Warlock

On the edge of seventeenth century New England, a witch hunter named Giles Redferne traps a dangerous warlock, but the sorcerer uses dark help to slip free. He is hurled into the far future, landing in a crowded 1980s city where his plan to end the world begins to take shape. Redferne tracks the intruder across neon streets, smoky clubs, and crowded avenues, relying on old prayers and sharper instincts than the locals understand. The hunter finds modern life bewildering and the warlock's power steadily grows. An unlikely ally, a young woman, crosses his path and the pair form a tense partnership as danger closes in. Can they stop the threat before it erupts?

Directed by Steve Miner and released in 1989, Warlock stars Julian Sands as the warlock with Lori Singer as Kassandra and Richard E Grant. The project is based on characters created by David Twohy and carried a modest $7 million budget, with later releases expanding the world through practical effects, creature design, and a Gothic score.

Warlock grossed about $9.1 million worldwide against a $7 million budget, yielding modest returns for a fantasy horror title of its era. The numbers reflect a niche audience rather than a blockbuster, and the film has developed a small, tenacious fan base over time.

Over time the film has gained a small cult following among horror fans for its clash of seventeenth century witchcraft with eighties urban grit. Sands's performance as the Warlock remains a standout, and the movie is often praised for its practical effects, moody atmosphere, and striking visual contrasts.

Critical reception was mixed with praise for atmosphere and ambition while some critics found the plot uneven. The film tackles power and corruption, the tension between faith and science, and the challenge of loyalties when time travel throws different eras together. Audience scores, such as IMDb around 6.25/10 from 429 votes, reflect a modest but lasting interest.