Spellbinder

A cool terror movie, that will leave you on your toes on the final moments and make you astonished at the amazing plot twist at the end. Ok, it's not a movie I'd be looking for, but if you can catch it on tube it's pretty entertaining and will give you subject for a few good conversations on plot twists.

Jeff Mills, is an Los Angeles lawyer who one night encounters a young woman who gets in a very heated argument with one very creepy man. But Jeff rescues her, and offers her a lift home, but she ends staying with him at his house and romantic bliss, blossoms between Miranda and Jeff. Although the man did warned him about crossing his path and he finds out the hard way, that there's a murderous cult who want Miranda back and they will do anything in doing so.

Where have you been hiding?! Now I didn't really know anything at all about this feature. The actual title simply caught my eye and I was up for something new, and the gamble definitely worked out for the best. I'm just really surprised that this gem of a occult thriller is very under-appreciated and got a somewhat below-average rating on here. Sure, the story's structure is far from original, but I couldn't help but be fascinated by this mysteriously, well-drawn up and tightly knitted premise. Tracy Torme's cracking story plays it's the audience like a yo-yo and we are kept intrigued by it's real dreariness, supernatural currents and sinister happenings. The way the stimulating script unravels just leaves you hanging there, until it reaches its very familiar, but unsettling climax that still packs a sting. But what happens after that, makes it even more cunningly cold and compelling. Director Janet Greek paints a slow-burn and highly atmospheric tone with a great touch of finesse and gripping suspense. Fluently lush cinematography and a swirlingly moody score really adds to the elegantly mysterious and damn right eerie outset. The acting is way above-average and how can you go pass the sensually luscious Kelly Preston, who is quite bewitching as the very enigmatic young woman, Miranda. Timothy Daly is convincingly likable as the yuppie lawyer Jeff. While, there are strong support roles by Rick Rossovich, Anthony Crivello, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Diana Bellamy. It doesn't seem to be moving at a great pace, but with the constant surprises and unsteady developments within this satanic set-up, it really knows how to keep you alert to the possible hints.

A well-conceived, bleak thriller that has a certain, spellbinding appeal about it. Recommended.

Jeff Mills (Tim Daly) is a likable, good looking nice guy lawyer in L.A. who's tired of the dating scene. He chances to meet a gal named Miranda Reed (gorgeous Kelly Preston) in a parking lot one night, and brings her home to his pad, soon striking up a relationship with her. Unfortunately, his impulsiveness turns out to be a bad mistake, as Miranda's past then catches up with them. It turns out that she was part of a witches' coven, and that they "want her back" because they need a human sacrifice for the winter solstice, which is coming up. Blinded by his love for her, he goes out of his way to try to keep her safe, and to deal with her scummy associates, including Aldys (big haired Anthony Crivello) and the deceptively cheery Mrs. White (Audra "Mrs. Roper" Lindley).

The solid supporting cast of nicely chosen actors also features Diana Bellamy as Jeffs' loyal (and intuitive) secretary Grace, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as somber faced police detective Lt. Lee (an expert in occult related crimes), Julian Christopher, Kyle T. Heffner, and the amiable Rick Rossovich as Jeffs' circle of friends, and the very amusing M.C. Gainey as lively survivalist Brock. Overall, the movie is nothing special in terms of presentation, with competent but undistinguished direction by Janet Greek, but it does have its moments (the best occurs when a bunch of mysterious people gather at a window), and isn't totally without atmosphere. The story, written by Tracy Torme (son of Mel), who went on to script one more feature ("Fire in the Sky") and work for television series ranging from 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' to 'Sliders' to 'Carnivale', is pretty absorbing, and does have some effective twists near the end.

It's a good movie in general, and is worth a look for 80s horror fans who want to check out everything that the decade has to offer.

Seven out of 10.

Just seeing a 25-year-old Kelly Preston makes this movie worth watching, and, boy, do we get to see her.

Jeff (Tim Daly) apparently finds the girl of his dreams (Preston), and things are going great until her friends show up looking for her. She has a past that she hasn't explained.

Soon, they are battling a coven of witches that want her back. It all builds up to the night of the Winter Solstice.

The twist at the end caught me by surprise, and really made the movie.

You have to give props to writer Tracy Tormé, who really stacked some surprises in this film.

"Spellbinder," set in Los Angeles in the late 1980s, is one of the most intelligent horror films of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the very best made in the 1980s. Tim Daly plays Jeff Mills, a decent, hardworking, old-fashioned lawyer from the midwest who believes he'll never find love. One night, he rescues a beautiful woman (Kelly Preston) from being beaten up by her boyfriend. Falling under her spell, Jeff is plunged into a world of witchcraft (no political correctness here)and Satanic cults, with an ending that will haunt you long after the television has been switched off. The acting in this film is superb (Audra Lindley's performance as Miranda's terrifying mother alone is worth the price of this rental). Due in large part to the wonderful script and story, "Spellbinder" succeeds in perfectly walking that fine line between classic horror and psychological horror. I can't recommend this film highly enough. If ever a film deserved wider exposure, it's this one. I can't wait for the DVD.