Main Cast: Fred Ward, David Warner, Julianne Moore, Clancy Brown, Alexandra Powers
Release Year: 1991
Country: US
Run Time: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This clever and well-crafted production (produced for Home Box Office) goes the distance with its innovative concept, which is equal parts Raymond Chandler and H.P. Lovecraft. Taking place in 1948 Hollywood -- in an alternate reality where magic spells, curses and demons are commonly used and accepted -- the story revolves around hard-boiled gumshoe Harry P. Lovecraft (Fred Ward, looking nothing like his character's namesake and everything like Mike Hammer), the only detective in the business who relies on brains and instinct instead of gazing into a crystal ball or casting runes. This pure perspective is sought out by wealthy eccentric Amos Hackshaw (David Warner), who is trying to retrieve the legendary "Necronomicon" (a key component in the works of the real H.P. Lovecraft). The book is reputed to have the power to release the "Elder Gods" from their cosmic confines and return them to Earth, whereupon Hackshaw believes they will appoint him ruler of all mankind. The chief rival for possession of the book is a seedy gangster (Raymond O'Connor) whose favorite nightclub singer (Julianne Moore) takes a shine to Harry. Followed by a sequel, Witch Hunt, which applies a more sublime (if unnecessary) re-interpretation of the material, and features Dennis Hopper in the Lovecraft Role. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Arnetia Walker - Hypolite Kropotkin; Peter Allas - Detective Grimaldi; Ritch Brinkley - Owl Wagon Manager; Jaime Cardriche - Zombie; David Downing - Thadius Pilgrim; Colin Drake - Butler Meadows; Charles Hallahan - Detective Bradbury; Michael Reid Mackay - Gargoyle; Raymond O'Connor - Tugwell; Lee Tergesen - Larry Willis/Lilly Sirwar; Ken Thorley - Mickey Locksteader; George Wilbur - Owl Wagon Cook; John de Bello - Coroner; Curt Sobel - Band Leader; Scott Lincoln - Bartender; Robert Mickelson - Boy #1
Credit
Pam Dixon - Casting, Mary Rose - Costume Designer, Martin Campbell - Director, Dan Rae - Editor, Curt Sobel - Composer (Music Score), Alexander Gruszynski - Cinematographer, Gale Anne Hurd - Producer, Ginny Nugent - Producer, Joseph Dougherty - Screenwriter
Ward stars as 1940s hardboiled private detective Phillip Lovecraft, in a fictional universe where magic is real, monsters and mythical beasts stalk the back alleys, zombies are used as cheap labor, and everyone — except Lovecraft — uses magic every day. Yet, cars, telephones and other modern technology also exist in this world.
H.P. Lovecraft Influence
The movie is very much an homage to the works of H. P. Lovecraft. Though not based on any one particular story by Lovecraft, the film features many Lovecraftian tropes, and can be considered to take place against the unified backdrop which has come to be known as the Cthulhu Mythos. Frequent references are made to the Necronomicon, the Old Ones, and Yog Sothoth throughout the film.
While the film clearly does not take place in Lovecraft's world, it does reference Lovecraft extensively (including the name of the main character), though there are many obvious differences. The most obvious difference is that in Cast a Deadly Spell, magic is omnipresent – everybody uses it. In Lovecraft's stories magic is almost unknown, except to a select few.
There are also references to other authors in the genre. One of the police detectives is named Bradbury. The nightclub is called Harry Bordon's Dunwich Room.
Sequel
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HBO produced a quasi-sequel, "Witch Hunt." "Witch Hunt" takes place in the 1950s during the Red Scare, with magic substituted for communism. Dennis Hopper, instead of Fred Ward played Lovecraft. Additionally, many characters have the same names, but different background stories from "Cast a Deadly Spell," including the main character Lovecraft (refusal to use magic in "Cast a Deadly Spell" is on principle, and because of a bad experience in "Witch Hunt").
