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Witchfinder General

Vincent Price (Actor), Ian Ogilvy (Actor), Michael Reeves (Director) Rated:
Unrated
Format: DVD
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 472 ratings
IMDb6.7/10.0
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September 11, 2007 		—
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September 1, 2003 		—
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Witchfinder General — —
Genre Military & War
Format Color, NTSC, Multiple Formats, Widescreen
Contributor David Reynolds-Lacey, Tony Selby, David Lyell, Anne Tirard, Bill Maxwell, Peter Thomas (II), David Webb (III), Beaufoy Milton, Vincent Price, Maggie Kimberly, Bernard Kay, Alf Joint, Donna Reading, Wilfrid Brambell, Michael Reeves, Susi Field, Philip Waddilove, Robert Russell (II), Martin Terry, Gillian Aldam, Gillian Aldham, Michael Segal, Margaret Nolan, Michael Beint, Peter Haigh, Jack Lynn, Lee Peters, Nicky Henson, Hira Talfrey, Paul Ferris, Hilary Heath, Godfrey James, Rupert Davies, Patrick Wymark, Edward Palmer, Toby Lennon, Derek Ware, Ian Ogilvy, John Kidd, Sally Douglas, Dennis Thorne, John Trenaman See more
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 27 minutes

Product Description

Product description

No Description Available.
Genre: Horror
Rating: NR
Release Date: 11-SEP-2007
Media Type: DVD

Amazon.com

By consensus, Vincent Price's finest performance among his gallery of horror-movie rogues comes in Witchfinder General, the intense 1968 film that erased any hint of camp from the actor's persona. Price plays Matthew Hopkins, a sadistic 17th-century "witchfinder" who uses barbaric methods to identify (and invariably execute) supposed witches. Along with Price's disciplined work, Witchfinder is also the best film by the talented and ill-fated director Michael Reeves, who was only 24 when he shot the movie. Blessed with a great feeling for English landscapes and an eye for blackly telling details (peasants roasting potatoes in the ashes of a burned witch), Reeves was clearly a promising filmmaker, who died in 1969 from a drug overdose. The most vivid thing about Witchfinder General is the way it explicitly links paranoia and witch-hunting to misogyny, and how female sexual energy is seen by the ruling order as a threat. The final sequence is perhaps the most harrowing fade-out of any Sixties horror picture, and offers no comforting resolution.

Included on the Witchfinder package is a disc of three featurettes: a half-hour bio, the 12–minute Art of Fear that looks at his horror work (with the expected focus on the other films in this box set), and a 15–minute piece on other actors working with Price (although these actors are not interviewed, just the gallery of experts who speak in the other docs). The Witchfinder disc includes a valuable backgrounder on the movie, including the story behind the original U.S. release of the film, titled The Conqueror Worm (to cash in on Price's connection to Edgar Allan Poe works, which this is not), plus a commentary with producer Philip Waddilove and Michael Reeves' favored leading man, Ian Ogilvy. --Robert Horton

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.85:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.25 inches; 3.04 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Michael Reeves
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, NTSC, Multiple Formats, Widescreen
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 27 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ September 11, 2007
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Rupert Davies, Hilary Heath, Robert Russell (II)
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, Spanish, French
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ MGM (Video & DVD)
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000RO9PUU
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 472 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
472 global ratings
Horror from Real Life
5 Stars
Horror from Real Life
"Witchfinder General" is a truly horrifying film. The story is fictionalized, but there is nothing fictional in the sadism and avarice depicted in the witchhunters, nor in the suffering depicted in the innocent victims. The violence shown here makes one reflect on the evil wrought on innocent women and men in the name of religion in 17th-century Europe.Vincent Price gives a taut performance that has none of the camp or black humor he displayed in movies like "House on Haunted Hill." He plays Matthew Hopkins as the supremely evil and obsessed villian he probably really was. Price evokes no sympathy from the audience in his chilling portrayal of Hopkins, and this was probably his greatest performance in a motion picture. Ian Ogilvy is also convincing as the dashing Captain Marshall. The story plays like real life and leaves one disquieted.I recommend this movie very highly. Be warned - the violence is shocking.
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Top reviews from the United States

roger faires
5.0 out of 5 stars Wiitchfinder General - A Truly Disturbing Horror Film and perhaps Price's Best
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2014
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A horror film without the supernatural is like saying, a disaster film without a disaster. But that's what Witchfinder General is and yet it is scarier and more disturbing than all of the gothic, castle in lightening and thunderous nights and creepy, eyes in the portrait following you everywhere horror films that flooded B-Movie houses during those years. Witchfinder General is a 17th Century depiction of what real human manifested horror is in the way Bogdonovich's, Targets is a 20th Century true horror film. It's about what real people do to others that's "not good" and anyway you slice that that is far more terrifying than any supernatural threat that may or may not have ever occurred.

