Black Magic

I wish i could get this movie into my DVD collection been trying now for more than 15 years and my poor old beta max copy is dead now more lines than amtrak o'well back to movie.Well this film ain't going to win any Oscars but most fun made for TV films would not even be thought of the music is good and the story line ain't bad but what makes it is the chemistry you get from the cast ,to me i think they had fun doing this movie and if they have fun then most of time it comes across to us humans too.Racheal ward is supper as the main hottie and Anthony LaPaglia is funny as Judge Reinhold cousin,the scenes with anthony haunting judge reinhold are amusing to see some one go crazy is amusing to me any way good luck to all if you have a chance to see the movie do......

Speaking in an unconvincing Southern drawl, Rachel Ward is absolutely terrible in black comedy Black Magic, and her co-star Judge Reinhold isn't much better. But this film doesn't need Oscar-winning performances to be a good time: the quirky plot, strange characters and offbeat direction are what make it so entertaining.

Reinhold plays Alex Gage, whose suffers from strange and disturbing dreams in which his dead brother Ross (Anthony LaPaglia) warns him not to visit the town of Istanbul in North Carolina. Keen to get a good night's sleep, Alex ignores his brother's advice, and travels to the town to see if he can get to the bottom of things. Once there, he meets and falls for Lillian Blatman (Ward), despite warnings from dream ghost Ross that the woman is a witch, and that it was her who killed him.

Consistently quirky, unpredictable. With suitably bizarre performances (the prize for peculiarity going to Brion James as local gangster Tom McKay) and a just a hint of noir, Black Magic is like the Cohen Brothers and David Lynch got together to make a made-for-cable movie. Death by bath-tub, a woman cursed with constipation, a crow shootout in a bar, crazy old antiques dealers, James threatening to brain Reinhold with bowling balls, novelty song Istanbul (Not Constantinople) on the soundtrack: why this one doesn't have a big cult following baffles me.

With Rachel Ward, Judge Reinhold, Anthony LaPaglia, and Brion James, "Black Magic" has the cast to pull off this tale of witches and the supernatural. If you are a fan of any of the above, then this movie certainly is worth a look. It is not predictable, and there are moments of black comedy throughout. The catchy song "Istanbul" is another plus. Definitely not for the slasher crowd, "Black Magic" would be best appreciated by those who like their humor on the dark side. So, if you are in the mood for something out of the ordinary, I suggest visiting Frogmore County, and it's plethora of curious characters. ........ - MERK

I saw a bad review of this film here and decided to add my two cents. I just watched it again and want to emphasize that this is a fun, funny, lightly black comedy/romance that is one of my FAVORITE films! I didn't even know it was a TV film until I read that here, I encountered it on cable and then bought the video. I love the humor, the cute characters, the really good storyline and the delicately dark humor of this film. Reinhold is in a lot of fluff films but this is NOT one of them, he's charming and carries this film well, alongside Rachel (forget the actress' name) and his dead cousin, overplayed with charm by Anthony LaPaglia.

Several memorable scenes: citizens of Frogmore County shooting down a crow in the saloon, the dream/haunting scenes from LaPaglia, the bowling alley moments and, most especially, the two shopkeepers who put one over on Alex Gage, who has begun to fear witches. And the final fire scene, plus the last moments of the film as Rachel flies away.

Just really fun and funny, a great film, far better than most crap out of Hollywood and just about the best thing I've ever seen Reinhold in! I completely recommend it and have two copies myself.

Great fun, sexy and fun 'light' black comedy! TR

Offbeat, Cohen Bothers quirky, original flick. I loved it. If you're looking for a horror film, this isn't one. Sure, Anthony LaPaglia plays a ghost, the the plot involves black tongued curses, crows and magic, but the fun comes early and stays late. See it when and where you can.