies that got by me when they were made, so I missed them. I've only seen them once each within the last year. I love Noir movies almost as much as Sci Fi (Yes, I love the Blade runners). These movies were a hoot to watch!
I went to a thrift store that supports foster children, and got 10 DVD's for a dollar (US)!!! We have had foster kids, so we get a discount. They have so many DVD's and a few VHS tapes. There were about 10 - 3 foot long shelves with DVD's, and each shelf had just as many DVS;'s behind the front rows.!!! I am not a DVD collector, so I was super selective in my choices. I'm not much of a movie re-watcher, so they had to be movies that I want to watch with the grand kids, and are not easy to find online. Thanks for all the recommendations, Terry!
My pleasure!
If a decent reboot of “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” had been attempted in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s, Fred Ward would have been PERFECT as Carl Kolchak.
We don't need a Kolchak reboot. It was tried early in the century and died.
First saw Cast a Deadly spell on late night UK TV back in the 90s and finally managed to get the same Spanish language version DVD copy recently
I was really happy to find my copy. It's a great transfer too.
Even though Cast a Deadly Spell is one of my favorite films, I had no idea about the pseudo-sequel, Witch Hunt!
Thanks, Terry, I'll try to find it. Maybe streaming.
Possibly. Look around and you may find it.
Dang! I was hoping you were going to reveal Umbrella had released these on Blu-ray. I've been a fan of "Cast A Deadly Spell" since I saw it during it's original run on HBO.
It would be great if they did!
I remember watching CADS on VHS - I envy your DVD copy, as I recall the VHS image being very soft, even for the time. Maybe it had been watched too many times. When I saw it I had no idea it would lean so heavily into H. P. Lovecraft territory, and I recall my delight as the plot unfolded. I also remember the imaginative death of a thousand (paper) cuts. I will watch ANY movie that has David Warner in it.
I feel that Schrader was trying a bit too hard to be clever in WH, as if he felt that he was slumming it in television (as people did at the time) and was trying to show that he was above it all, but I really must watch it again. I have always thought that Schrader is one of the greatest directors who ISN'T a great director...
Schrader does a workmanlike job but not inspiring.
Fascinating recommendations. Thanks Terry.
My pleasure. They're great flicks.
I’m an L.A. area resident. Industrial and government video producer. One man band. Thus I was always on the side sorta. Way back One of my helper staff (a student) was a Film Guy. Super dedicated. Super knowledgeable. Film Talks with him were always amazing. Any way, now he works for Marvel. A Large Font name on credits.
Anyway…….
Wading into entertainment industry I sure got a sense of it.
My take: “People think Hollywood is fast cars and fast woman. It’s really just fast food.” M. Creighton .
I'll take fast food, a comfy car and a slow woman. 😉😀
I have seen Cast A Deadly Spell. It was a good movie in large part because of the world building and the talented cast. I do wonder if the frequent edge that older movies seem to have in creating compelling realities is connected to their relative inferiority in terms of special effects. A story teller who can conjure images out of thin air probably can get by being less skilled as a raconteur.
So much work goes into any movie, but sfx heavy films have an added burden, especially in pre CGI days
Ah! I remember when "To Cast a Deadly Spell" came out. A 40s noir/Lovecraftian comedy? Stop reading my mind, Hollywood! Between that and "The Resurrected", it was like they were making movies for me specifically.
Also, "Deadly Spell" seemed to be a high-water mark for practical special effects. Maybe 'high water mark' is not quite right, they were very smart in the way they used the practical effects.
I have actually shown "To Cast a Deadly Spell" to multiple people and they are always pleasantly surprised by it. "Witch Hunter", I only watched once and it didn't do much for me, but I think I owe it a re-watch.
Witch Hunt is the lesser film but it has its moments.
"Gotham" (which I saw as "The Dead Can't Lie") came out a little before these 2. Also a PI in a world a little shifted from our own. I loved it and I don't think anyone else has seen it. Virginia Madsen was great in it (and in Candyman another very different urban fantasy).
The OG Candyman is superb.
The first time I saw John Bernthal, I thought he looked and moved uncannily like Fred Ward.
I need to track down Cast a Deadly Spell.
Cheers
Go for it, Brian. There's a link in my video description on how to get the DVD version.
I loved these movies on HBO. HBO used to have great movies with awesome plot lines.
Script should always come first. You can lever in the action sequences later.
I will check it out. Somehow, I missed it. Fred Ward was a great actor at playing the average joe. A cult classic of his Time Rider, which is both cheesy but entertaining, is worth a look for low-budget 80's science fiction.
