Warlock Collection – Blu-Ray Movie Review

An evil warlock flees from the 17th to the 20th century and works to unleash Satan upon the world in these three supernaturally chilling films from the 1990’s. Included in this newly minted restored and remastered two disc set are the 3 Warlock films: Warlock, Warlock: The Armageddon and Warlock III: The End of Innocence.

Much like the Wishmaster series I recently reviewed, you either love the Warlock films or find them laughably bad. The special effects are cheesy, the story has plot holes big enough to drive an elephant through and the acting 3rd rate…yet, the films as a whole are fun, in a Saturday afternoon kind of way. Sands plays the titular character in 1 & 2, but is replaced by a not so fun Payne in number 3. I still don’t know why the son of the devil gets transported from 1600’s New England to modern day L.A., but perhaps being the city of angels has something to do with it. The last film takes place in England and has a different actor playing the Warlock, but the general story line continues. I found the second installment to a bit slower and plodding at times, but the outdoor finale with the fake Stonehenge was fun, if not bloody.

If you are looking for Oscar material, these flicks are sure to disappoint. However, if you are a fanatic of this type of genre, the films are fairly cleaned up and the sound, though in stereo, is true to the original movie house presentations. A Cauldron full of extras makes this set extra special if you are a fan and worth the purchase.

The picture quality looks like your typical low budget 90’s films, but generally the picture is sharp and clean. I noticed an occasional bit of dirt and white speckles from time to time. Film grain was also a bit heavy in the darker scenes. That said, you are not likely to see these films improved upon unless they get a 4K treatment. Still, the source material is what it is. Sound was clear and dialog was distinctive and articulate. It did not bother me at all that there was no surround sound and the sub bare budged during any scenes except the finales.

Included are all sorts of devilish extras: NEW commentaries, NEW isolated score selections/with author Jeff Bond, NEW interviews with Sands, Miner and special effects men Fullerton and Martz, Behind the Scenes footage, make-up and visual effects featurettes, theatrical trailers, video trailers, TV spots and still galleries.