This is the second time I’ve watched this movie. I will
readily admit that with those two viewings under my belt I’ve not changed with
time nor would I recommend this movie wholeheartedly to the average movie
goers. The fact that they handed out the first specially printed vomit bags to
viewers as a promotional gimmick was probably truth in advertising for the more
timid movie goer should say something. On the other hand there is cinematic
history in the making with this movie.
My first viewing found me repulsed by the film. This time
around, having watched the extra which included a documentary entitle MARK OF
THE TIMES, I realized the state of the art at the time and more importantly
just why a movie like this had been made. To sum it up in the early 70s the
viewing public had grown tired of the horror genre. Hammer Films felt stale and
as lifeless as the vampires found there while the horror films of America
offered even less. A new wave of British horror directors at the time began
making movies that used more accurate historical backgrounds, most notably this
film and WITCHFINDER GENERAL, to lure audiences back to theaters again. The
result was a group of gore filled movies with more plot than say BLOOD FEAST
that horror fans loved. They paved the way for much of what was to follow when
it came to the horror genre.
So on to the movie. Taking place in a small European town
we’re witness to a local witch finder named Albino (the great Reggie Nalder)
who seems to not only enjoy his work far too much but uses his position to gain
anything he wants be it women or fear from local residents. Someone must have
spoken up because now a famous witch finder named Lord Cumberland (Herbert Lom)
is coming to take over the job at hand, much to the displeasure of Albino. His
envoys Christian (Udo Kier) and Jeff (Herbert Fux) arrive ahead of time and
stop Albino from accusing a barmaid named Vanessa (Olivera Katarina) from being
accused. Of course this doesn’t set well with Albino.
Having never had to keep records of accusations made against
anyone accused of witchcraft, Albino sets his sidekick to work drawing up
documents through the night in preparation of the arrival of Cumberland. While
the pair know well that their accusations are baseless it hasn’t stopped them
from taking pleasure in their work as well as rewarding themselves greatly.
Cumberland arrives and the witch trials begin. As with what
is accurate for the time we witness people being sent to dungeons to be
tortured until they are willing to admit that they are witches. The fact that
anyone being tortured is likely to relent to admitting this to avoid torture
seems to go unnoticed by those in charge or perhaps that’s just their way of
justifying their actions. What follows are various scenes of the torture taking
place, everything from someone strapped to a rack and stretched to branding to
water torture. The most talked about scene involves a young woman who is
removed from the rack only to have her tongue pulled from her mouth while
strapped in a metal contraption. It’s one of those scenes that horror fans
always talk about whether they’ve seen the movie or not as well as the one
featured in most ads and on the provided vomit bag.
While all of this is going on Christian begins to question
the work that they are doing. He’s also fallen in love with Vanessa. While
Cumberland warns him of the temptations of the flesh we also learn there is a
reason for this. Apparently Cumberland is impotent, something that Albino
discovers and attempts to use in an argument with Cumberland.
Just how all of this is resolved finishes out the rest of
the film. I won’t reveal it here. Suffice to say that bright red blood is
spilled from start to finish, that bad guys don’t change much and that no one
leaves without some form of scar heaped upon them either figuratively or
physically. Not only that but being a European film we have some wonderful
string styled music being played while a couple wanders over the hillside.
Sorry that never made much sense to me and feels forced rather than making
sense here.
I’ll say again that I now understand better whey a movie
like this was made and how it was an attempt to push the genre forward by
directors also looking to make names for themselves. The fact that none of them
ever went on to create works that were notable for being major mainstream films
but always notable for the type of film they were says a lot. It’s not that the
talent wasn’t there but the major studios tended to avoid those directors
because of the reputations of their films. Had they been offered the chance at
something more mainstream who knows what they could have accomplished?
Gore hounds will flock to this film as will fans of what has
come to be known as “torture porn”. I
don’t include myself among either group though I can appreciate the former more
so than the latter. Knowing why a movie like this deserves the treatment that
it receives as well as the fame is one thing, enjoying it on a regular basis is
another.
Once more Arrow Video offers an amazing product here with a
stupendous transfer of the film making it far better than the one I viewed
previously. And again, while I’m not a fan of extras for the most part, those
included here help to get a better understanding of the movie rather than just
offer press pieces for the stars involved. Not only is the aforementioned
documentary included but another about Hallmark Releasing, the controversial
company that found numerous ways to promote films like these is here as well
providing an interesting look at how it was done. Numerous interviews, a look
at locations then and now, outtakes and a gallery are also included. Even if
you don’t become a fan of the movie you will become one of Arrow Video.
Click here to order.
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