All of a sudden, I decided to review this kinzo, which was the last time I watched in a distant childhood, hiding in my parents' armpit whenever the screen showed scary things. What can I do, I am an old and sick person, full of melancholy, and the only thing I still enjoy doing in this life is watching movies from my childhood and grunting with pleasure.
Warlock is not a particularly great movie, but it is a rare representative of fantasy horror, which I have an eternal shortage in my body. The evil sorcerer treacherously travels through time and grabs his worst enemy for company - a hairy and smelly witch hunter. He gets, as usual, in Los Angeles at the end of the 80s, and immediately begins to create any game, sends spells, self-mutilates and hilariously flies on cables, satanically laughing. The furry hunter, meanwhile, cooperates with a thrash waitress, aging not by days because of the spoilage sent by the villain, and they go on the trail of the villain, in order to save the world (and how without it) from the coming of Satan. Not a masterpiece, but a working plot, it has everything you need - and vile murders, and terrible witchcraft, and action with a fair amount of humor. Julian Sands looks amazing in the role of a villain, he is beautiful from all sides, to be honest - mainly this movie I remember because of him. Not that I was dying of boredom watching a couple of protagonists, but amid Sands' atrocities, their storyline was perceived as an appetizer before the main course. Although, throwing the medieval wrestler with sorcerers in the modern setting looked funny, good, to the level of "Aliens" with Jean Reno his stupidity was not twisted and with a sword on the rusty four-wheeled tarantyke of the heroine Lori Singer he did not beat.
The film has wonderful practical effects, both outdated and at the same time lamp, a wonderful soundtrack and an incredibly cozy atmosphere of an unassuming adventure from the 80s, with all the necessary attributes for a fun pastime. I do not recommend this movie for mandatory viewing, but it is quite suitable for viewing under the mood. When the window is cold and dirt, three cats scratch at once on the soul, and I want to watch for an hour and a half something adventure, fantasy and a little scary - "Warlock Book" is perfect for this. I don’t know if I will watch the sequels, if my memory does not change, the quality they do not shine, but from the revision of the first film I have the most pleasant impressions, albeit pretty brightened with pink nostalgia glasses. But who would blame the old man?
In the world of horror cinema, there are magnitudes (Craven, Romero, Carpenter), and there are just good people. Such directors of masterpieces do not shoot, they just get a good movie, which is pleasant to watch, which can be revised on occasion. Steve Miner is clearly one of those good guys. He directed several decent sequels to the horror franchise (the second and third parts of Friday the 13th, Halloween: Twenty Years Later), as well as the cute comedy horror movie Home. But horror fans most revere Miner for another comedy horror - "Warrior". At home, the film failed, but what a disaster. But he managed to visit the Soviet box office and enjoyed success there (so you can watch the "Warrior Book" with dubbing from Mosfilm, which I did). Our viewers were impressed by the Glavgada performed by Julian Sandz, and special effects, and dirty tricks created by the Glavgada with the help of witchcraft, and original ways of countering his witchcraft. . .
Nostalgia is a great thing, but I do not have it, at one time the Warlock passed by me. I just missed it now.
I was not too impressed.
The first half of the film was intrigued. An evil sorcerer escapes from the seventeenth century at the end of the twentieth century; he is followed by the spirit of a good guy who has his own scores with a warlock. The villain wants to plunge the world into chaos (not even the world, but all worlds) - and his opponent tries to prevent this chaos. There is an interesting line with the curse - the warlock in the course of the case spells the girl, forcing her to rapidly age, and the poor girl needs at all costs to stop both the bastard and the process of the spell. There will be funny jokes, and interesting scenes with "witchcraft", and a child will suffer cruelly - albeit behind the scenes, but from a comedy horror (which most of the time dresses up more like a comedy than a horror) you least expect this. It doesn't look like "wow," but with interest.
But the plot with the curse was never extended to the final - it was quickly cut off. And as soon as it happened, all the intrigue disappeared for me. The cinema immediately began to sink, any little tension evaporated. I watched the film, to be honest, on automatic, and the ending was predictable. On the way to him, Miner has some jokes (the protagonist from the past is surprised by airplanes), but this will not be enough. And the final battle of the sorcerers was the weakest part of the film, causing bad associations with the Goblins.
