#Warlock The Armageddon

[talesfromthecrypts]

Warlock: The Armageddon (1993) dir. Anthony Hickox

[fanofspooky]

Scream King - Zach Galligan

[junkfoodcinemas]

In Memory of Julian Sands

January 4, 1958 - January 2023

Rest in Peace

[sewertour]

My Julian Sands Story

My first job in LA was as a Production Assistant on the low-budget horror film, Warlock: The Armageddon starring Julian Sands. Assigned to a second unit that didn’t want to spend money for body doubles, various parts of my body got valuable screen time. That's my hand over-enthusiastically pointing to druidic spells in an ancient tome and my skinny torso soaked in red karo syrup being whipped by rubber vines. And when a pulsing amniotic sac shoots from the nether regions of a bloody stuntwoman and blooms into a fully-formed naked Julian Sands, that's my nose bursting through the silicon gel-drenched latex womb. After "acting" in shots like these, I had to wipe myself off with paper towels and get the crew complicated coffee orders.

While I may have been Julian Sands's part-time body double, I’d never spoken directly to him. Then one day, after being hoisted around in a special effect flying harness until my inner thighs wanted to explode, I got my chance. The Assistant Director tasked me with getting Julian from his trailer. Why? No one else would do it because he was being an “asshole.” He pissed the crew off so much, the Wardrobe Assistant was showing off Polaroids of his dirty underpants.

Julian had a big black trailer with a satellite dish fit for a Warlock. I went up the steps a bit nervously and knocked at the door. Nothing. I knocked one more time, and heard him scream, “I SAID, COME IN!!!”

It's dark in the trailer. Julian’s lying down on the couch all the way in the back dressed in his black velvet suit and looks over the rim of a hardcover book. He silently stares at me.

“Uh. Hey, Julian. They, uh - need you for the flying stuff...”

He continues to look at me. Unmoving.

“Uh…”

I realize I’m at a loss for words - and I’m never at a loss for words. His expression remains blank. I don’t even know if he heard or understood what I was saying.

I did the only thing I could think of and started doing a little jig and shouted, “JULIAN SANDS! YOU'RE THE NEXT ACTOR ON STAGE 14! SO, COME ON DOWN!”

As I dance around and hum the theme to The Price Is Right, I hear him start to laugh, slowly at first. Not a human laugh, but a scary full-throated supervillain laugh that echoes from his trailer as I flew back to the sound stage - heart racing.

In an interview with Sands on Vestron Video's Warlock Collection Blu-ray (Recommended - The first film is a banger!) he kind of apologizes for being a dick on the set. Apparently, he was utilizing the “Method” to become the Son of Satan both inside and out, which extended to the crew, making a lot of people miserable. Honestly, the film needed more of the kind of sinister energy he brought to the screen, but hearing him say, decades later, that his working method should not come at the expense of those busting their asses for you was heartening. Now I feel lucky enough to fly in Julian Sands' harness for a short time and make him laugh, at least ONCE.

[bkenber]

Worst Movie Trailers Ever: 'Warlock - The Armageddon'

I remember seeing this movie trailer back when I was an employee at Crow Canyon Cinemas in Northern California. I was aware of the original “Warlock” which starred the late Julian Sands as the title character, a son of Satan who is intent on destroying the world. And like any horror film from the 1980’s, it had to be followed by a sequel. This teaser showed some promise as we watch a peaceful…

[saorlasdraft]

Actually the real reason Crowley dibs on being a nanny was that he cant start to imagine Aziraphale being motherly to a child or else he'll start building their imaginary family tree then he'll be truly, deeply, insanely fucked. Baby fever runs deep and Crowley is not exempt from that.

[illyanarasputinfan]

I’m definitely invested in Disney Plus’s Agatha All Along. I really enjoyed the first two episodes. I’ve never let the negative criticism of others prevent me from watching something that I may actually like. It also seems that Marvel projects headlined by a primarily female cast and crew are subject to unfair scrutiny by certain groups, and honestly, I have enjoyed their super heroine endeavors a lot more than other offerings from the MCU. Agatha is smart, clever, and thought-provoking, so I can understand how other people may take offense to that. I look forward to more episodes of the show, and seeing where the Witches’ Road leads.

Viewers speculate that Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal is either a genderbent Emerald Warlock, or possibly his offspring. My guess is that she’s Gaea, and one of Agatha’s old flames.

