This 2020 American supernatural horror-thriller was directed by Mark Tonderai. It isn’t surprising really, as Tonderai’s work usually comprises of horror-thriller films or supernatural and mysterious TV series.
Sometimes, it’s nice to watch a simple film that captivates and keeps you engaged right to the very end. It’s not lengthy, not complicated, not over glamourised, but certainly not boring at all. Spell was such a film for me. I have to be careful not to reveal much for those who might be interested in watching it.
Marquis Woods (Omari Hardwick) is a very successful no-nonsense lawyer. He’s proud to be able to give his wife, Veora (Lorraine Burroughs), daughter, Samsara (Hannah Gonera) and son, Tydon (Kalifa Burton) a modern and luxurious life – the exact opposite of what he had growing up. His wife, Veora, on the other hand, thinks that he over pampers and shelters the family, especially the children. So when Marquis receives a phone call informing him that his estranged father has died, she firmly insists that he attend the funeral… along with all three of them. Marquis had his reservations; he hated where and how he grew up - in poverty, he hated how his father treated him, he hadn’t communicated with his father since he was a teenager, he had never wanted to go back nor take his family there.
He eventually gives in to his wife, and he and his family literally jet off on his private Jet, which he pilots to rural northern Alabama. A landing stop for fuel close to their destination in Appalachia reveals how isolated and disconnected from the rest of the world the area seems to be. Gone was the modern life and 4G mobile phone network. It is there that they briefly meet the local sheriff (Tumisho Masha) just before hurriedly embarking on the rest of their journey to avoid the brewing storm.
Unfortunately, they get caught in the storm and their airplane crashes. Marquis wakes up in a bed in the artic of an old wooden plank farm house bruised and injured with a bandaged foot. He discovers that an old couple, Eloise (Loretta Devine) and her husband, Earl (John Beasely) had found him at the crash site and brought him to their home. They informed him that he was the only one found at the crash site, and that there were no mobile phone networks or telephone lines in that area.
However, something wasn’t quite right about this couple. For one thing, he was kept locked in the room. Marquis’ attempts to leave the room and house to find out what happened to his family were constantly being stopped by Eloise and Earl with the help of their muscled farm hand, Lewis (Steve Mululu). They said it was for his own good; that he needed to rest and recuperate before the “full moon”. Creepy, right? Anyway, it wasn’t long before things started to get even creepier… especially when Eloise shows Marquis a small effigy; an image of him she created in line with their hoodoo spiritual dark magic beliefs. According to her, anything that happened to his effigy, would happen to him. However, Marquis doesn’t seem to believe in all that mumbo jumbo...
A rather interesting and entertaining film. The cinematography, costume, makeup, soundtrack, and tone were perfectly in balance with the film’s theme. Everything was just right to create the required level of apprehension, curiosity, and spook factor. Although not scary enough for me, it definitely falls into that category. There was a plot, but I would have liked to see a lot more within it.
Omari Hardwick already proved himself to be a really good actor in his role as Ghost /James Patrick, in the American crime-drama TV series, Power. In Spell, he proved himself to be a versatile one too. With decades of experience and works in the film and TV industry under her belt, Loretta Devine has never ceased to shine in every role she plays… before and after works like 1995’s American romantic-drama, Waiting to Exhale. I expected a lot, and predictably, she didn’t disappoint.
It’s definitely a great weekend watch. I would rate it 8.5 out of 10.
Available to rent on Sky TV.
Further Information
Director
Played Marquis Woods
Played Eloise
Played Earl
Played Veora Woods
Hannah Gonera
Playes Samsara Woods
Kalifa Burton
Played Tydon Woods
Steve Mululu
Played Lewis
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