The good one, of course, is Julian Sandz, whose warlock is both nasty and attractive in his own way. I would prefer to have more screen time. However, the hero of Richard Grant in the film will be more, and his character, although not without funny moments (surprised by airplanes, builds a cool “witch compass”), but it will be more boring. I liked some scenes with witchcraft (the very aging of the main character, hammering nails into the tracks left by the warlock so that he could not escape). The special effects, of course, are outdated, the flights of the warlock look funny - but this is not a minus, but part of the charm of films of that golden era. In general, an interesting horror comedy is not without pleasant moments, but I cannot share the enthusiasm of some colleagues (hello to Zombion). I expected more. And if you take Miner's creations, I liked 'House' better.
Here you will not see funny stories about a witch: only serious spells, only hardcore!
One of the few films where there is no directorial fiction about witches: everything is exactly as it was in the legends. The film is very old, 1998, but it is a classic horror film that awakens and pulls out of our minds all the knowledge about witches that we have ever known or heard. Yes. it is a classic with minimal special effects, but with such tension that even these days it looks in one breath.
The gorgeous Julian Sands, with his serpent smile and devilish eyes, fits the role better than anyone. From an early age, this guy was evil to me. I've been blond for 10 years.
And this laugh... I swear it's been years since I saw this masterpiece, and I'll get an extra strand of hair if I hear that laugh behind my back. It’s a great role, just great!
Handsome Richard E. Grant with clear blue eyes - a kind character should look like that. Such a knight, who found himself in another city for a couple of centuries ahead and who so perfectly fit into this time, pursuing exclusively his goal.
Special thanks to the cameraman David Eggby for the shot with the outstretched hand of Redfern from Cassandra (Laurie Singer), where the eyes were paid special attention to the eyes.
The writers perfectly wrote the role and interest of Cassandra in what is happening: she had a personal interest in catching Warlock. In modern films, additional characters appear as a fan, and here we were shown from the very beginning why a young girl, who loves parties and a rich life, suddenly began to chase a witcher along with Redfern. This shows the thoughtfulness and detail of the plot.
David Tui (writer) and director Steve Miner delved into the process: collected legends, biblical images, even signs suitable for the plot, so that the film became as close as possible to the familiar mythology.
Well, two Davids, Eggby and Finfepro (operator and editor) showed us what the writer wanted to tell us. And for those years it was shot perfectly, qualitatively and almost without mistakes. In the measure of close-up plans, there is no overload with general plans, where you need dynamic personnel, where you need to give tension - frames are slow.
The scenery, the lighting, the general tone - that's what you can love old movies for. Dark, gray, bluish and other cold colors that set the film the right mood, selected just fine. I don't know who was in charge of the lighting, but this is the man who got the whole idea of the film: even Cassandra's bright skirt was very faint. Bright colors should only come back at the end if everything ends well. And it should get dark if it ends badly.
Everything is done clearly and correctly, excellent!
Grimoire is beautiful. Why invent something if legends, myths and legends have already done everything? You just have to take a legend that everyone has heard one way or another and connect them to a real story. It gives weight to the film. Involuntarily, you begin to believe what is happening simply because “I heard it somewhere.”
10 out of 10
Cult fantasy about the confrontation between good and evil from the past
And initially acquaintance with the story of Warlock came from the second part, which shocked with its rather cruel opening scene. Although apart from the introduction, the second film does not particularly offer a logical plot regarding the first part. But the first film can really be called an undeservedly forgotten event in the world of film fantasy. And forgotten because each sequel was noticeably worse than the previous part. The motives and essence of the characters of the first film in fact was not particularly revealed. But the original is hotly recommended to all fans of fantasy.
We, as an era of consumption, have long since moved away from our natural nature and have long been no longer striving for anything in search of knowledge of harmony with the environment and the study of its deep properties. The film shows a little such a view that if wanderers came from the past with their view of modern reality. They are also strangers who see things in a different way. And it is amazing to see a reminder of how modern people are essentially powerless against the influence of nature.
