Prayers to the family and friends of Julian Sands, and most importantly the actor's safety, in light of his disappearance while hiking in California. His dramatic approach drives this fantasy-horror, but also the cleverness of David Twohy's screenplay. An element of alchemy never foreshadowed, similar to Army of Darkness (1993), adds a sense of unexpected fun. Like the extraction of a psychic's eyes, played by Mary Woronov, to guide the sorcerer's quest for pages of a centuries-old spellbook.
Once collected into a tome, the diabolical Sands plans to enslave humanity in modern day. Only his nemesis (Robert Grant), who also jumped from the 17th century, aims to stop his designs with the help of a hapless tagalong (Lori Singer). Likely from budgetary limitations, Warlock grows less inventive, resting on the pair's chemistry until a showdown in a cheap cemetery set. No matter, this has unique charm that its sequels failed to recapture. Watched via Trimark's DVD.