capone666 Cast a Deadly Spell The problem with living in a world where magic is possible is all of the tacky wardrobes you have to see everyday.Thankfully, the magicians in this mystery dress in 1940s garb.In an alternate universe where magic exists, a clichéd PI that hates the black arts, H. Phillip Lovecraft (Fred Ward), is hired by an affluent client (David Warner) to retain a tome for him called the Necronomicon.To do so, Lovecraft must not only navigate the supernatural streets of L.A. but also his on-again off-again ex (Julianne Moore).All the while, Lovecraft is unaware that his obtaining of the Necronomicon will ultimately unleash the Old Ones, an ancient monster race that will enslave the city.Part Dashiell Hammett detective yarn, part Lovecraftian horror. This HBO produced amalgamation has the hard-boiled lingo and the slimy subspecies of the two genres down pat.But beware: Lovecraftian dames usually have tentacles.Yellow Light vidiotreviews.blogspot.com

olknight This is a FABULOUS movie! It is done in the film-noir style or the 40's and stars Fred Ward, David Warner, and Julianna Moore!Fred Ward plays Det. Harry Philip Lovecraft (the names of the characters in this film are homages to writers of the fantasy/horror genre), who is an honest cop who has quit to become a private detective. In world where magic is both common and easy, Lovecraft refuses to use magic. ANY magic.David Warner is Amos Hackshaw, and Amos hires Lovecraft to find a book that was stolen from him; a little tome on esoteric magic called The Necronomicon.It's fun, funny, impressive, well acted and a blast to watch! Two thumbs way, waaaay up; 5 stars! What else can I say?

flatline-1 This is an unique film, an example of a poorly known film that strongly deserves more. It's taste on mixing a 40's detective story with the alternate past in which "everyone used magic" (as the initial screen says) is strange, tasty, and makes this film to be in its own classification. I've never seen other film like that.Let's say that the plot is not an original one... an antihero fighting for the freedom of the world, and he hardly knows what he's doing. The most wonderful is the charm of the epoque, the constantly appearing "magic tricks" (like the pub with an entrance but no building), the songs singed by julianne moore... just unforgettable.

arioch-3 Wonderfully written and acted movie of an alternate 1948 Los Angeles where ALMOST everyone uses magic. Picture if you will, our founding fathers being sorcerers and alchemists rather than scientists and engineers! Fred Ward, Clancy Brown and the rest have (pardon the pun) made magic with this movie. David Warner shows his range as Mr. Hackshaw and Ms. Moore is just plain sultry.Of particular interest for the Lovecraft fans, trying to catch all of the covert and overt references to the realm that H.P. created before passing away well before his time.Definitely worth your time and effort to find this gem. Movies this fun is difficult to find.