Gaea (Marvel Comics)

Teen is either Wiccan/Billy Kaplan, or Agatha’s son, the Darkhold. Being that the Scarlet Witch destroyed all copies of the Darkhold in existence, it’s possible. I’m leaning towards Billy, judging on the telephone call he received from his boyfriend.

Wiccan/Billy Kaplan (Marvel Comics)

The Darkhold (Marvel Comics)

Poor Mrs. Davis. I’m hoping nothing bad happens to her. Watch her be revealed as Mephisto. 😄

Reptilla? Is that you, girl?

I want these ears.

[neoyan]

Warlock: The Armageddon Director Anthony Hickox

[horrororman]

Notable films that were released on September 24th...

#TheHandsofOrlac (1924)(Berlin).

#HenryPortraitofaSerialKiller (1986)(Chicago International Film Festival).

#horror

#TheGoodSon (1993).

#WarlockTheArmageddon (1993)(US).

#TheForgotten (2004).

#ShaunoftheDead (2004)(US).

[emiarainewrites]

Rest In Peace, Julian Sands

The world has lost a phenomenal actor and gentle soul.

Julian Sands went missing in early January whilst going on a hike. His body has only just been found now in late June, 2023. He was 65 years old.

Along with many, many others, I am deeply saddened by his passing. The only positive thing is that his body has been recovered. I’ve been hoping for the last few months that this would be the case. At least his family can have some form of closure now.

This is a terrible tragedy that I truly wish had not happened.

But, to honour Mr. Sands, I thought I’d briefly go over a few of his films that I’ve seen and highlight the amazing range that he had.

Boxing Helena (1993)

I first became aware of Julian Sands a few years ago when I saw this film.

Directed by Jennifer Lynch, Boxing Helena tells that story of Nick (Sands) and his obsession with one-night-stand Helena (Sherilyn Fenn). After an accident makes her dependent on him, we explore Nick’s psyche and how far he’s willing to go to keep Helena with him.

This is a film that will not appeal the everyone unfortunately, but I’d still highly recommend you see it. It’s a brilliant picture with many layers and at the centre is Julian Sands and his amazing performance.

Nick’s character is heads over heals obsessed with Helena, despite her outright stating she has no interest in him. She’s quite cold to Nick for most of the film, and you can understand why. However, for Nick, that coldness is incentive to try harder for her affections. He ensures she has to rely on him for everything because he “loves” her and wants to keep her for himself.

This showcases Julian Sands’ range as an actor. He has done many serious performances throughout his career, but for me this one is special. Nick is kind of a sad person and even a tad pathetic at times. But you never lose track of why he’s like that.

He’s emotional and even intimidating when need be. It’s a comparatively softer character than some of his other work, but Nick still stands out as a sympathetic and sometimes abhorrent character - played to absolute excellence by Julian Sands.

Warlock (1989)

Directed by Steve Miner, Warlock follows Julian Sands as the titular villain who travels from the 17th century to the 20th in order to end the world. As you do. Along the way he is pursued by Redferne (Richard E. Grant), who follows him from the past, & Kassandra (Lori Singer), a modern woman caught up in the dangerous medieval magic.

This is a good film, and it’s one of the biggest things Julian Sands is known for (the others undoubtedly being Room With A View (1985), Gothic (1986) and to a lesser extent Argento’s Phantom of the Opera (1998)) Not without reason, either.

Julian Sands is excellent in this, playing a cold hearted and cruel sadist of a character. The definition of evil. He’s very direct and at times his menacing stare does most of the talking. He brings a presence that few could ever hope to match.

From the first moment you see him, you know he’s bad news. A complete one-eighty to Boxing Helena.

I for one was quite surprised to see him in this role, having known him primarily for that film. He disappears into this terrifying, yet not outright scary, role. Rocking the long-hair-ponytail look, Julian Sands will make you fear magic and what it’s (and, by extension, he’s) really capable of.

Warlock II: The Armageddon (1993)

Directed by Anthony Hickox, the sequel follows the eponymous Warlock (Sands) as he is resurrected into the 90s (oh no!) and once again sets off on a quest to obtain mystical macguffins so he can put an end to the world as we know it. While that’s going on we follow a group of good warlocks that aren’t Julian Sands who must ready for the coming evil.

This film does away with the seriousness of the first and just about loses its damn mind with how crazy it can get. But if you’ve seen Hickox’s other works such as Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992) & the Waxwork films (1988 & 1992, respectively), you’ll probably be used to the amount of darkly wacky he puts into his pictures.

