on the plot and characters of the film.
In Cast a Deadly Spell, the hard-boiled detective is named Harry Philip Lovecraft and is played by Fred Ward. Lovecraft is a private investigator living in a 1940s Los Angeles where everyone uses magic to get by in their daily lives. Lovecraft is a skeptic when it comes to magic, refusing to use it himself and often finding himself at odds with those who do.
When Lovecraft is hired by the wealthy Amos Hackshaw (played by David Warner) to investigate the theft of a mystical book called the Necronomicon, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous web of magic and deceit. The Necronomicon is said to hold the power to raise the dead and bring about the end of the world, and Lovecraft quickly realizes that he's not the only one looking for it.
Lovecraft's investigation leads him to a variety of colorful and dangerous characters, including a sexy dame named Connie Stone (played by Julianne Moore), a group of cultists trying to bring about the apocalypse, and a powerful sorcerer named Harry Bordon (played by Clancy Brown).
As Lovecraft uncovers more and more about the theft of the Necronomicon, he discovers that those closest to him may not be who they seem. Ultimately, Lovecraft must use his wits and skills as a detective to solve the case and stop those who would use the power of the Necronomicon for their own nefarious purposes.
Cast a Deadly Spell is a unique and entertaining blend of film noir and fantasy, with Fred Ward delivering a memorable performance as the hard-boiled Lovecraft who refuses to believe in magic even as he's surrounded by it. The film also features strong supporting performances from Moore, Brown, and Warner, and is a must-watch for fans of both genres.