Spell

Name: Spell
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: October 30, 2020
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Andre Jacobs, Hannah Gonera, John Beasley, Kalifa Burton, Loretta Devine

2020

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Ratings

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Spell

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Players | Release Date: October 30, 2020 | R

Starring: Andre Jacobs, Hannah Gonera, John Beasley, Kalifa Burton, Loretta Devine, Lorraine Burroughs, Omari Hardwick, Peter Butler, Ri-Karlo Handy, Tumisho Masha

Summary: While flying to his father’s funeral in rural Appalachia, an intense storm causes Marquis (Omari Hardwick) to lose control of the plane carrying him and his family. He awakens wounded, alone and trapped in Ms. Eloise’s (Loretta Devine) attic, who claims she can nurse him back to health with the Boogity, a Hoodoo figure she has made fromWhile flying to his father’s funeral in rural Appalachia, an intense storm causes Marquis (Omari Hardwick) to lose control of the plane carrying him and his family. He awakens wounded, alone and trapped in Ms. Eloise’s (Loretta Devine) attic, who claims she can nurse him back to health with the Boogity, a Hoodoo figure she has made from his blood and skin. Unable to call for help, Marquis desperately tries to outwit and break free from her dark magic and save his family from a sinister ritual before the rise of the blood moon. … Expand

Director: Mark Tonderai

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

Dennis Harvey

Oct 29, 2020

This is a decently stylish thriller with occult elements that should satisfy viewers’ genre requirements, though few will demand a second watch (or sequel). Read full review

Michael Ordoña

Oct 29, 2020

If scares are the movie’s raison d’etre, though, it’s hard to imagine Spell will frighten anyone but those vulnerable to a few bits of graphic gore. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Oct 29, 2020

Laden with references to race, class and the legacy of slavery, Spell, directed by Mark Tonderai from a script by Kurt Wimmer (a pen on the “Point Break” and “Total Recall” remakes), is stronger on maintaining suspense and a macabre atmosphere than it is at following through on its ideas, which give it a thin veneer of topicality. Read full review

The Guardian Benjamin Lee

Oct 29, 2020

There’s a cinematic slickness to the film (it was intended to be released theatrically until the pandemic) that separates it from its more noticeably shoddier fright night competitors but it’s mostly a familiar, if not entirely fruitless, trudge down a well-trodden path, one that takes us into, at times, questionable territory. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Oct 29, 2020

Heavy on oppressively humid atmosphere and light on originality, the film is a mostly forgettable genre exercise whose viewers won't miss much by watching at home. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Tomris Laffly

Oct 30, 2020

The angst it spreads throughout feels all too mild and forgettable to cast an unnerving curse. You know, the kind you’d crave from a horror film with lasting scares. Read full review

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User Reviews

aislam40

Nov 1, 2020

Thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat! Great acting and actors in this movie. Suspense and old fashion black magic. Watch with the someone if scary flicks scare you.

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Stream2BigScree

Jan 6, 2021

Welcome back to the New Year horror edition of Stream to Big Screen. This week we were able to watch, Spell, which is about a man whose plane crash lands in rural area of Appalachia and awakens in the attic of a traditional Hoodoo practitioner. We watch as he tries to break free in order toWelcome back to the New Year horror edition of Stream to Big Screen. This week we were able to watch, Spell, which is about a man whose plane crash lands in rural area of Appalachia and awakens in the attic of a traditional Hoodoo practitioner. We watch as he tries to break free in order to find his family in the wreckage and avoid becoming Ma's victim before the rise of the blood moon. Let's see if this is worth streaming.

First off, I wouldn't ride anywhere with Omari Hardwick. And, he definitely wouldn't fly me anywhere with no one's license, but that's neither here nor there. But this movie is his comeuppance for all those years of shenanigans as Ghost.

Second, Loretta Devine can be the crazy black lady in any movie. Between Octavia Spencer and her, they can act up some southern/slave crazy any day. Yes, she overdoes it, but in a horror thriller do we really want someone being only slightly crazy? Noooo! We want the full on weirdo. Loretta delivers.

Now, let's talk about how black folk didn't want to go to West Virginia in the first place; and, after this movie, there won't be a chance in hell you catch them out in those parts. There's a saying that goes, "all your skin folk aint ya kinfolk". This movie is stressful. This movie is weird, gross and just creepy enough to keep it entertaining but just dumb enough to say that I wouldn't pay for this mess. Now, I just so happen to love a good "bad" movie; and, the bad wire work ending, foot size throughout the movie, and randomness kept this in that realm. I'm not certain this falls in that category because for all intents and purposes this cast has star power and the direction and writing are pretty solid. I think it fell apart with execution overall; however, this movie gives me a mix of a black Misery, The Hills Have Eyes and The Skeleton Key. In reality, I can see people falling on either side of the spectrum.

Without a doubt, I think Spell will be a polarizing movie. I think horror fans will enjoy this a bit more than those general people just trying to see Ghost in a new movie. You're going to separate Ghost from the spell you should be under in this movie. Horror fans grab a bowl and everyone else catch this if you get bored with a handful of popcorn.… Expand

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Ralfbergs

Jun 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was ok. It did have some plot holes (I mean even with it having magic and voodoo in it and what not), plus it seemed too easy for main character to escape etc, just to serve plot, but overall was ok movie… Expand

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Satanski666

Apr 20, 2021

I liked it, until the moment i couldn't stand cliche tricks and main protagonist's stupidity.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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