IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
In a twisted 1950's where everyone does magic, a private detective investigates a murder case without it.In a twisted 1950's where everyone does magic, a private detective investigates a murder case without it.In a twisted 1950's where everyone does magic, a private detective investigates a murder case without it.
- Awards
- 3 nominations total
John Epperson
- Vivian Dart
- (as Lypsinka)
Christopher Darga
- First G-Man
- (as Chris Darga)
Stanley DeSantis
- Sidney
- (as Stanley De Santis)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Dennis Hopper is good in this decent murder mystery with an interesting twist and yet another shot at McCarthey-ism (not enough films like that, I just don't like that McCarthy guy). Anyway the characters are good and though the FX aren't big budget they are used with originality. Fun movie with some good moments (like the zombie, lateral movement thing). And it's a nice time killer too.
Not nearly as good as its predecesoor. Fred Ward, Arnetia Walker, and Charles Halloran are sorely missed - couldn't the producers hire back any of them?? Only Julian Sands really brings much that is interesting and new to this new sequel. Dennis Hopper is badly miscast, and generally you wonder why they even bothered. It's enjoyable, but loses a point or two just by failing so badly compared to the original.
I loved 'Cast A Deadly Spell' but this sequel is a stinker. Same writer so it's difficult to say what went wrong this time around but 'Witch Hunt' has none of the wit or fun of the original, and the parallels with McCarthyism are trite and obvious. As a horror movie it fails, as a film noir it fails and as a comedy it fails. I watched again recently in case I had unfairly dismissed it and I found it so dull and unentertaining I could hardly be bothered watching it til the end. How Paul Schrader of all people ended up directing this is beyond me! Maybe he just needed the money... Anyway, I'm sure he tries to forget it ever happened. It's easily his least interesting movie. I'm a big Dennis Hopper fan but he is miscast and looks very uncomfortable. Maybe Fred Ward might have been able to save this one, I don't know. The supporting cast is below par too - Penelope Anne Miller instead of Julianne Moore and Julian Sands instead of David Warner - there's no contest. I would suggest you forget about watching this and rent 'Cast A Deadly Spell' instead.
This film was a pleasant surprise. The mixture of historical set design, good plot and political satire was refreshing in an age where everything political is
hammered home in a pedantic monotone. Sheryl Lee Ralph was excellent and
her dynamic presence begs the questions as to why aren't there more black
females playing prominent roles in movies that have nothing to do with gangs
and drugs. Dennis Hopper was actually playing a character instead of playing
himself as he usually does. Julian sands was his slick and sinister self. I don't know why he wasn't chosen for the role of Lestat instead of Tom Cruise. Eric
Bogosian was awesome as the corrupt politician. The special effects were great in that they were not like the CGI crap of recent films. They were old fashioned special effects in that they were not added to make the unreal look real but to make the unreal look...well, unreal. I recommend this film for all fans of
Hollywood nostalgia, costume-period pieces and political commentary.
hammered home in a pedantic monotone. Sheryl Lee Ralph was excellent and
her dynamic presence begs the questions as to why aren't there more black
females playing prominent roles in movies that have nothing to do with gangs
and drugs. Dennis Hopper was actually playing a character instead of playing
himself as he usually does. Julian sands was his slick and sinister self. I don't know why he wasn't chosen for the role of Lestat instead of Tom Cruise. Eric
Bogosian was awesome as the corrupt politician. The special effects were great in that they were not like the CGI crap of recent films. They were old fashioned special effects in that they were not added to make the unreal look real but to make the unreal look...well, unreal. I recommend this film for all fans of
Hollywood nostalgia, costume-period pieces and political commentary.
This one didn't rate as high as the first one (Cast a Deadly Spell), but it was still a great film. Dennis Hopper is always a great actor and does the lead role, very well in this movie.
A comedy version of the Lovecraftian mythos, this film really delivers what fans of this genre and fans of HPL are looking for.
The guys who have made (cough cough)screen plays of HPL's works should take lessons from this film and the first one (HIRE REAL ACTORS DUMMIES!) If you like horror/comedy, are a HPL fan. or just want to rent something, but all the new releases you wanted to see are already out, get this film and the first one.
It gets 5 tentacles and two pincers up WITH a bit of insane piping on the elder god-o-meter
A comedy version of the Lovecraftian mythos, this film really delivers what fans of this genre and fans of HPL are looking for.
The guys who have made (cough cough)screen plays of HPL's works should take lessons from this film and the first one (HIRE REAL ACTORS DUMMIES!) If you like horror/comedy, are a HPL fan. or just want to rent something, but all the new releases you wanted to see are already out, get this film and the first one.
It gets 5 tentacles and two pincers up WITH a bit of insane piping on the elder god-o-meter
Did you know
- TriviaWhile making the circuit of talk shows to promote this movie, Dennis Hopper stated it was the strangest movie he had been in.
- Quotes
Kim Hudson: What about our marriage?
Gottlieb: That wasn't a marriage, that was a license to shop.
- ConnectionsFeatures Association criminelle (1955)
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Witch Hunt
- Filming locations
- Millard House - 645 Prospect Crescent, Pasadena, California, USA(Interior & exterior. As Vivian Dart's home.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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