The canvas of the plot is how a witch hunter and a warlock face off in a confrontation where even time can not prevent their fight. And in this confrontation there will be many accidental victims. But the film still does not focus on cruelty and excessively bloody moments were removed by censorship. But the very purpose of the Warlock was quite simple - to gain power over the universe. And in this, of course, lies the banality of another villain and the incomprehensibility of motives. What will this Warlock do in the primordial chaos of the universe? The film does not give answers to this because of the obvious triumph of screen good. Therefore, the conflict between the hunter and the sorcerer comes to the fore. As well as the manifestations of witchcraft, coupled with the assistance of black forces.
In some places it is sad to see in such films that the light forces of the characters in fact do not help and only by chance manages to stop the triumph of evil. That is, a kind person or people in these films are left alone before the Apocalypse flashing ahead. Nevertheless, the viewing brought new impressions. Although special effects can not always please sophisticated viewers. The film is more expensive by its idea that in addition to surrounding things, unknown forces coexist with people. And that in the face of death, a person is absolutely defenseless and can only delay the inevitable. . .
General impression: The other day I watched the Warlock, what a cool movie! Interesting literally from the first minute! Of course, the age of the tape takes its toll, but here it is only a matter of special effects, and then, if you reject all these prejudices, then watching the film visually will not overshadow it.
The magician is the one who is the magician. It is the witch, possessing magical power, does not know what pity and compassion are. And through the actions of a terrible warlock (Julian Sands), you can see what the villain is achieving. It has motivation, so all plot moves are built so as to show the viewer a gradual transition from the desired to the actual. But is it that simple? Only Giles Redfern (Richard E. Grant) can stop the evil wizard. Giles has little time, on the scales of life not only a couple of people, but all of humanity.
Perhaps the opposition of the antagonist and the protagonist is perfectly described in the episodes of their collisions. Good and evil vehemently intertwine with each other in the plot, it is the struggle that captures attention, filigree playing out tense situations. These two heroes hit their foreheads once, because the witch hunter will not just back down. To look at these misadventures is not only curious and attractive, but also very emotional.
Considering the movie from a fantasy angle, you can see that the film is literally stuffed with folklore and legends. Details are scattered with periodicity and for the entire timekeeping, something about witchcraft pops up. Now our people this is hardly surprising that the sensational "Supernatural", but still it is worth giving credit, the script is excellent! And it’s great that all sorts of interesting nuances were taken not from the ceiling, but carefully studied.
It's an amazing movie! Look at me and don’t tell me I didn’t convince you.
9 out of 10
When I was a kid, I watched a videotape called 'Warlock', and it caught my imagination. In fact, the first film ' Warlock' is cool and interesting, dark fantasy, and the main villain of this story is a cult personality in cinema.
Prior to his most famous film ' Warlock' American director Steve Miner has already directed such horror films as 'Home', 'Friday 13' the second and third parts. In fact, ' Warlock' after his filming lay a couple of tapes on the shelves, until he was released on the screen “New World Pictures” – a film company that as we know will soon go bankrupt and cease to exist.
This adventure fantasy has both drama and comedy, and the main cool atmosphere and mystery. The film is revisited with great pleasure after many years, and it has something to surprise.
The story of a hunter and the son of darkness - a warlock. It all began in Boston in 1691, when the servant of darkness wanted to be executed, but he escaped, opening a portal to the future. A hunter came along with him. They ended up in Los Angeles in the late 20th century. Warlock is also trying to revive darkness and destroy the world, and the hunter and the girl cursed by the son of darkness try to stop him. . .
Remembering this dark film, I want to say: here before the film was made and it was cool. The picture was shot with pleasure, and you can see how much energy and love invested in it. Fantasy turned out to be special, and the mystical story was well laid out on the shelves.
