Warlock (1989)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Steve Miner

Writer (WGA):

David Twohy (written by)

Release Date:

11 January 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror

Tagline:

Satan also has one son.

Plot:

A warlock flees from the 17th to the 20th century, with a witch-hunter in hot pursuit.

Plot Keywords:

Warlock | Boston | Book | Impalement | Compass

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Julian Sands	...	Warlock
Lori Singer	...	Kassandra
Richard E. Grant	...	Giles Redferne
Mary Woronov	...	Channeler
Kevin O'Brien	...	Chas
Richard Kuss	...	Mennonite
Allan Miller	...	Detective
Anna Levine	...	Pastor's Wife
David Carpenter	...	Pastor
Kay E. Kuter	...	Proctor
Ian Abercrombie	...	Magistrate #1
Kenneth Danziger	...	Magistrate #2
Art Smith	...	Scribe
Robert Breeze	...	Jailor
Frank Renzulli	...	Cabbie
Brandon Call	...	Little Boy
Nancy Fox	...	Boy's Mother
Harry Johnson	...	Farmer
Juli Burkhart	...	Daughter-in-Law
Rob Paulsen	...	Gas Station Attendant
Peter Sherayko	...	Cop
Gyl Roland	...	Ticket Agent
Meta King	...	Flight Attendant
Bill Dunnam	...	Railroad Employee
Wendy Feiner	...	Passenger

Directed by
Steve Miner

Writing credits (WGA)
David Twohy		(written by) (as D.T. Twohy)

Produced by
Morgan Michael Fottrell	....	associate producer
Arnold Kopelson	....	executive producer
Steve Miner	....	producer
Brian Yuzna	....	executive producer (1991 version for Trimark Pictures)

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
David Eggby

Film Editing by
David Finfer

Casting by
Melissa Skoff

Production Design by
Roy Forge Smith

Art Direction by
Jon Gary Steele

Set Decoration by
Jennifer Williams

Costume Design by
Louise Frogley

Makeup Department
Leslie Ann Anderson	....	hair stylist
Carl Fullerton	....	visual makeup effects
Pat Gerhardt	....	makeup artist
Neal Martz	....	visual makeup effects
Peter Montagna	....	assistant makeup artist
Peter Montagna	....	special makeup effects artist
Dan Platt	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Morgan Michael Fottrell	....	unit production manager
Ann Wycoff	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matt Earl Beesley	....	first assistant director
Frank Capra III	....	second assistant director
David R. Ellis	....	second unit director

Art Department
Craig B. Ayers Sr.	....	greensman
Edwin M. Brewer	....	property master
Jo Brown	....	head scenic
Kelly Deco	....	scenic paint foreman
Doug Lefler	....	storyboard artist
Claire Levinson	....	set dresser
Marc Meisels	....	set dresser
Josh Olson	....	art department coordinator
Tal Wallace	....	mason foreman
W. Wayne Walser	....	construction coordinator
Everett D. Wilson	....	scenic artist
Gary Wissner	....	assistant art director
Christopher Gilman	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ken Beauchene	....	boom operator (as Ken Beauchane)
G.W. Brown	....	adr editor
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dane A. Davis	....	supervising sound editor
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Tom Hammond	....	foley editor
Trillby Kim Lowe	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly Lowe Voigt)
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joan Rowe	....	foley walker
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lee Strosnider	....	sound mixer
James M. Tanenbaum	....	sound mixer
Lee Tinkham	....	foley mixer
Todd Toon	....	assistant sound editor
Jerry Trent	....	foley walker

Special Effects by
Ken Pepiot	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Esther Barr	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as Ester Barr)
Michael Bigelow	....	motion control supervisor: Dream Quest Images (as Mike Bigelow)
Jeff Burks	....	animation supervisor: Dream Quest Images
Jeff Burks	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Dan Chaika	....	effects assistant animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as Daniel Chaika)
Nina Chierichetti	....	rotoscope artist: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Rene Clark	....	production assistant: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Lee Crowe	....	effects assistant animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as Lee Sperling)
C. Marie Davis	....	visual effects editor: Dream Quest Images (as Marie Davis)
Isobel DeLuca	....	administrative assistant: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as Isobel De Luca)
Charles L. Finance	....	production supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Alex Funke	....	blue screen photography: Perpetual Motion Pictures
James Green	....	matte photographer: Dream Quest Images
Field Gruser	....	intern: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Robert Habros	....	visual effects supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Patrick Read Johnson	....	visual effects coordinator/miniature construction: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Bill Knoll	....	effects assistant animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as William Knoll)
Kevin Kutchaver	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Laine Liska	....	stop-motion animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
George Lockwood	....	optical camera operator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Richard Malzahn	....	software programer: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Mauro Maressa	....	animation supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Jeff Matakovich	....	optical supervisor: Dream Quest Images
Barry A. Nolan	....	plate photography supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Don Nolan	....	software programer: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Patty Paulick-Peraza	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as Patty Peraza)
Kathleen Quaife-Hodge	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Robert Scifo	....	matte artist: Dream Quest Images (as Bob Scifo)
Keith Shartle	....	visual effects producer: Dream Quest Images
Ed Thompson	....	effects inbetweener: Perpetual Motion Pictures
James Valentine	....	rotoscope supervisor: Dream Quest Images
Randy Weeks	....	effects assistant animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
David S. Williams Jr.	....	optical department supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Megan Williams	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
James Balsam	....	motion control camera operator: Dream Quest Images (uncredited)
George Muhs	....	visual effects: Dream Quest Images (uncredited)

