Spellbinder

Spellbinder

Year: 1988

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: English

Director: Janet Greek

DramaRomanceHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsTerrifying haunted and supernatural horror

After a chance encounter that feels like a dream, Los Angeles attorney Jeff Mills and a coworker intervene one night to pull a frightened young woman from an abusive boyfriend. Jeff quickly falls for the striking Miranda, only to be drawn into a dangerous web of intrigue, despite ominous signs and his secretary’s repeated warnings.

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Timeline & Setting – Spellbinder (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Spellbinder (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles, Towers Beach, Mexico

Spellbinder largely unfolds in Los Angeles, where a legal firm and a private life intersect with ominous occurrences. The action shifts to the sunlit Towers Beach, a site for the coven’s solstice ritual that contrasts with the city’s bustle. An old house and a fortress-like client residence populate the story, hinting at a hidden occult network operating within ordinary life. The film blends urban settings with secluded locations to heighten tension between the mundane and the supernatural.

🌆 Urban setting 🏖️ Beach locale ⚖️ Legal and occult crossover

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

Main Characters – Spellbinder (1988)

Meet the key characters of Spellbinder (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Derek Clayton (Rick Rossovich)

A sharp, calculating attorney who secretly leads the coven with Miranda. He uses charm and professional respectability to lure victims and recruit Miranda’s allegiance. His cool manipulation escalates the danger, turning a personal case into a ritual trap.

🧠 Calculating 🔗 Cult leader ⚖️ Legal professional

Miranda Reed (Kelly Preston)

Miranda presents herself as a desirable, troubled survivor who wins Jeff’s trust while hiding her true role within the coven. She is both a sympathetic figure and a ruthless conspirator, adept at testing loyalties and manipulating others. Her dual nature drives the plot’s tension and ultimate deception.

🪄 Seductive 🕷️ Manipulative 💥 Ambitious

Jeff Mills (Tim Daly)

A Los Angeles attorney who falls for Miranda and becomes entangled in a deadly plot. He is driven by loyalty and a sense of responsibility, but his judgment is compromised by fear and love. His frantic attempts to save Miranda set off a chain of events culminating in a tragic, ritualistic finale.

💼 Professional 🧭 Principled ❤️ Devoted

Mrs. White (Audra Lindley)

Jeff’s secretary who senses that something is off with Miranda and warns him of the danger. She acts as a cautious observer, trying to anchor Jeff with practical advice amid rising occult tension.

🧭 Skeptical 🗣️ Cautionary

Grace Woods (Diana Bellamy)

Jeff’s perceptive secretary who spots Miranda’s odd behavior and becomes a casualty in the coven’s manipulations. Her death and the funeral scene underline the cost of ignoring warning signs.

🌫️ Observant 💔 Victim

Lt. Lee (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa)

The local police liaison who warns Jeff about the cult’s danger and suspects Miranda’s involvement. He embodies the law’s attempt to intervene, though the coven’s reach complicates the investigation.

🧭 Investigative 🛡️ Authority

Brock (M.C. Gainey)

Jeff’s client who shelters Miranda briefly in a fortress-like residence. He becomes a victim of the coven’s reach, illustrating the threat’s reach beyond Jeff’s immediate circle.

🧱 Fortress 🔪 Victim

Edgar DeWitt (Stefan Gierasch)

A figure connected to the coven’s operations, whose exact role is tied to the occult circle that Miranda and Derek control. He represents the older generation of conspirators enforcing the cult’s rules.

🧩 Coven ties ⚖️ Oriented

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

Major Themes – Spellbinder (1988)

Explore the central themes of Spellbinder (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕯️ Cult Control

A central thread is the coven’s control over Miranda and the dangerous influence it exerts over Jeff. The ritualistic manipulation is framed as fate and tradition, masking coercion as devotion. The solstice ceremony becomes the crucible where trust collapses and loyalty is weaponized. The film suggests control can be insidious, cloaked in certainty and charisma.

💔 Betrayal

Betrayal sits at the heart of the love triangle between Miranda, Jeff, and Derek. Miranda pretends devotion while colluding with Derek to ensnare Jeff, turning affection into a trap. Jeff’s faith crumbles as clues mount, culminating in a shocking reversal. The betrayal is both intimate and deadly, driving the plot toward a tragic confrontation.

🌕 Solstice Ritual

The winter solstice ritual anchors the narrative, a time when the coven demands a voluntary sacrifice. The beach ceremony becomes a stage where mercy and cruelty clash, and the line between victim and conspirator blurs. The countdown toward the ritual heightens suspense and leads to a fatal, ritual-centered finale. Moonlit atmosphere amplifies the occult menace.

🔮 Deception and Masks

Appearances mask dangerous truths as characters wear both literal and figurative disguises. Miranda’s charm conceals her complicity, while Jeff’s professional facade hides his vulnerability. The story emphasizes how deception can be woven into everyday life, turning trusted colleagues into accomplices. The final twist reveals a calculated design where lovers are instruments of a larger plot.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

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Spellbinder Summary

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Spellbinder Timeline

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