39 You will grow old in a moment, and now you will seek and beg for me. . . '
Of course, this is one of the best and most famous roles of British actor Julian Sands. The warlock he played gorgeous, and the role was great. The scenes with him look with great pleasure - and the choice of the actor was successful. This once unpretentious fantasy gave great fame to Laurie Singer and Richard E. Grant, who then were able to build their careers as actors. By the way, everyone played great here.
Everything was cool in this movie and it was really fun to watch. One can only find fault with the fact that the heroine of Lori Singer aged somehow not really, and her makeup was not convincing and the image of an old woman. That's the only downside to the movie.
The story of the warlock was so well wrapped that I wanted to watch more and more: a sequel or even a series. This story has a sequel, which was then filmed, but all of them alas failed and questionable quality. All the charm and something pleasant remained in this first film. By the way, the disturbing melody of this picture was chosen perfectly.
'Warrior' - American adventure fantasy 1988. The dark, mystical tale is more than lucky, and I love this movie. It deserves attention, as well as a positive assessment.
Kneel down before me. There is nothing you can do.
You've done much more than you could - Cassandra with the letter K...
(approximately 95 minutes of the film)
William
To watch only in that old dubbing, I conjure you!
1691 (although they talked about 1693, not the point), handsome black book Julian Sands turns away from God and shows the middle finger to the whole world. For this he is sentenced to death. And it seems that you can play credits, but the devil himself helps handsome blackjack Sands escape. In 1988, the legend began.
One of the most amazing and stylish horror films of the 80s. A real cult, a real legend, the cassette of this film was rubbed to the holes (at one time). I was so scared of Warlock, fuck. I thought he'd fly in my window and take me to hell. It was wild horror, but I couldn't get away, guys. Thanks to Steve Miner for such a happy dash of magical childhood.
You can talk about Jason Voorhees, you can talk about the Home franchise, your right. For me personally, Warlock will remain Steve Miner’s best film. How sad that the old man then slid to pictures with Jessica Simpson in the title role, let’s not talk about sad.
Why is Julian Sands handsome? Look at him, he was born for this role. I can’t imagine any other actor who could better portray a warlock. He's really like this. Yeah, a little pretentious. Yeah, a little mannered. Yeah, a little sophisticated. White hair, black suit - all agreed!
I love him, I just love him. For this role, Julian should have given an Oscar. Naturally, computer graphics are outdated. Many of Warlock's chips smell of cartoon effects (he fired fire there, for example), but even now (in 2018) it is impossible to break away from the film.
There's so much tasty here, eyes running out. Tell me a horror movie where baby fat is made into a potion for flying. Call me a horror movie where nails are hammered into footprints to make walking insanely painful. You know? A unique movie, an unusual movie, I have never seen anything like it. For this pretty girl, a bow to the legs.
Fans of horror and mysticism – this film is simply obliged to lie in your most prominent place. And if some Vasya Pryanik, begins to say that the movie is very boring and old, feel free to twist your finger at your temple. Stay away from those who don’t understand good horrors.
Music, atmosphere, acting, directing, script - bravo!
P.S.
I had a SEGA game console! Yeah, I remember the toy from that movie. It’s a very difficult game, if I don’t confuse anything.
8.5 out of 10
Warlock is a representative of the old era of VHS cinema. The era of videotapes and video salons. Those distant times gave us many films, which later acquired cult status. For some, this movie is Warlock. I missed this movie, but recently I wanted to go back to those glorious times and see something from this category.
The most remarkable in the film was the bundle of “the protagonist – the antagonist”. The first one is played by Richard Grant, who I know from the wonderful comedy Whitnale and I. As in Whitnale and Me, Grant plays very lively, the facial expressions and expressive eyes of the actor are pleasing. His character is a hunter who resists the forces of evil. And the weapons are the dagger and whip (hello Castlevania). The antagonist is played by charismatic Julian Sands. His appearance is very reminiscent of Geralt of Rivia, who went over to the side of evil. The opposition of heroes follows the canon of the struggle between good and evil, without any special deviations.
The contrast of the episodes of the film is the change of comic and bloody scenes in the style of "Evil Dead", which can not but please. I recommend this film to all fans of VHS movies.