The lore is almost completely revamped in terms of the Warlock and he’s after. Plus, the expansion of other magic practitioners is interesting in theory, but the result for the latter is underwhelming.

Julian Sands, however, is magnificent. This is a bit of a lesser product compared to the first, but you can’t tell that from his performance alone. I feel like you get way more of him in this one (kinda rocking his Boxing Helena look a little bit, no surprise considering it was probably filmed around the same time). You follow the Warlock as he interacts with the modern world and it’s inhabitants, tracking down mystical stones that will bring about the end of the world once assembled.

The character feels more accessible too for modern times, in terms of his presentation and demeanour. So this means there’s less medieval speak and more one-liners. Also seems like they ramped up the sexiness too at times.

The movie is much sillier than it’s predecessor, but it’s goofy fun. And you have Julian Sands dispatching people in increasingly gruesome and creative ways. Very Wishmaster (1997), with the vibe of Wishmaster II: Evil Never Dies (1999). His performance remains intimidating and cruel, but all around less cold.

Tale of a Vampire (1992)

Directed by Shimako Sato, Tale of a Vampire follows Alex (Sands) as he finds reprieve from his lonely existence in the form of Anna (Suzanna Hamilton), a kind librarian. However, all is not well as parts of his past, and his bloodlust, come back to haunt him.

This seems to have been released direct to video and, call me crazy, may have been capitalising on another vampire film that came out the exact same year. Even this film’s poster shares some similarities. Although, Julian Sands was apparently in talks to play Lestat instead of Tom Cruise, so there’s another connection. At the moment, you can find this film on YouTube (VHS rip).

Setting that aside, this is an interesting film that I don’t believe gets talked about much. It won’t change your life and I don’t think it quite gets across its ideas perfectly, but Julian Sands’ performance, as ever, is brilliant. You believe he’s been around for ages and has never been able to keep a love for himself. We get flashbacks concerning a previous companion throughout the film as Alex tries to get close to Anna in the present. There is a type of warmth that Julian Sands brings to the role, whilst also maintaining the lonesome chill of a corpse. You get a sense of confliction from him as the film goes on - whether to pursue Anna or leave her be; damn her or let her go.

Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘Annabel Lee’ also features in the film, so the idea of youth and love lost are meant to be front and centre.

There is still an element of danger to Julian Sands’ character. The film doesn’t shy away from the fact that he’s still undead and thus, must consume fresh blood. ((Special warning to all cat lovers, by the way.)) He even has a brief flash of harming Anna due to his nature and personal feelings towards her.

You feel his pain and it’s a shame that Julian Sands didn’t play more vampires, or had roles like this. Or maybe he did and I just don’t know about them. Either way he was great in this role.

Arachnophobia (1990)

Directed by Frank Marshall, Arachnophobia follows a doctor (Jeff Daniels) and his family who move to a town that is soon besieged by tons of lethal spiders. As the death toll rises, it’s a race against the clock to stop the eight-legged menace from killing everyone there.

Julian Sands has a smaller role here compared to the previous films mentioned, but he is still important and does serve as the catalyst for everything. He plays Dr. James Atherton, who is studying an undiscovered type of spider that, of course, makes it back to a populated area and spawns off a deadly chain of events.

The film itself is fun and Julian Sands is a great, somewhat pompous, doctor who can be very dismissive of those around him. Very British and very passionate about his work.

Though, of course, he does not survive the film. The big hoss spider gets him. Then again, he did declare himself as “supper”. And when you see his body, it’s pretty gnarly. He’s covered in webbing with spiders crawling all over him. Real spiders. No CGI. That alone increased my respect for him one-hundred fold when I saw it.

From unhinged sap to scary villain to lonesome creature to apathetic doctor to even romantic lead, Julian Sands led a varied and fascinating career. He seemed unafraid to attempt any role and did so with impressive commitment and astounding results.

The world has lost a great talent that will never be forgotten.

RIP Julian Sands, we will all miss you dearly.

[roadxvirus]

Satan's bride tribute

[succubussally]

another movie I desperately wanted to watch as a child but couldn't until last week - they showed this part in the trailer and I was always very intrigued. Warlock and Warlock: the Armageddon did not disappoint.

[junkfoodcinemas]

Warlock: The Armageddon (1993)

[stagbeetleboy]

[littletroubledgrrrl]

Just heard the news that Julian Sands has gone missing during a hike in California. Sad.

How did they know he's missing?