Warlock (1989)

Warlock is a 1989 American supernatural horror film produced and directed by Steve Miner and starring Julian Sands, Lori Singer, and Richard E. Grant. The story concerns an evil 17th century warlock who flees to the 20th century pursued by a witch-hunter.

Plot
The Warlock is taken captive in Boston, Massachusetts in 1691 by the witch-hunter Giles Redferne. He is sentenced to death for his activities, including the death of Redferne's wife, but before the execution, Satan appears and propels the Warlock forward in time to late 20th century Los Angeles, California. Redferne follows through the portal.

The Warlock attempts to reassemble The Grand Grimoire, a Satanic book that will reveal the "true" name of God and thus allow him to unmake all of creation. Redferne and the Warlock then embark on a cat-and-mouse chase with the Grand Grimoire and Kassandra, a waitress who encounters Giles attempting to use a "witch compass" to track the Warlock. Explaining some basic rules of the Warlock, such as their weakness to purified salt, Kassandra follows Giles, as the Warlock has cursed her with an aging spell after taking her bracelet.

The Warlock assembles two-thirds of the Grimoire; and Giles is stunned to learn that the last portion is buried in his grave, buried off of church lands under the cursed sign of a witch. The Warlock appears and starts a ritual to reassemble the Grimoire. After seeing the name of God appear on the book, The Warlock is about to call it out and unmake existence when Kassandra, a diabetic, injects two needles filled with saltwater into his neck, and he bursts into flames. Redferne thanks Kassandra and returns to his own time. In the epilogue, Kassandra is seen burying the Grimoire in the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Cast

 * Julian Sands as Warlock
 * Lori Singer as Kassandra
 * Richard E. Grant as Giles Redferne
 * Mary Woronov as Channeler
 * Kevin O'Brien as Chas
 * Richard Kuss as Mennonite
 * Rob Paulsen as Gas Station attenedant

Production
Screenwriter David Twohy first conceived the story as a reversal of what the film ultimately became. "I spent, if not wasted, a good six to eight weeks trying to make the warlock somebody who was persecuted during the witch craze of the 17th century, and came forward to this time and experienced much the same persecution here for other reasons," he commented to Cinefantastique Magazine. Twohy revised and refined the story, but he had to compromise some of his ideas due to limitations of the budget.