My favorite Thriller with Elements of "Odbozhekokogozhas"
I love this movie so much that it’s hard to explain why. For the first time watched it as a child on a cassette player, reviewed and revised, not catching up with half the meaning of the conversations, especially in the voice of the great Andrey Gavrilov, who understood what I mean. Years later, when I was 25 or older, I looked back. I was worried that it might not be as often as it is. But being a big girl was genuinely surprised with quality (1988... seriously!) Yes, now in some pop series the quality is worse, with the plot (logical, specific, literate) and much more. Warlock is the only childhood film that evoked the same emotions years later.
Plot. A wonderful story about a man-witch, who decided to push everyone. He has his own "Nemesis" - an avenger who badly wants to "pump" him back. A girl who accidentally got into the center of this enmity and thank God that she got there without having time to sleep with any of the main characters, fall in love with one of them to the grave and without other delirium. Thank you dear writers for that. The story is really pleasant, logical, with creeps, places even with a slight thrash.
Music. One of my favorite soundtracks is The Sentence. She always seemed to me very dreary and powerful at the same time, frightening and disturbing. Thanks to composer Jerry Goldsmith. Maybe when he wants to.
Actors. I love these actors, so cute, at that time still young and honest faces, that I really want to put them all firmly to my chest in a fit of sincere gratitude for a good game.
Thriller. That's how a thriller is really cool. And the plot and the plot are kept in suspense and you sincerely wonder how the hell it will end.
Humor. Not without him, but he's very balanced. Very much.
Horror. As a horror movie, of course, it doesn’t scare much these days, but there are honest elements of creep that even today will cause awe.
Result. Look. Don’t pick on the schedule (1988, the guys worked as hard as they could), enjoy a pleasant game and music. The film is beautiful, it just almost had PR in its time.
P.s. Don't look at 2.3 type "parts." It's all slag. The only best “warlock” is here, the very first.
9 out of 10
Classic genre from the late 80s. We have to watch.
Those people who were at the helm of the creation of the classic of the mystical cinema “Warrior” in 1988 deserve special mention. The director's chair was taken by Steve Miner, who made his film debut with the sequel and triquel to the youth thrash Friday the 13th. Then there was another film similar in genre - "House" of 1985, a test by Miner himself in another genre, when in 1986 the melodrama "His Own to the Board" was released. And here's a return to the genre of horror with "Warrior." Subsequently, Miner shoots the fantasy drama “Forever Young” (1992) with Mel Gibson and the director it will be the best in his career. Subsequent films, for example, “Texas Rangers” (2001) with a good cast, have not brought success to Miner. The script of The Warlock was written by David Tui, for whom he became the second film in his career, before that he also worked on the field of youth horror films, writing the script for the second “Croons”. Then Tui will become world famous due to the films “The Fugitive” with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, “Water World” with Kevin Costner, “Arrival” with Charlie Sheen, “Soldier Jane” with Demi Moore. But the greatest success from a commercial point of view, Tui waited with his stories about Riddick performed by Vin Diesel.
What did Steve Miner and David Twee do? And they prepared us a film, as mentioned above, in the genre of mysticism, with some kind of horror film and fiction about time travel. Here, the creators of the "Warrior Book" brilliantly caught the trends of that time, because such stories easily attracted viewers to cinemas (in the case of the post-Soviet audience - to trays with video tapes). The beginning of the film shows Boston in the late 17th century. There, while the city has not yet grown to the status of a metropolis, a terrible and powerful sorcerer was caught, who in the service of the dark forces managed to kill several people (and maybe several dozen). Someone called Redfern took care of the scoundrel. Soon, the blond and stately sorcerer should be executed, but a sudden swirl took him somewhere. The brave Redfern went after him and they both end up in Boston in the late 20th century. The unexpected assistant of Redfern, a girl named Cassandra, immediately affected by the evil spells of the sorcerer, and Redfern himself will try to stop the coming apocalypse. Everyone is waiting for exciting and dangerous adventures in this battle not for life, but for death.
