Warlock (1989 film)
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| Warlock | |
|---|---|
 American Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Steve Miner |
| Produced by | Roger Corman |
| Written by | David Twohy |
| Starring | Julian Sands Lori Singer Richard E. Grant |
| Music by | Jerry Goldsmith |
| Cinematography | David Eggby |
| Editing by | David Finfer |
| Release date(s) | 1989 |
| Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Followed by | Warlock: The Armageddon |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Warlock was a 1989 horror film from New World Pictures. It was directed by Steve Miner, written by David Twohy, and produced by Roger Corman. The cast includes Julian Sands, Lori Singer, and Richard E. Grant. The sound track was by Jerry Goldsmith.
The film runs for 103 minutes in color with Dolby sound and in the English language. It received an MPAA rating of R (under-17 restricted).
There was a 1993 sequel to this movie called Warlock: The Armageddon and a third film in 1999 called Warlock III: The End of Innocence.
Acclaim Entertainment released a video game based on the films for the Super NES and Sega Genesis in 1995.
[edit] Plot
The Warlock (Sands) was taken captive in 1691 Boston by the witch-hunter Giles Redferne (Grant). He is sentenced to death for his activities, but before he can be killed, Satan appears and propels both the Warlock and the witch-hunter forward in time to 20th century Los Angeles.
The Warlock is tasked with assembling the three separated sets of pages of The Grand Grimoire, a Satanic book that will reveal the "true" name of God (the backwards utterance of which will lead to the uncreation of the world). Arriving in late 1980s Los Angeles, the Warlock is innocently taken in by Kassandra (Singer) and her homosexual roommate. The Warlock chops off the roommate's finger and eats his tongue (killing him), and inflicts on Kassandra a curse of rapid aging. Redferne arrives soon after, and joins forces with Kassandra to hunt down the Warlock before he can reassemble the book. Along the way, the Warlock also kills a fraudulent psychic-whose eyes are used to guide him to the ancient book. Redferne and Kassandra meet an old Mennonite farmer, one whose family must apparently have known the signs of a warlock's appearance, as Redferne sees a sign on the side of his barn as they travel along the expressway. Although Kassandra succeeds in breaking the aging curse and making herself young again, they are not successful in stopping the Warlock. While attempting to subdue him, their triumph becomes horror when the old man looks into the Warlock's eyes and suffers devastating harm. The Warlock escapes, and Redferne (after healing the old man) sets off in pursuit.
In the climactic scene in an old cemetery, the Warlock (having collected the final set of pages) assembles the book and learns the name of God. However, he is dispatched by Kassandra, who kills him by injecting him with salt water. Redferne is then returned to his own time, and Kassandra sees an inscription from Redferne, to her, on his tombstone. In the end, Kassandra is seen amongst the vast Salt Lake Flats- where she has buried the book in the hopes that no other Warlock will ever be able to get it.
[edit] Resemblance
The plot of Warlock in many ways resembles that of The Terminator. An 'agent of evil' is sent by his/its master through time to secure the demise of humanity and an 'agent of good' is sent right behind him/it, in an attempt to stop him/it. In the process of doing so, the 'agent of good' befriends and falls in love with a woman, who eventually must turn into a warrior and defeat the 'agent of evil'.
