Runtime: 86 minutes
Directed by: Michael Reeves
Starring: Vincent Price, Robert Russell (no relation), Ian Ogilvy, Rupert Davies, Hilary Heath
From: Tigon British Film Productions/AIP
In my last 1968 review for at least a little while, I finally watch a famous example of folk horror, a story rather loosely based on a real life monster who was even worse in real life. There was a lawyer named Matthew Hopkins-assisted by his partner John Stearne-who proclaimed himself Witchfinder General during the English Civil War-the particulars of that war was not important to either the actual story or what was presented on screen-of the 1640's.
Because of greed, was able to earn much quid by either listening to accusations or doing the accusing themselves of innocents practicing witchcraft, put them through trials that were in essence torture, then executing those poor people. He was worse than the character brought to life excellently by a subdued Vincent Price. IRL he was never appointed to any position of hunting down witches by either Charles I or his opposition in the conflict, Parliament; the film implied that he had the authority to do so in a small area of England. While lasting only a few years and dying due to a fate different than what was shown on screen, what a brief yet brutal reign of terror he had killing an estimated few hundred people.
In the movie, Hopkins and Stearne roam around 1640's England listening to accusations of witchcraft, and after brutal treatment those poor souls are put to death. A soldier named Richard Marshall becomes pissed at the duo after they kill the uncle of his soon to be wife... and the uncle was actually a priest. The film does not shy away from showing the torture and executions, whether it be man or woman-but typically it was women.
Besides it showing real life horrors (one death is in particular unforgettable, it being so nasty) it was a very good yarn that was spun which brought 17th century England to life rather well. This is a role that Price apparently loved and he was great in a part where he wasn't over the top as he sometimes was asked to be. Stearne on screen-portrayed by Robert Russell, no relation-was actually the more vicious & psychotic of the two, which I am unsure was actually the case. It's a merciless motion picture which has a mean streak yet is still worthy of viewing if you dig the folk horror. A shame that director Michael Reeves passed away not that long after this was released-at the way too young age of 25-due to “misadventure”... due to his personal demons he liked booze & drugs so accidentally ingesting both in large quantities led to his death.
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