Now the sophisticated and fed with high-quality and expensive special effects and computer graphics, the viewer would only be able to sneer contemptuously, watching the twists and turns of the plot of the film "Warlock Book". But let’s remember that on the street was 1988, when the film was released and at that time the creators of special effects showed themselves from a high point of professionalism. You know, even now, despite all the realism in the films of the genres of fiction and fantasy, for me personally, "Warlock Book" for some reason looks more alive and non-fake. Yes, there are flaws in the combined shooting, but high technology will tightly enter the world of cinema a few years later. The creators of the Warlock Book and the traditions of horror films were taken into account. Not all shots, of course, are frightening and the next horror film can hardly be taken seriously, but the atmosphere and those scenes when the blood really cold – it was achieved perfectly. For which it is worth praising the film’s cameraman David Eggby, who began with the classic “Mad Max” by George Miller, and then worked in such films as “Diamond Cop” and “EuroTour”, and again made films about Riddick. Plus, the great and unsurpassed Jerry Goldsmith successfully tried with music, who does not need special performances.
The role of the main protagonist of Redfern in The Warlock was played by Richard E. Grant. I’ve seen him in movies like Hudson Hawk (a Golden Raspberry Award nomination in the Worst Supporting Actor category) and in episodes like Dracula and The Age of Innocence, but so far I’ve said that Redfern is the best actor in his career. He looked great in the image of a hunter in skins and skin from the 17th century, obsessed with the idea of killing a sorcerer, who decided to change the world backwards. Redfern was organic and heroic, a glorious warrior. The role of Cassandra was played by Laurie Singer (you know Brian Singer, director of X-Men?) That's his cousin. To be honest, she reminded me of a girl who looked like either Patricia Arquette or Daryl Hannah. But that’s okay, because Singer was good at her performance and didn’t get lost, taking her role from secondary to very significant and memorable. But for all the praise Grant and Singer still remarkable and magnificent Julian Sands, who played the wizard. From him even a cold on the back ran, but from such men women lose their heads. The real mysterious alpha male is what Julian Sands is like here, who exactly became the personification of this 1988 hit.
There is such an assumption that the grown-up and growing generations of viewers have not heard of the existence of some mystical horror film “Warrior”, where the main villain does such a thing to cook a potion for levitation, it already does not itself become. But it is to such a viewer that I first of all recommend touching this classic of the genre in order to understand what films and how they were shot stood at the origins of the modern genre of mysticism about sorcerers, warriors and beautiful girls. And even women can pay attention to Warlock, because there is such a dangerous and attractive Julian Sands. A great movie for your time!
The Warlock is not just a movie. It's a monument to cinema. Hollywood's rising. And incomparable sentimentality to me personally. As far as possible, I will try to convey all my feelings about this film as easily as possible.
I was in fourth grade when VCRs and video players started popping up. In those days, children were protected from harmful information and movies on the screen. My godmother with a trembling voice recommended this film. And I was allowed to watch. This film has penetrated into every cell of my body and soul.
But it all started with the fact that as soon as the Iron Curtain fell, behind-the-scenes movies burst out. In the early nineties, we first became acquainted with such a phenomenon as advertising on TV. In the then fashionable program “Field of Miracles”, which was then led by Vlad Leaves, advertising was like exotic. And here in the break between the rounds showed the trailer of “Warrior”! It was a few years before I was able to see firsthand what I saw in the commercial.
The last time I watched Warlock was in 2006, and the other day I refreshed my memory. It often happens that you review movies, but at the same time revise your view of them. In the case of the Black Book, everything went upwards!!
I was amazed and sat more and more with my mouth open from the skill of the work. Acting persons - participants of the plan - here a limited number. But who would dare to throw a stone in the garden of the creators for being a crowded film? But all are distributed in roles competently and without complaints.
The whole story boiled down to the confrontation of Warlock and the hunter. And not without the involvement of persons from the outside. The process of aging, putting nails in the footprints ... that I remember from childhood watching. It seems like a simple story, but how attractive. Playing actors is not a game, but real life! It feels like they knew it would be a masterpiece. Look at how everyone’s eyes are burning! . .
