Customer Reviews

Witch Hunt [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The first time I saw this movie was as a made for HBO movie, which is probably why most of my friends have not seen it as well as why it's so hard to find in video stores. As far as I can tell it borrows heavily from Robert Heinlein's "Magic, Inc.", but doesn't follow the plot just some of the plot elements. Would that someone would recreate "Magic, Inc." or "Waldo", or at least burn all copies of "Starship Troopers" and attempt to do tribute to the original. Why Hollywood believes that they are capable of improving on time worn classics is beyond me.

Set as a 50's type of Raymond Chandler detective story, it's richly told and tremendously riveting.

I recommend it highly to Dennis Hopper or Robert Heinlein fans that are familiar with some of Heinlein's early works (pre "Stranger in a Strange Land").

Why someone panned this film so harshly I can't possibly fathom.

When I first saw this movie in the theatres I was immediatly impressed with the idea of magic working itself into everyday life, from cooking to police work. Loosely based on the writings of H.P. Lovecraft (a extraordinary write of the macabre and occult). This story follows an adventure of a non-magic using detective in a world that takes advantage of magic like the modern man uses technology. The duelism between this forties world and our modern world is truely amazing!

I originally saw this film on HBO, and was instantly riveted to it. It kind of reminds me of an offbeat version of L A Confidential, with all the elements of the 40's and such. I love L A Movies and the scenes here in this film depict much of the unusual architecture, and ambience, that encompass and make up this little "boulubaise" of cultures, and personalities. Besides starring Dennis Hopper, it also features Sheryl Lee Ralph, of dream girls fame, and the superb cameo, but nonetheless great acting of Lypsinka, as the the mysterious Madame, of the bordello. (Looking fabulous, I might add, in vintage Charles James Couture.............) I recommend buying it , and viewing it with friends, over some , sour apple martini's and appetizing shrimp hor'dourve. /the movie is a little offbeat, but that in itself is the appeal of this wonderful film.

I have been waiting for years for this movie to make it to dvd.To say that this movie is quirky is an understatement.
It follows a detective played beautifully by Dennis Hopper as he tries to solve a murder. What is unusual is
that the average Joe uses magic as part of his daily routine,i.e.want to take out your trash,simply think it
and its done or want to be beautiful have someone cast
a spell and its done.
Hopper vehemently refuses to use magic eventhough he knows how.We get to follow him as meets a cast of quirky characters who use magic and try to help him solve the
murder.
Its just a fun movie.
dvddiva

regardless of what that other guy says, I loved this movie, it was well made and has a wonderful cast. the character work in "Fin Moxa" is superb, and dennis hopper was fantastic, a must watch clasic...

Great movie using H.P. Lovecraft's mythos in a very humorous and somewhat Film Noir fashion. My only question is when will they get off their butts and make this and "Cast a Deadly Spell" (the prequel though not tied to this one) into DVD versions. The prequel won a friggin Emmy and had three nominations. DVD version already like yesterday!

Most people like the first in the series better but this one is my favorite. I like alternate universe stories and the idea that magic is as common as electricity in a modern world is pretty unique. The biggest weakness (other than Dennis Hopper seems to be having problems in his knees and not able to move much)is it is VHS only which does not look all that good on modern large screens.

Come on HBO, when are you doing to release this and "Cast a Deadly Spell" on DVD. There is a cult following for these two films and Lovecraft in general, do it!

Suspensful story with innovative action and an unusual premise- modern day witches and gumshoes blur the lines of reality!

I bought this because it was the sequel to "Cast a Deady Spell", which is a brilliant horror/comedy built on themes from H.P. Lovecrafts Cthulhu mythos. "Witch Hunt" loses everything that was great about "Cast a Deadly Spell", with trivial exceptions like the business card gag. The noir mood and gritty setting is lost completely. Deadly Spell was cool, intelligent and fun, Witch Hunt is campy, heartless and plastic. Nothing about the story really works well when it tries to tie in to the past movie, and it's very disappointing when detective Lovecraft ends up being a magic user by the end of the film. It's a soulless zombie feeding on the corpse of the first movie, and that metaphor is way cooler than anything else about the film itself. If you loved the original movie because of all the H.P. Lovecraft and Cthulhu stuff, you can just go ahead and skip this film, because whoever wrote the script didn't get it.