Customer Reviews

Warlock

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

First, this is a really fun movie. It's not too horribly gross, (except maybe for the scene with the tongue), and it's not very creepy, or too scary, It's also not at all a comedy, though it is a bit tongue-in-cheek (in more ways than one). It's just, well... Fun!

If you've ever read any books about witchcraft, or seen old woodcuts of people's visions of witchcraft during the 16th century, you'll recognize the themes and images in this film. You'll get the witch hunter holding onto the flying warlock with a rope, nails being driven into footprints, the whole bit... And you really should look up the traditional main ingredient of the infamous flying ointment before watching.

This film works from the premise that everything in the old witchcraft books is literally true, and it plays out in a very entertaining, visually distinctive way. It was well-researched enough to really make the premise work, without being so slavish as to detract from the plot. The warlock is every bit as evil as the old books would have it, and is most definitely in league with The Devil Himself.

And I've got to say it: Julian Sands is just plain COOL.

Julian Sands plays an evil warlock, who has been supernaturally flung into the future from his home in Boston of 1691. His "future" is modern Los Angeles, about the year 1987. He is searching, with demonic guidance, for the Grand Grimoire, an unholy old book that he hopes will help him attain the Satanic power necessary to destroy the world. In Los Angeles, out of pure random malice, he puts a rapid-aging hex on Lori Singer, who plays the carefree, twenty year old Kassandra. This hex causes her to age twenty years a day, and provides personal motivation for her to find and stop Sands... Richard E. Grant plays the godly witch-hunter, Redfern, who is sworn to stop Sands, and has followed him to modern times. Grant and Singer team up, and must track Sands all the way back across the country, from L.A. to Boston.

For all I know, Julian Sands could be a warm, humane kindergarten teacher or faith healer in the real world, but in this movie he just exudes evil. In a lot of movies, the bad guy, while clearly being BAD, at least has a certain personal style that makes him fun to watch. Think of Jack Nicholson in "The Shining," or the way audiences cheer for Freddy Krueger. In this movie, the warlock is never exactly "fun" to watch, he's just pure, sick evil. Perhaps this reflects a decision on the part of the director, writer, or maybe Sands himself, for some artistic reason. It does have the effect of intensifying the viewers' sympathy for Singer and Grant. It also, I suspect, makes a viewer actually understand how real people thought about witches, and feared them, hundreds of years ago... All you can think is "this sicko must be stopped."

That said, this is an interesting, well-shot film, with a lot of cool old settings. I just want to ask -- what is the deal with all these time travellers from the past and future converging on L.A.? "Warlock," "The Terminator," "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," "Encino Man"... they should all get together in some cheapo Roger Corman movie and form a rock band, like Tonto, Tarzan and Frankenstein on "Staurday Night Live."

when you have Ricahrd E. Grant as the Good Guy Hunting Julian Sands (as of course the Warlock) to which he plays the part as if it was Made For Him. I am Not Kidding i believed he belonged in all of the warlock movies but sadly someone in casting always has a "better idea" NOT! anyway this flic is about grant as the hunter after the warlock for a multitude of reasons including the loss of his sweet marion. well the hunter (grant) meets a modern day gal (think 80"s skate chick) and wham perfect mix for horror comedy and even some really interesting special effects such as the 3 parts of the Grand Grimoire that all Warlocks Covet for it is the book that can render the weilder almost unkillable and able to undo creation itself! so watch this (lil slow in the early parts- Not the beginning) action packed thriller and enjoy it like you would have in the times when you believed in magic and go for another magical ride mainly for adults. no nudity thankfully little gore and quite a bit of "evil" in the movie. id rate it tv- 13 by todays standings. its ok to say satan in church but not movies? cmon n lighten up hehe.

Julian Sands was a perfect choice for this role and he was even better in Warlock: the Armageddon. Surprising as I find him wooden and awful in all his other roles, but he seems to suit this character well. Richard E Grant's great acting ability shine in the movie compared to the mediocre performances around him. The story is entertaining and a classic for this genre. Some scenes especially some of the special effects have dated badly and the costume and hair choices for Lori Singer are appalling. Having said that, this is definetly a must have for any fans of 'supernatural horror' genre.

To my opinion , it's the film that made Julian Sands' role very memorable, specially if you're a scary film buff. This dark and gorgeous movie often takes my breath away everytime I see it, thanks to TWC! (But the sequel to it did nothing much to my viewing time...I did not like it.) I also thought Richard Grant was cute and funny playing the anti-evil opponent to J.Sands. This film, contrary to what some might think (which I often ignore...)will remain in my collection... forever! THXALOTZ

Okay, it's not the best movie in the world, but it's worth it just to the always good-even-when-he's-bad Richard E. Grant in a heroic role. Grant plays a witchhunter who follows a Warlock 300 years into the future (ending up in 1991 Los Angeles) to stop him from destroying the world. Grant and Sands seem to have a blast with their roles. Singer is okay as the modern day babe who is forced to help Grant track down the Warlock after he casts a spell on her. Don't take the film too seriously and enjoy!

I bought this movie off of Amazon because it looked good.It was AWSOME!Ask anyone who's seen it and they will tell you they loved it!Julian Sands makes a great Warlock!It is very creepy and there are a few scenes that will make you jump.Well you probably get the picture,it rules!Any true horror fan will not be disappointed!In shorter words,JUST GET IT!

Way back in 1691 a warlock (Julian Sands from Arachniphobia) is captured, given a chance to repent, and sentenced to death. Luckily for the warlock, satan's forces are used to save him. He disappears before our eyes, along with the witch-hunter who caught him! Three hundred years later, the warlock shows up in modern day LA in order to find the scattered pages of a powerful satanic book. If re-assembled, the book will show the true name of God, ushering in the "uncreation", thereby wiping out all life on earth. Low and behold, the witch-hunter shows up as well. With the help of Kassandra (Lori Singer from "VR5"), Grant's character sets out to locate and terminate the warlock before he fulfills his mission. WARLOCK is a cool movie with enough suspense and hocus-pocus to keep things interesting. There's even a nod to gorehündts in the form of a tongue-ripping and an eyeball gouging! Not a lot of blood, but we get the idea! As an added treat, Mary Woronov (Death Race 2000, Silent Night, Bloody Night) does a wonderful cameo as a fake medium who meets her match when the warlock pays her a visit! Well worth owning...

Julian Sands alone makes this worth watching, but other elements (the aging of "Kassandra with a K", the hero Redfern, and the utter lack of pretension even with all the biblical/dark book references), also help immensley to bring life to this innovative horror flick. Somehow manages to be both amusing and intelligent--which, needless to say, is rare.

Ok, so I may be a little biased because I'm a Sands fan, but this is a great and original movie. The supporting cast is great as well, but nothing can compare to Sands' diobolical character.