I remember Time Rider being fun. I saw it back in VHS days.
@terrytalksmovies I have the DVD, and it became a bit of a rarity.
Thanks for the movie suggestions. Today is the last day of ImageOut, which is our local LGBTQ+ fall film festival. Unfortunately I missed 'Carnage for Christmas', 2024 release.
I hope the festival went really well. 😀❤
Be sure to bring some hot cocoa and marshmallows for the next 'comfort' film.
The weather's getting too warm for that.
@@terrytalksmovies Oh yeah. I forgot. Down Under.
I've loved CaDS as many years as I have been unable to find a copy of Witch Hunt. Those are the janky style and era of FX that speak to me and hit my eye well
The SFX are rudimentary, particularly the CGI but they ran with it to sell the story.
Both movies are on YT.
Hopefully in watchable copies. 😀
@@terrytalksmovies I mean, it's YT, but yeah!
Sorry to double-dip-I just saw (finally) Witch Hunt which has been on RUclips all along, evidently. I now take your point about the FX in a bit more agreement, WH seems like a great script that didn't get the care and respect and budget the first film enjoyed. I liked Witch Hunt but mourn what could have been
Witch Hunt was fun but CADS is better.
@@terrytalksmovies CADS is the classic. Watching it rn🤘 Keep doing what you're doing, T!
Big fan of Cast A Deadly Spell -- but had never heard of Witch Hunt. Now can I play a PAL DVD??? Oh -- with all of the HP Lovecraft references in CADS, I also noticed that 'Kropotkin' was the name of the likeable Soviet spy in The President's Analyst (and an actual Russian anarchist) -- I wonder if that was on purpose (though obviously the characters are quite different)....
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kropotkin Peter Kropotkin - famous anarchist.
I vaguely recall the first film, it is on Max (in the US anyway). Not a genre I've really thought about. Would stuff like Highlander, What We Do in the Shadows, Night Shift/Day Shift or The Crow fit there?
Why not? The Crow isn't a movie I didn't like much, same for Highlander, but I'll give the Henry Cavill Highlander remake a go.
I once saw detective movie that takes place in a parallel universe where everything runs on magic. One day someone is killed and no one knows how, but they find some pieces of lead (bullets) lead in him. Someone found a way to go back and forth between the two dimensions. I con't remember the name of the movie.
Sounds cool.
Back in the 90s there was a bit of shock in the movies you review,s more of a raise the eyebrows of the audience unfortunley nowadays the lack of attention from audiences the directors pummel the viewers with time shifting and effects cad
I like modern special effects but I also appreciate the lengths film makers had to go through to convey things in the pre CG days.
Despite some interesting ideas kicking around in it, I was deeply and near-instantly disappointed by Witch Hunt, while Spell has always charmed me (appropriately enough). I think it may come to my simply liking Ward more than Hopper. Spell is worth hunting down, I can't recommend it too highly. I could, however, have a decent time with a Penelope Ann Miller film festival: The Freshman, Awakenings, Carlito's Way, The Shadow, and a personal favorite, The Relic. Thanks, Ter.
The Relic is a great. I might cover it in a future video.
I really liked CAST A DEADLY SPELL-wasn't so high on WITCH HUNT, though. I think the problem was Schrader lacks the deftness of touch that a tongue-in-cheek hard boiled PI mystery with magic requires.
Both as a director and a writer, Paul Schrader's strength is in what Pauline Kael called "clobber drama"- Schrader wants to beat you over the head with how significant the parallels between the McCarthy witch hunts and this literal version are, and it doesn't really work. It doesn't help that Dennis Hopper, who needs to be our normal focal point in this mid century America universe with magic, is just too weird in a Dennis Hopper way to fully succeed.
The best parts of WITCH HUNT are the ones with Eric Bogosian as a McCarthyite Senator, because Bogosian has the intensity of a Paul Schrader character, so both actor and director fit the character perfectly. I don't know if Fred Ward would have worked with Paul Schrader that well, because while he has the lightness of touch this material needs, Shrader is incapable of understanding or respecting that.
Bogosian is great. Have you read his history book about Operation Nemesis and the Armenian genocide? Fantastic piece of work.
@@terrytalksmovies - no, I haven't! I'll look out for it now....
Cast a deadly spell is awesome!! Witch hunt sucks!
Witch Hunt isn't without its virtues. Try watching it again.
It may be the Mandela effect but I swear the TV series starring the guy Who played Doll man and transers replacing Fred ward
Definitely mandela effect. Tim Thomerson didn't do a series about it.