And most importantly, if this movie came out now, it would be a brave fantasy. At the time, it was a serious mysticism. I just want to confirm that...
In fact, writing is pointless. This is just turning into an ode on my part. But what if the movie is really a monument? What do you want to say about it?
A Scarecrow from the Past (A Simple Opinion of Warlock)
What I always inform you about is not necessary in principle. Let me give you an eleventh simple opinion. This time about the film "Warrior"
What is it about this movie that touches people so much?
It doesn't shine with the plot. How many similar stories can a movie lover with at least five years of experience tell? The theme of multiplying all white light by zero by means of dark forces is not something that would become commonplace, it simply does not surprise anyone. And if the actor is not the Antichrist himself, then his faithful servants. So not the plot.
Special effects? I think that even at that time it was possible to do better, but nevertheless, the reason is definitely not in the schedule. At least for now, what this movie shows will only affect those who grew up on such films. How about that?
Acting, directing? Well, nothing supernatural, it's simple, it's not ugly. On the other hand, guys, this is not an art house, not a festival film, and not even a drama pretending to be any statuette. For an entertaining film, everything is quite tolerable, and the warlock himself is a strong image, which is just the most memorable. Is that the reason?
Music? Yes, it's creepy, but without any excesses, and without any memorable moments.
It seems to me that the “Warlock Book” catches in the first place by the fact that it does not claim anything. He only wants to tell the story of one servant of the dark forces, who managed to find himself in the modern world on a pair with a witch hunter. Nothing more. To tell the viewer the language available to the viewer, to give a smile a joke on the topic of the past / present and a little frighten the next threat of the end of the world. Not much. But they know what the dark forces are like. So many of us as children tried to scare friends with horror stories. We were also not professional storytellers, and the stories were, to put it mildly, “with a beard”, but it was interesting, and sometimes creepy.
Evidently from this, I remember Warlock so much a film that was few at that time, a film that tells a simple but interesting story, a film in which Julian Sands perfectly played the messenger of dark forces on earth, a tape where all the legends and beliefs about witches are quite authentically woven.
Now you can watch this movie without waiting for its session in the video salon, and without catching it in the local TV broadcasting grid, watch it for the first time, and have a good time with this activity, or review it, remembering your childhood.
Warlock is perhaps the most unusual picture in cinema. Although films about sorcerers existed before, but it is Warlock that stands out for its unusual structure of the genre - mysticism, black comedy, and some elements of drama; the structure of the plot and characters.
The story revolves around a witch who in 1689 was supposed to be executed by hanging, however, thanks to the devil's forces, he manages to escape into the future, accidentally taking with him a hunter for evil spirits. In the future, the witch finds out that he was moved with the unusual purpose of assembling the devil’s Bible to open the devil’s gates, thereby arranging a premature apocalypse. However, the witch does not know that in his wake follows the same hunter with a girl, on which the witch managed to damage old age.
Calling The Warlocks an ordinary horror movie is like calling Romeo and Juliet a thrash movie. In fact, in this picture, as mentioned above, several genres are mixed. The main element, of course, is mysticism. Unusual murders, the use of all sorts of magic and rituals confirm this fact. Black comedies are spoken of by some dialogues in the film and scenes. Well, the elements of the drama can be traced only at the end.
But, it is worth noting that the mysticism in this film looks very unusual. To catch a witch, the heroes use various methods: hammer nails into tracks, try to catch with a whip sprinkled with salt, etc. The witch himself wields very strong spells and spoilages: blinds the old man, through eye contact, with the help of subcutaneous fat, an unbaptized boy makes himself faster, has telekinesis and other things, which are shown more than enough.
