Cast a Deadly Spell

and roll a natural 1

Well, not really, the movie isn't that bad. But it's definitely a miss.

On the plus side, it's a pure, genre-mashing product of the early 90s. Same vein as Shadowrun, Torg, or even Roger Rabbit.
It shows no qualms in savagely mixing two sets of conventions, here noir and 'magic' (I'll get to that later).

Always a pleasure to see Ward, because Remo Williams and Tremors. Not the best of actors, but he really comes off as a genial chap.
I've always held Brown as hugely under-used, and he definitely is here. I understand he's a big voice actor, but the Kurgan should not have been the high point of his in-person career. Oh, well.
In my opinion, Moore made a living of coasting by on her physique; same as her Temu knock-off, Chastain. They just don't do it for me. Jessica Rabbit was far better.
The rest of the cast are C-listers, some better than others, Walker and O'Connor being surprise stand-outs.


Now for issues.
First, the movie can't decide on a tone. The light-hearted noir is down pat, no argument.
But the magic part can't quite decide between Xanth-like played-for-fun magic, and eldritch horror (_many_ Lovecraft references, beginning with the protagonist).
Both can be mixed (Ghostbusters!), but it does require a deft touch, which is sorely lacking here.

Then comes the money. And no lack thereof. This was shot for TV, and for (apparently) 6 millions in 1990. That's movie money. Not big movie, but still.
Campbell's direction is adequate (he's done better since), but can't hide the cheap.
The photography is hideously flat, the colour palettes are not noir, they're just drab, and the costumes!
People and cars are all swell, but the various monsters, spells and creatures are barely on the level of dirt-cheap, product-placing Japanese sentai shows. Go go rubber Ranger. Although _that_ would make for a funny commercial.
Frankly, it's so bad it's distracting. The gargoyle is just plain sabotage. The mythos elders from beyond the stars are truly indescribable, though. I simply cannot describe the horror.

The script is very average, but it's mostly a vehicle for world-building, or more precisely showing off the quirks of the movie's world, so, OK.


All in all, I'm torn between a 60 and a 40% mark.
I'll go with 60% because I like the high concept, and some of the actors.
If you don't share my tastes, make it 40%, call it a miss and watch something else. It's just not good enough.