Spellbinder

"Spellbinder," set in Los Angeles in the late 1980s, is one of the most intelligent horror films of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the very best made in the 1980s. Tim Daly plays Jeff Mills, a decent, hardworking, old-fashioned lawyer from the midwest who believes he'll never find love. One night, he rescues a beautiful woman (Kelly Preston) from being beaten up by her boyfriend. Falling under her spell, Jeff is plunged into a world of witchcraft (no political correctness here)and Satanic cults, with an ending that will haunt you long after the television has been switched off. The acting in this film is superb (Audra Lindley's performance as Miranda's terrifying mother alone is worth the price of this rental). Due in large part to the wonderful script and story, "Spellbinder" succeeds in perfectly walking that fine line between classic horror and psychological horror. I can't recommend this film highly enough. If ever a film deserved wider exposure, it's this one. I can't wait for the DVD.