Now we should mention heroes. British actor Julian Sandz managed to embody another villainous image on the screen, and in the original sense. Thanks to the successful play of the actor, his facial expressions, the image of the servant of Satan was successfully recreated on the screen, which, in fact, cannot be stopped, cannot be demoted. He successfully pursues his goal, leaving behind corpses, capable of sophisticated torture and ready to destroy the entire planet. The image of his enemy - a hunter from the past of Radfern, successfully embodied on the screen actor Richard E. Grant. His hero is brave, brave, not afraid of witchcraft, knows many ways to remove curses. However, it is not difficult to guess that he is motivated not only by the desire to save the land, but also revenge for the murdered bride. His companion Cassandra travels with Redfort to remove the damage that slowly but surely kills her.
The special effects in the film are very modest, especially considering the small budget of the film. But the music leaves, well, pleasant impressions and quite corresponds to the general atmosphere of the film.
Warlock is a movie worthy of attention. Despite the modest quality of the performance, this movie can entertain and scare you in the next hour and a half.
9 out of 10
Are there many films from twenty years ago that are cooler than modern ones? "Terminator", "Alien", "Leprechaun", "Warrior" and a couple of three more, and all, as expected, to the point of continuations. But a sequel by definition will never beat the original, because the first is an idea, and the second is always a double-effect replay. The second “Warrior” is a banal horror film, the first is a pure-blooded, tightly downed adventure film with a touch of mysticism, enjoy.
The charm of the 80s in cars, clothes and hairstyles pleases the eye, the blonde surgeon from “Helena in the Box” inspires fear and awe, “a redhead in trouble” is good and immediate, and a good-guy from another time who came “to defeat evil and save the girl” (aka Sergeant Reese from the Cameron fiction about robots) although not a hero, but sympathetic.
Redforn is a separate story. Dressed in a cloak made of furs of the ape family, the savior of Cassandra with the letter "K" could not boast of any combat skills - he knew a couple of tricks in the style of "mad Irishman" Bram Stoker, and even then not very effective, nor impressive ammunition. Remember the Jackman-Van Helsing arsenal? So, as far as I remember, Radforne did not even have a sword or axe with him, let alone miracle crossbows, and the best thing he could oppose the magic of the “tailed blonde” was a stolen church spire.
How did he capture the villain the first time? Not otherwise, lucky, and he inadvertently caught (slipped, tripped, confused spell, etc.). If Sergeant Reese of the Terminator appeared in modern times naked a la Neo and simply could not take anything with him, then why did Redforn gallop behind the Warlock, defenseless as a child? Hand-to-hand is, of course, good, but swords in the style of "Highlander" would be in the subject. However, luck is not the last thing, as well as the zeal that Richard E. Grant’s hero showed, so that the attempt counts, plus five points to Griffindor.
In general, the scripted course of “crossing the ocean of time” with a specific purpose (always related to a woman), we saw before and after “Warrior”, both in “Dracula”, in the above-mentioned “Terminator” and in a dozen other movies, but it always works flawlessly. A cool idea, and even the bitterness of the logical finale of this move does not overshadow the charm of the presence of the hero in an alien time interval. Romantic, what can you say, very in the style of “resort” novels.
Richard E. Grant seems to have played his only major and positive role in The Warlock. All the rest of his appearances on the screen are nothing but total “three minutes”, in which he is disgusting and terrible (“High Fashion”, “The Age of Innocence”). The arrogant facial expression and contemptuous bend of the lips were also present in The Warlock (it seems to be his trademark actor), but sometimes, in order to please the image of a good-guy, he still alternated them with good-naturedness as much as he could. But these little things were available only to the most attentive eye, so that, it is not considered, he was pleasant, and their farewell kiss with Lori Singer was asked for in the frame.
Laurie Singer, a sweet waitress (I get the impression that in the 80s there were no heroines of other professions, except as a waitress or a journalist), also flashed for a moment, and I do not remember her in any other picture (the same inconspicuous career in the “waitress Sarah Connor”, i.e. Linda Hamilton). But here, although horribly tastelessly dressed, she looks great as a mediocre girl who pays for her kindness (who sheltered the sorcerer?). That's what pity can do.
Bottom line: The Warlock was a hit of the late 80s – early 90s, and still looks damn fascinating, without causing either indulgence or boredom. Special effects are not everything, you always need a good idea. I loved it when I was a kid and I love it now.