Stars: Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Nicky Henson, Robert Russell, Rupert Davies, Patrick Wymark, Hilary Dwyer

Director: Michael Reeves

Summary: Cromwell sends out the Witchfinder to purge the land of 'witches'.

This film is set in 17th century England during the violent early days of Cromwell's rule. At this time Britain was plagued by lawlessness which certain men exploited for their own evil ends. Matthew Hopkins (Vincent Price) is a witchfinder who roams through the countryside accusing whoever he feels like of witchcraft, until he runs afoul of an army officer who vows revenge.

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

Witchfinder Generalis one of those cult British films that, like The Wicker Man, seemed to herald a renaissance in the fortunes of the British film industry in the late 1960s and early 70s. With only his third film, director Michael Reeves displayed an assured grasp of technique and a confident ability to mix and match genres that marked him out as a homegrown wunderkindto rival the Spielbergs and Coppolas who were just graduating from film school across the Atlantic. Sadly, this promise remained unfulfilled as Reeves died suddenly, soon after completing the film, from a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs; Witchfinder Generalremains his only significant work

Veteran Vincent Price is wonderfully cast as the titular witchfinder, Matthew Hopkins, whose bloody and usually sexually motivated persecutions across civil war-torn East Anglia are carried out with much relish, graphic fake blood and lots of screaming. Ian Ogilvy, an old school pal of the director's, is the upright new model soldier who swears vengeance against Hopkins for the rape of his betrothed (Hilary Dwyer, who in true Hammer Horror fashion gets to take her top off and scream a lot). Lascivious depictions of burning witches and gratuitous sex aside, what draws the viewer into the film is the setting as Reeves' camera roams lovingly across the East Anglian countryside. The opening-hanging scene, for example, depends strongly on location for its effect, and Ogilvy's quest for revenge takes on a John Ford-style Western aura in the director's hands. Perhaps not quite the masterpiece some seem to think it is, Witchfinder Generalremains a sturdy piece of distinctively British filmmaking.

On the DVD:This disc allows the viewer to select the slightly extended "Export cut" of the movie, which has a little more graphic blood than the censored UK release, although the restored sequences are of markedly inferior quality. The anamorphic picture and mono sound are decent, even if too many murky nighttime scenes and badly dubbed actors' voices betray the film's restrictively low budget. The major extra is a documentary about the life and short career of Michael Reeves, while other fill-ups include text notes from critic Kim Newman, a music video, trailer, filmographies and stills. All in all, it's a welcome restoration of a genre classic. --Mark Walker

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 0
Special Features:	Animated And Scored Interactive Menus, Scene Access, Trailer, Cathedral Music Video, Blood Beast, Michael Reeves Documentary, The Sorcerers Trailer, Production Notes, Image Gallery, Filmographies
Year:	1968
Release Date:	September 1, 2003
Runtime:	82 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	P P A 1479
Label:	Metrodome
Keywords:	General, Conqueror, Wide, Screen, Jim, Worm, Volume, Witchfinder, Horror, Occult, Earthworm, Sci, Fi
Genre:	Horror/Occult