One of the most disturbing of all horror
movies, perhaps because it isn't really a conventional horror movie at
all but rather an historical drama, (it's set in England during the time
of the Civil War), dealing with the horrific subjects of witchcraft and
religious persecution. The central character is Matthew Hopkins, the
Witchfinder General of the title, (a never better Vincent Price), who
wanders the countryside in search of potential witches and satanists,
torturing and killing as he goes.
It is a very beautiful and a
very cruel film; the tranquillity and beauty of the English countryside,
(superbly shot by John Coquillon), offset by scenes of extreme violence.
It was the third and final film of the young English director, Michael
Reeves, before his early death from a barbiturate overdose and it
displays a rare intelligence for a picture of this kind. As well as
Price, there is fine work from Ian Ogilvy as a young Roundhead, Rupert
Davies as one of Price's victims and Robert Russell as one of his
henchmen. Considered 'a cheapie' at the time, it is now rightly revered
as something of a classic.
One of the most disturbing of all horror
movies, perhaps because it isn't really a conventional horror movie at
all but rather an historical drama, (it's set in England during the time
of the Civil War), dealing with the horrific subjects of witchcraft and
religious persecution. The central character is Matthew Hopkins, the
Witchfinder General of the title, (a never better Vincent Price), who
wanders the countryside in search of potential witches and satanists,
torturing and killing as he goes.
It is a very beautiful and a
very cruel film; the tranquillity and beauty of the English countryside,
(superbly shot by John Coquillon), offset by scenes of extreme violence.
It was the third and final film of the young English director, Michael
Reeves, before his early death from a barbiturate overdose and it
displays a rare intelligence for a picture of this kind. As well as
Price, there is fine work from Ian Ogilvy as a young Roundhead, Rupert
Davies as one of Price's victims and Robert Russell as one of his
henchmen. Considered 'a cheapie' at the time, it is now rightly revered
as something of a classic.
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