Directed by:
Michael ReevesCinematography:
John CoquillonComposer:
Paul FerrisCast:
Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Rupert Davies, Hilary Heath, Wilfrid Brambell, Margaret Nolan, Godfrey James, Bernard Kay, Tony Selby, Hira Talfrey, Anne Tirard (more)Plots(1)
England is in civil war as the Royalists battle Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads for control. This conflict distracts people from rational thought and allows unscrupulous men to gain power by exploiting village superstitions. One of these men is Matthew Hopkins (Vincent Price), who tours the land offering his services as a persecutor of witches. Aided by his sadistic accomplice John Stearne (Robert Russell), he travels from town to town and wrenches confessions from 'witches' in order to line his pockets. (Shock Entertainment)
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There are comparisons between this film and our own Witchhammer all over the internet. Why not, but unfortunately for the British, Vávra's film is infinitely better. While Witchfinder General tells the same story and conveys the same horrific experience to the viewer (the absolutely impassive stares of the crowd watching the burning are sheer terror), it is not nearly as evocatively disgusting and authentic from start to finish. It's as if the filmmakers were afraid to tell the story of the witch trials "just because," so they wrapped the story in a fairly classically conceived adventure story with a romantic plot. It's certainly not bad, but I was expecting something a little different. I don't need to mention that Vincent Price (whom I would hardly recognize) is amazing.
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Photo © American International Productions
