Director: Michael Reeves
Cast: Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Rupert Davies, Hilary Dwyer
Screenplay: Tom Baker, Michael Reeves
86 mins. Not Rated.

Today’s horror is a historical bit of horror concerning true life events (though don’t take your facts directly from this tale). Don’t worry, though, because we have Vincent Price (House on Haunted Hill) playing one of the most villainous characters of his career, certainly adding a lot of flavor to the horrific tale of witch-hunting and con men. It’s terrifying, shocking, and also extremely palatable for viewers.

In the midst of the English Civil War, the witch hunter Matthew Hopkins (Price) has taken advantage of the chaotic social structures and widespread fear of the time to assert power as the paramount witchfinder of the age. Along with his assistant, Hopkins visits villages across the land to accuse, torture and kill “suspected witches” and collect the money and influence that come with their position. When they arrive in Brandeston and accuse the local priest, Hopkins uses his powers to take advantage of and abuse the priest’s niece, Sara (Hilary Dwyer, Cry of the Banshee). Sara’s betrothed, a soldier named Richard Marshall (Ian Ogilvy, Death Becomes Her) learns of the atrocities and works with some fellow soldiers to free the priest and Sara from Hopkins’s grasp…if they arrive on time.

Vincent Price is mostly associated with his more grandiose and ghostly horrors, whereas Matthew Hopkins was a downright awful human being who was responsible for (according to some figures) 60% of the witch-hunting executions of the time. It should be noted that this is certainly a fictionalized account, as Price’s story doesn’t end where the historical figure of the time did, and simple factors like age (the real Matthew Hopkins operated in his 20s, whereas Price was in his late 50s during filming) are incongruous, but I’ve said it before: don’t get your facts from dramatized films. Films are always going to make concessions, even those that aim for accuracy. Regarding Price’s performance, it’s probably the best of his career (something he often stated as well). I’ve always found Price to be a suave and seductive performer, but here he’s using all those skills to be unnerving and downright disgusting at times. His is truly a performance for the ages in Witchfinder General, one we don’t celebrate often enough.

Tigon considered themselves an alternative to horror studios like Hammer and Amicus, but they often did not capture the masses in the same way as the aforementioned companies. Tigon was the studio of Blood on Satan’s Claw and The Creeping Flesh, so even in the horror world, Witchfinder General feels like an outlier, but Michael Reeves (The Sorcerers) directs with such a conviction to the horrors of the time, an aim to capture the atrocities with a lavish production and strong performances, notably from regular Ian Ogilvy, who gives a powerfully pained portrayal of Richard Marshall, especially near the end of his vengeance when he realizes that his soul can never be healed by the events of what has occurred.

Reeves and Price notoriously did not see eye-to-eye, as Reeves had wanted Donald Pleasance in the lead role, and he repeatedly pushed back on all of Price’s decisions, but I think these two talents were forced to get more creative with the process. Price’s villainy is heightened, and Reeves had to rethink the character away from his planned Pleasance version, creating a more calculating villain who reveled in his power and will over the people.

Hilary Dwyer’s portrayal of Sara is the missing piece here, as I believe her to be miscast against Price and Ogilvy, who are more theatrical and overpowering onscreen. Dwyer is a bit smaller and quieter, unable to hold her own against the others. I think she’s a capable performer but just not in a film that fit her strengths.

Witchfinder General is a more elegant and extravagant production than it would lead on, and it breaks my heart that Reeves died only nine months after completing the film, unable to see the re-evaluation and praise that would come to the film with time. It has a career high performance from Price, elaborate set and costume design, and a disturbed score that raises the tension throughout. I was floored by this horror film, and I can’t wait to show it to others and see it again myself.

4/5
-Kyle A. Goethe

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