Stunts
Steven Chambers	....	stunts (as Steve Chambers)
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunts (as Jeffrey James Dashnaw)
Doc Duhame	....	stunts
Annie Ellis	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunt coordinator
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts (as Richard Miller Ellis)
Tracy Keehn-Dashnaw	....	stunts (as Tracy Lyn Keehn)
John Meier	....	stunts (as John C. Meier)
David Welch	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
William D. Barber	....	first assistant camera
Michael Becker	....	still photographer
John T. Connor	....	camera loader
Skip Cook	....	dolly grip
Robert Driskell	....	gaffer
Scott Fuller	....	second assistant camera
Rick Herrington	....	best boy
Walt Lloyd	....	camera operator
Roland Neveu	....	special photographer
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator
Bruce M. Pasternack	....	camera operator
Richard Ricci	....	rigging gaffer
Dylan Shephard	....	key grip
Cheryl Tyre Smith	....	second assistant camera
Michael Snyder	....	best boy
William M. Weberg	....	grip
Michael J. Wheeler	....	first assistant camera
Buddy Wilson	....	electrician

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Debi Manwiller	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carol Fisher-Mann	....	seamstress
Mary Law Weir	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Jerry Goldsmith	....	conductor
Robin Gray	....	scoring engineer
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Ken Hall)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Lyle Christensen	....	driver: camera car
Eddie Lee Voelker	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Lee Blaine	....	production assistant
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic
Wendy Feiner	....	stand-in
Kenneth Mancebo	....	production accountant
Craig Pointes	....	location manager
Eliot Sekuler	....	unit publicist
Janet Lee Siegel	....	production coordinator
Andy Spilkoman	....	production assistant
Brad Stephens	....	publicist
Tracey Weddle	....	script supervisor
John Wildermuth Jr.	....	production assistant
Daniel Veluzat	....	location liaison (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New World Pictures

Distributors

• Scotia International Filmverleih (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Trimark Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL7)
• Rizzoli Corriere della Sera Home Video (RCS) (Italy) (VHS)
• Trimark Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Vidmark Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Vidmark Entertainment (199?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Perpetual Motion Pictures
• Dream Quest Images

Also Known As:

Warlock: The Magic Wizard (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

103 min | Argentina:96 min | Germany:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Norway:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

Scene in the theatrical previews indicating that the Warlock was the satanic Messiah was cut some time before video distribution.

Quotes:

Kassandra: Will I see you again?
Giles Redferne: No! There are other worlds... this one is done with me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in My Name Is Bruce (2007)

Soundtrack:

STRAIT FROM TEXAS

Lacks substance, but not entertainment.

A witch hunter (Richard. E. Grant) is chasing an evil warlock (Julian Sands) that got transported from the 17th century to 1980's Los Angeles. With help from a young woman (Lori Singer) who's received a hex from the warlock, they team up and rush against the clock to stop him from getting his hands on the pages of the Grand Grimoire (satanic bible) and in doing so he could undo all creation.

Director Steve Miner (Friday the 13th Part 2 & 3, House) achieves probably his best film in "Warlock". Some people might say his best is "Lake Placid", but I couldn't stand that annoying film myself. Anyhow, the fact is the plot of "Warlock" might be very formulaic and lack depth in the religious lingo, but he delivers a pleasurable supernatural chase thriller here. Involving some enterprising performances that go in hand-to-hand with the well-paced story, witty humour and energetic action scenes. All of these elements seem to gel perfectly for an incredibly fun ride that hardly has a dull moment to be had.

There are some nice effects are on show (warlock flying through the sky) and good makeup is provided. The violence is hardly graphic, but there's some mild graphic scenes and implied violence too. Miner adds in some nice added touches with extremely solid direction that keeps a solid pace and well-orchestrated camera-work that captures the rather exquisite scenery when the film takes a detour in the countryside. Not particularly suspenseful or uneasy viewing, but well organised action set pieces, some horrific sequences and humorous moments (ingenious ending) makes up for it. There are some well-organised scenes of excitement and thrills, especially the sequences involving a farmhouse and a terrific climax in the eerie graveyard. It's layered with a potent score by Jerry Goldsmith that builds on some rare tense scenes, but more on the rapid mood of the film.

What truly make the film standout are riveting performances even though they feel hammy. There is such an excellent blend of chemistry between the leads. With each of them throwing back and forth to each other smart and witty dialogue. Julian Sands central performance leaps out as a powerful warlock out to destroy mankind. He fit's the role perfectly with this deviously venomous presence about him. Richard. E. Grant is charming as the very determined warlock hunter Giles Redferne. When these two characters meet, the confrontations between them always spices up the film. Lori Singer is enjoyable as the unknowingly Kassandra who adds to the humour and zest of the film.

The film might be nothing out of the ordinary, but you can't deny the upbeat tempo of a thrilling adventure that leads you on a whirlwind trip from Los Angeles to Boston.