Spellbinder (1988)

Sorry, this movie sucks

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The summary above may sound harsh, but after just recently re-checking this film out after many years of forgetting about it the first time around when it was initially released, I can not really be anything but honest.Kelly Preston is (of course) beautiful, stunning, in fact, but her acting skills are just not really up to par for this title, and I don't think they ever truly improved a great deal from this either. In saying that, this film has a few jump-scares (the "classic jump-scares, not these modern day fillers), which are rather effective, and I really love the dog and cat which are in the film, they're so cute!Another fine thing about this film is it's soundtrack, in particular the instrumental piece by Tom Scott - "Siren's Song" which plays on the stereo system in Jeff's apartment when he first brings Miranda home. This is true 80's jazz influenced brilliance in all it's glory, and I wish I had a copy of the tune itself, but it is incredibly hard to track down (and I don't think included anywhere but within this film's soundtrack).All in all, a 4 out of 10 is rather generous, but I do love the animals in this, and Kelly's beauty is a nice distraction from this otherwise cliché and very boring late 80's thriller.

Every time I see this film I am amazed at its fantastic efficiency. First of all, it's a brilliant script, a very good story, which in spite of its supernatural elements sticks to logic all the way, unlike for instance "Rosemary's Baby", which lacks in realism and credibility, although more professionally made. For me this is the best of all occult films I have seen, especially for its dramatic structure, culminating in a climax which leaves you in a state of maximum impression and shock. Although basic story-telling, this is no uncomplicated story, and one of the most interesting ingredients is the Japanese police lieutenant, the only who vaguely guesses at what is going on but is realistic enough to be aware that he can do nothing about it - while he leaves you with the suspicion that he certainly will go on with his investigation. The main triumph of the film, though, is Tim Daly as the successful lawyer in the beginning of his career, he is the most promising young man with everything good to expect of life, and he finds this irresistibly beautiful woman in a distress which he simply can't dismiss, and the characterization of his case is absolutely convincing all the way, affected by the blindness of love, can't suspect anything evil about her, (she is actually nothing more than just pretty and has even healing powers,) and only gradually her complication steals into his life, catching him in a trap which he can't understand and therefore can't get out of, which is why he does everything wrong. Instead of reasonably trying to cope with the situation by analysis, he makes things worse, getting angry, losing control, and so on. It's a traumatic cul-de-sac of a nightmare situation of no return, he is just an ordinary brilliant man, and this could happen to anyone like him. Sometimes he even reminds of James Mason in this hopeless case of a romantic tragedy.To this comes the very intriguing circumstances and complications of this affair of extreme occultism. Could it actually happen? Satanists do exist, and no one really knows about their activities, since their society is covered in mystery as the most secret of all. That is why this is an important film in its effort to unveil something of this enigma. The Japanese police lieutenant is perfectly aware of how dangerous this kind of coven could be, his coldness is chilling and almost forbidding, but it's realistic. This is a film to wonder at while at the same it has the amazing faculty of each time you see it being like a new adventure.None of the names in it, like Janet Greek (director), Tracy Tormé (writer), Timothy Daly (the star) or Kelly Preston (the marvelously beautiful Miranda as femme fatale to the extreme) I have seen in any other production. Perhaps this is a unique film for them all - and it's definitely unique of its kind.

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.

Saw this on netflix recently. WARNING: SPOILER ALERT! This movie is a waste of time for 2 reasons. 1. It shouldn't take an entire movie for the coven to select and sacrifice only ONE rather stupid victim. With Kelly Preston as bait, they could snag one man in 10 minutes, or kill dozens each weekend, and with far less work. But NO, the script drags us through an unnecessarily elaborate set up, and then boring plot twists, just like a high school girl tormenting a nerd with the run around. The Wicker Man, original version, is a masterpiece compared to this movie. 2. Not enough nudity. Bottom line: fast forward through this turkey, stopping only to admire a young Kelly Preston.