The Mysterious Enchanter
- 1996 (1996)
L'arcano incantatore, internationally released as The Mysterious Enchanter and Arcane Sorcerer, is a 1996 Italian horror film directed by Pupi Avati and set in the 18th century.[1][2]
Plot
1750. The seminarian Giacomo Vigetti is forced to leave Bologna to avoid conviction, after having impregnated a girl and inducing her to have an abortion. The young man, looking for a place to take refuge, is directed to a villa, where he meets an old lady who, hidden behind a fresco, takes an oath of blood with him, having the sackcloth of Giacomo's mother delivered as a pledge, with the promise that will be returned to him once the task entrusted to him has been completed.
On the indication of the mysterious lady, the boy takes refuge in Medelana, in the Bolognese Apennines, to perform the function of secretary in the service of an enigmatic character, a monsignor removed from the Church for his studies on the occult that earned him the title of "arcane spellcaster" ("mysterious enchanter" in some translations). The latter lives alone in an isolated house, surrounded by the volumes of a gigantic library, and Giacomo must replace Nerio, his previous assistant, who died in unclear circumstances and about who ambiguous rumors circulated. The monsignor makes the young man participate in esoteric experiments, and from time to time instructs him to transcribe the encrypted codes dictated by him, which must then be sent to an unknown recipient. The two make a kind of friendship, and the boy quickly convinces himself that in the telepathic and magical searches of his master there is nothing sinister.
Some time later, there is a rumor in the town that Nerio is returning to life. Giacomo learns about it and communicates it to the elderly, who does not give it weight, and also urges him not to believe the malicious rumors about his old helper. One night Giacomo exhumed Nerio's body and brought it to the parish priest of the town; here he discovers with amazement that the corpse is that of the monsignor.
Giacomo thus realizes that the arcane enchanter is actually Nerio and has a scuffle with him, after which he runs away. But, finally going to recover the pledge made for the oath, he will make a bitter discovery.
Recognition
Pupi Avati was awarded a Silver Crow in the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival of 1998 for the film.
Cast
- Stefano Dionisi: Giacomo Vigetti
- Carlo Cecchi: Nerio
- Arnaldo Ninchi: Aoledo
- Andrea Scorzoni: Don Zanini
- Mario Erpichini: Father Tommaso
- Vittorio Duse: Medelana's parson
- Patrizia Sacchi: Vielma
- Eliana Miglio: prostitute
References
External links
- The Mysterious Enchanter at IMDb
- v
- t
- e
- Balsamus, l'uomo di Satana (1970)
- La mazurka del barone, della santa e del fico fiorone (1975)
- House of Pleasure for Women (1976)
- The House with Laughing Windows (1976)
- Tutti defunti... tranne i morti (1977)
- Le strelle nel fosso (1979)
- Help Me Dream (1981)
- Zeder (1983)
- A School Outing (1983)
- The Three of Us (1984)
- Bank Clerks (1985)
- Graduation Party (1985)
- Christmas Present (1986)
- Ultimo minuto (1987)
- The Story of Boys & Girls (1989)
- Bix (1991)
- Brothers and Sisters (1992)
- Magnificat (1993)
- Dichiarazioni d'amore (1994)
- The Mysterious Enchanter (1996)
- The Best Man (1998)
- The Knights of the Quest (2001)
- Incantato (2003)
- Christmas Rematch (2004)
- But When Do the Girls Get Here? (2005)
- The Second Wedding Night (2005)
- A Dinner for Them to Meet (2007)
- The Hideout (2007)
- Giovanna's Father (2008)
- The Friends at the Margherita Cafe (2009)
- The Youngest Son (2010)
- A Second Childhood (2010)
- The Big Heart of Girls (2011)
- Il bambino cattivo (2013)
- A Golden Boy (2014)
- We Still Talk (2021)
- The American Backyard (2024)
![]() | This article related to an Italian film of the 1990s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e
![]() | This article about a 1990s horror film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e