''Spellcaster'' is a 1992 American

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...

directed by

Rafal Zielinski Rafal Zielinski (b 1957) is a Canadian film director, producer and screenwriter best known for his work for Roger Corman in the 1980s. In 1983 he and his producing partners signed a seven-picture deal with Corman, starting with ''Screwballs''.

and starring

Adam Ant Stuart Leslie Goddard (born 3 November 1954), known professionally as Adam Ant, is an English singer, musician, and actor. He gained popularity as the lead singer of new wave group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring 10 UK ...

and

Bunty Bailey Therese "Bunty" Bailey (born 23 May 1964) is a Cornish former actress, model and dancer. Bunty started her career as a dancer in the dance group Hot Gossip in the early 1980s. She became known as the girl in the music videos of a-ha's singles "Ta ...

. Originally filmed in 1986, it premiered on television in 1989, before being eventually released to video in 1992.

Plot

Orphaned siblings Jackie and Tom are elated to be chosen to participate in a treasure hunt alongside other players, for a prize of one million dollars. Set in an Italian castle owned by the mysterious Diablo, all they must do to win the contest is be the first to find the check. Also hunting for the money are several others that are highly competitive and willing to do anything to win. The contest is to be recorded for a

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

-esque music channel and sponsored by the recording company of pop star Cassandra Castle, who is to accompany the contestants throughout the hunt along with VJ Rex. Cassandra, however, is unwilling to spend any time with the contestants and prefers to spend all of her time drinking excessively in her private room. Upon a whim Cassandra makes a deal with Rex to hide the money on her person so none of the contestants can find it. Upon the end of the competition the two will split the winnings. Once the contest begins the contestants begin a frantic search for the check, unaware of Cassandra's duplicity or that supernatural forces are picking the players off one by one. Cassandra's plans are waylaid when the forces begin to torment her and cause her to lose the check, which is carried throughout the castle on a magical breeze. Eventually only Jackie, Cassandra, and Tom are left, upon which point they are unable to ignore that something is very wrong. As Jackie frantically searches for answers she discovers a room at the top of the castle containing a crystal ball and Diablo, who reveals himself to be a demon. He also tells her that he has captured the souls of the other contestants in the sphere and will take them all to Hell, as well as that his next victim will be her brother. Meanwhile Cassandra and Tom have romantically connected with one another. He also discovers the check, which has landed near him and Cassandra. Tom is shocked when Cassandra chooses to burn the check and warns him that the money comes with strings attached that he wouldn't want. She throws the check into a fireplace, only Diablo to magically summon her to his room and chastise her for ruining his plans, revealing that Cassandra had formed a contract with him and that he will be taking her soul to Hell as well. In exchange for her soul she gained fame and wealth, which she quickly realized was not worth the bargain and took to alcohol and drugs to numb herself to her reality. In order to save both Tom and Cassandra Jackie tries to bargain with Diablo, offering her soul in exchange for the both of them. Horrified, Cassandra chooses to destroy Diablo's crystal ball, which puts an end to his evil plans and brings all of the contestants back to life. This also frees Cassandra, who reveals that she convinced Diablo to give her back her soul and to instead VJ at the music channel. The film closes with Diablo hosting a music broadcast and announcing a new contest that will bring him all new victims.

Cast

Gail O'Grady Gail Ann O'Grady (born January 23, 1963) is an American actress and producer, best known for her roles on television. Her roles include Donna Abandando in the ABC police drama ''NYPD Blue'', and Helen Pryor in the NBC drama series '' American Drea ...

as Jackie *

as Cassandra Castle * Harold Pruett as Tom *

as Diablo *

Richard Blade Richard Blade (born Richard Thomas Sheppard; May 23, 1952, in Bristol, England) is a British-American Los Angeles–based radio, television, and film personality from Torquay, England. He is best known for his radio programs that feature new w ...

as Rex * Kim Johnston Ulrich as Teri * Michael Zorek as Harlan * Martha Demson as Myrna * Dale Wyatt as Jamie * Traci Lind as Yvette (as Traci Lin) * William Butler as Billy * Michael Deak as Andy * Donald Hodson as Bruno * Marcello Modugno as Tony *

Albert Band Albert Band (born Alfredo Antonini; May 7, 1924 – June 14, 2002) was a French-born American film director and film producer. He was the son of artist Max Band, father of filmmaker Charles Band and of film composer Richard Band and the grandfath ...

as The Cook

Production

Shooting began during July 1986, at Castello di Giove. The 12th-century castle near Rome, Italy, had recently been purchased by ''Spellcaster''s executive producer,

Charles Band Charles Robert Band (born December 27, 1951) is an American film producer and director, known for his work on horror comedy movies. Career Band entered film production in the 1970s with Charles Band Productions. Dissatisfied with distributo ...

, who intended to use it as a backdrop for multiple films. The script was written by Dennis Paoli and Ed Naha, who had frequently collaborated with

Stuart Gordon Stuart Alan Gordon (August 11, 1947 – March 24, 2020) was an American Filmmaking, filmmaker, theatre director, screenwriter, and playwright. Initially recognized for his provocative and frequently controversial work in experimental theatre, Go ...

. Band's Empire Pictures produced the movie.

Release

''Spellcaster'' was originally scheduled for an early 1987 release. In 1988, Empire Pictures ran into severe financial difficulties, and was seized by a creditor bank. The releases of Empire's remaining films, in various stages of production at the time, were delayed. ''Spellcaster'' first played on television in 1989, before eventually being released to video by Columbia TriStar in 1992.

Reception

Review website Cinema Crazed rated the movie favorably, stating that it was "about as goofy an eighties horror film as it gets", and that it "is essentially like a gory, exploitative version of ''Willy Wonka''." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' called it an "effective if cornball monster film". MTV writer Eric Snider wrote that it was "definitely a movie that has 'MTV generation cult favorite' written all over it, next to 'clearance sale' and '$1.99'."

References

External links

* *{{Rotten Tomatoes, spellcaster 1992 films 1992 horror films 1990s English-language films American supernatural horror films Direct-to-video horror films Empire International Pictures films Films directed by Rafal Zielinski Films scored by Nathan Wang Films set in castles Films set in Italy Films shot in Italy Sony Pictures direct-to-video films Films about treasure hunting 1990s American films English-language horror films