Spellcaster

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Spellcaster

1988

Directed by Rafal Zielinski

A group of people are killed one by one while participating at a million dollar treasure hunt in a mysterious Italian castle.

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Tony the Terror
Review by Tony the Terror ★★★★ Liked 3

Truly delightful Charli B production that, once again, I found better than most of my lb peers so I guess I’m on some kind of streak with movies like that. Except I think I kind of always am, it’s just a matter of how much attention I pay to other people’s ratings?

The point is I loved this haunted castle yarn featuring Adam Ant as a guy named Diablo (get it?) who lures a bunch of stereotypical characters to their dooms via a crystal ball and/or deals he makes with them to obtain their souls. 

The special effects are really cheesy and fun and the girl who gets killed by an ornate chair with a lions head carving that turns into…

belial_carboni
Review by belial_carboni ★★★ Liked 2

The 80est 80s movie that ever 80ed?

I watched this fairly recently but when I saw that Vinegar Syndrome was putting it out my curiosity for a revisit got the best of me. Next thing I knew I had this beautiful thick as steel blu ray in my hand. I regret nothing.

Spellcaster is a throw every zany 80s idea at a wall and hope they stick kinda film. Some do and some don't but every ingredient has something to offer. A sloppy whirlwind of supernatural shenanigans, majestic creatures, tacky characters, enchanting castles and ambitious FX. And its all filtered through a cheesy yet vibrant MTV wannabe lens.

The creature designs from John Buechler are the highlight but sorely underused.…

Bob McCully
Review by Bob McCully ★★★ Liked 5

Imagine watching a triple feature of Doom Asylum, Spellcaster, and Funny Man and then feeling a strange wetness on your ears that's trickling down the side of your face.
You go to touch it and it scares you.
You then move your fingers up to the holes in your ear to discover something leaking out.
Something squishy... something alarming... something like... your brain?

This one had a lot of potential with it's 80s-to-the-max/MTV vibes and Empire-level FX but damn the set up of a bunch of international teen brats trying to find a cheque in a castle just runs so thin.

The FX really are the films saving grace - there are demons, gargoyles, skeletons, a pig man, etc. Heck…

Dave Taylor
Review by Dave Taylor ★★★½

There are a few very beautiful women in ‘Spellcaster.’ And this ‘R’ rated movie goes out of its way at least four(!) times to set up a nude scene...and each time we get nothing! Hey, if you don’t want nudity in your movie that’s fine, but then don’t go out of your way to make the audience anticipate it!

Other than that minor grievance, I actually thought this was a pretty fun movie! The story of a group of contest winners looking for a million dollar cheque in a castle was interesting and there were a few practical effects that were well done. I wish they had utilized more than just Adam Ant’s hand through the majority of this though. Once Ant eventually makes his appearance in the finale, he is actually quite charming. That charm could have been a nice addition had it been sprinkled throughout the feature.

threepenny
Review by threepenny ★★★ 3

I have a real soft spot for 80's music television vibes in my low budget horror movies. What could be better then Adam Ant, "Goody Two Shoes" himself as Diablo, playfully murdering a castle full of contestants spending the weekend with a pop star (Bunty Bailey of "Take On Me" music video fame). There's a lion chair that eats you if you sit down, and if you want to eat pork, expect to turn into a boar monster. The aerobics girl who keeps teasing the boys (and not "putting out" in 80's parlance) gets attacked by a ravenous demon that is part of a tapestry in her room. There's also an English girl in leather boots and a riding crop…

pirateneckbeard
Review by pirateneckbeard ★★★

So I knew with the Charles Band around this material that it would have a cheesy element to this and yes it does but I do think this has some impressive qualities to it especially in the special effects department and kept it clever in the "kill" scenes. As for the story it's a classic Faustian premise and as many of you fellow reviewers pointed out very much a Willy Wonka vibe with an 80's vibe with the obligatory use of skin from that era. The acting was fine structure was cliche but had some unique flair to it but lets just say I wasn't spellbound;) hmm maybe I could be a V.J.?

bummer_buddy
Review by bummer_buddy ★★★

It’s schlock O’ clock and Adam Ant is ready to rock! This was a fun movie to watch while reading about other horror movies on my phone. Low stakes, goofy n’ gaudy w/ plenty of 80s neon-noise to sooth my stoned and tired brain—Three cheers for the jolly background horror movie!

[OkGOREberfest ‘23, Day 20, #46]

belial_carboni
Review by belial_carboni ★★★ Liked 1

I was totally hooked after that 80s music video intro. Pulled me in. Spellcasted my brain! This movie is ripe with 80s supernatural shennanigans and you guys knows that's my bread and buttah. And nowadays when I see a movie is from 1988 with a giant silver ball and stupid face on the cover I just know it's going to be a magical mound of manuer. That's a good thing!

A bunch of jerks win a contest to participate in a million dollar treasure hunt inside an old Italian castle. I like where this is going! Soon enough weird and horrific events begin to occur as the guests begin to shrink in numbers. What the heck is going on? Why…

Aberrant Ghoul
Review by Aberrant Ghoul ★★★★ Liked 2

I can't believe the same people who routinely sing the praises of Spookies, are so reluctant to embrace this. It's a fucking Empire jam and it's set in a gorgeous castle. That, alone, should be enough for it to earn at least 3.5 stars from any fan of castles and Empire Pictures. Throw in a killer chair, some basement zombies, a pig man, pure 80s vibes, and Adam Ant as the villain, and this thing has to be at least four stars worth of cheesy old fun, right?

Watched with Jozlyn

Carlo Vanstiphout
Review by Carlo Vanstiphout Liked

Chuck Band opening his castle up to Rafal "Screwballs" Zielinski to make his love letter to House on Haunted Hill with fx by JC Buechler is 100% my kinda goof, and when the chair ate the girl with the fake French accent and then did a burp it sealed the deal!

single white femalien
Review by single white femalien Liked

i love the fat guy eating fatly! this is one of those short movies that feels extremely long because it's paced poorly and nothing happens. thats fine! i don't care! i like it i love it i want some more of it!