With that public service announcement out of the way, let’s move on to why CaDS deserves to be seen by a lot more people than it has, starting with the script written by Joseph Dougherty. HBO – remedy this please, and give us a physical release. This a film that easily could have been released theatrically with an estimated budget of $6 million, shepherded by the powerhouse production of Gale Anne Hurd ( Aliens), CaDS looks terrific – the 1940s set design is gorgeous, and the practical effects are as strong as any for its time. So many questions come to mind after viewing Cast a Deadly Spell for instance, why wasn’t this made into a series, instead of a belated, lesser received sequel ( Witch Hunt) with Dennis Hopper replacing Ward? Or, why does this not even have a DVD release, let alone a Blu-ray? It’s bewitching to say the least. To Lovecraft’s dismay, the book has far more than sentimental value, as it may unlock a portal to another world, where smog is the least of his concerns. After an encounter with Hackshaw’s headstrong teenage daughter, Olivia (Alexandra Powers – Sonny Boy), Lovecraft’s trail leads him to the Dunwich Room, a nightclub run by his ex-partner on the force, Harry Bordon (Clancy Brown – Highlander), where he finds his ex flame, Connie Stone (Julianne Moore – Boogie Nights) singing torch songs. Hackshaw needs the book returned in two days for a “conference”. An ex-cop turned P.I., Lovecraft is hired by Amos Hackshaw (David Warner – Waxwork), a mysterious man of means, to locate his latest acquisition, the book Necronomicon, stolen by his chauffeur. In an alternate reality, Los Angeles is a city where using magic is an everyday occurrence some use it for success, some for love, and some for revenge. Private eye Harry Philip Lovecraft is hired to retrieve an ancient book in a town where everyone practices magic for their own gain – and sometimes pay for it with their life. Let’s open up our sacred book of incantations, TV GUIDE, and see what we’re in for: Originally airing on HBO on Saturday, September 7th, CaDS was met with critical acclaim as a riotous mashup of Bogart and the Dark Arts, treating audiences to a unique blend of murder and magic. And when the balance is right, like it is here, the results are sublime. The result was Cast a Deadly Spell, a very entertaining and perfectly concocted mixture of 1940s detective story and supernatural terror. By 1991, HBO was already offering up original programming and decided to create a whole new sub genre – horror noir. It’s a delicate balancing act tone is key, and when either (or both) are off the whole thing can come crashing down.
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