Price plays Matthew Hopkins a self appointed and financially motivated Witch finder who wanders the English countryside showing up with his sadistic sidekick in any village or hamlet where some person has been accused by the locals of consorting with the devil.
Although Hopkins alludes to objectivity concerning his Witch determining skills, it becomes quickly apparent that once anyone is accused, the guidelines of his "testing" leaves no way out for them. It's impossible to stay alive and be determined innocent. The very act of dying in one of the cases ( an elderly woman lowered into water by a rope tied 'round her waist) was the only path to acquittal for that poor soul.

Set against these two true minions of earthly hell is a young beautiful couple hoping to marry. She, having an uncle with the great misfortune of being a Catholic priest in a festering anti-papal nation and he, a young Coronet (Lieutenant) in Oliver Cromwell's rebel army, played by Ian Ogilvy, who is perhaps the real lead of this film. The story gets cooking as Hopkins descends on the innocent priest. His niece who is his charge attempts saving him through the loss of her own innocence. I won't reveal anymore plot points other than to state that with Hopkins, you can't win. Or can you? And at what price?

So I've mentioned Price, I've mentioned Ogilvy - both great but the truel star of this film is it's twenty something director and co-writer, Michael Reeves. A young man who made two terrific films; this being his best before succumbing to a bout of drinking and downers that would end his life shortly after Witchfinder's release. He was truly the star of this film. Without him it could have been a B-horror movie ala Corman, but his wisdom-beyond-youth abilities elevates this film to just below the heights of The Exorcist and The Shining. Certainly on par with Robert Wise's The Haunting. His three great virtues as the director start with initially crafting a narrative screenplay out of what is essentially a basic history book written about Hopkins. Then, in really having a feel for the very English countryside where the actual Hopkins roamed and hence shooting it with a lyrical and melancholy flow. And lastly, his taming of an already legendary horror film actor, the great Vincent Price. And it is about this interaction that makes the film stand out beyond the great film it is, for the twenty something director was not going to put up with an entertaining but straight off the shelf performance by Price. This young man Reeves was one of those rare artists who's confidence in his own ability and his craftiness at application so managed to wrangle the star in, that, although acrimony developed, Price would later state that is was one of his best films. Another remarkable aspect of the film is it's look and professionalism on a minuscule budget; some 80 thousand English pounds in the day.

Honorable mention goes to Robert Russell who plays John Stearn, Hopkins torturing sidekick and occasional adversary.

And there were other horrors associated with this film. For one it's American distributer re-titleing it, The Conquerer Worm and replacing it's stellar orchestrated score with bad synth music and the fact that it's dashing young lead, Ian Ogilvy, never went on to much bigger fame. He has had some success but not what he deserved.

This is really a horror film most likely because it's not about horror at all. It's about bad people doing bad things and that can be pretty horrible. Please see it. Honor this director's best work and spread the word.

Oh and just one other thing: watch the movie and tell me that Kubrick didn't borrow from it! Watch it. The scene for those who know The Shining will be unmistakable. That alone should put Reeves in the top echelon of filmmakers.
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GODFREY H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Not Hammer, Not Horror, a UK Masterpiece
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2003
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Why one of the reviewers here insists on calling this a Hammer movie I don't know. It certainly isn't, and never was. I saw this on its initial release in 1968, and its dark power burned a hole in my psyche. It was released on a double bill with "Blood Beast Terror", starring Peter Cushing (and also NOT a Hammer film). The production outfit was an enterprising competitor of Hammer's called Tigon Pictures. The billing with the Cushing epic (an endearing thriller about a vampire moth), tells you that this movie was unfairly promoted (and trailed) as a horror pic. While it certainly is horrific, even sitting in the Sadean tradition of UK movies like "Peeping Tom" and "Circus of Horrors", it really transcends all genres, including the historical epic, while employing tropes from many diverse genres.
I asked Ian Ogilvy for his recollections of the movie a few years ago, but he seemed - strangely - not to understand what a masterpiece he'd been involved with ... he told me, for example, that filming the scene in the church, wherein Richard pledges vengeance, he'd felt it to be both sentimental and slightly silly. Rumors and gossip abound about the filming of the movie, and you can read some interesting anecdotes from contributors on the IMDB.com pages dealing with "Witchfinder General". For instance, Vincent Price to the director Michael Reeves: "I've made over 70 movies, what have YOU done?" Reeves: "Made three good ones."
It was also interesting when some years ago I visited the village of Lavenham, where much of the movie takes place, to hear recollections of the townspeople, many of whom appeared in the movie, and all of whom adored Vincent Price as a real gentleman. A pity Price never acknowledged publicly that "Witchfinder General" featured his best movie performance. Two other points: Johnny Coquillon's photography makes this movie what it is ... that, and Paul Ferris's ORIGINAL music score with its haunting "Greensleeves"-inspired melodies, which was foolishly washed out of the US release and replaced with generic soapy schmaltz. Perhaps this is at heart a movie for Brits (particularly ex-pats like me?) who adored the English landscape and sensed something terrible emerging in the collective unconscious during the late sixties that belied the pastoral hippie dream. The original version ended with a freeze frame of Hilary Dwyer, at the moment of her greatest anguish, and darkness has won, and we are all in hell. At this point in the American-International release, Poe's "Conqueror Worm" is inserted on the soundtrack to justify packaging the movie as a Price/Poe flick, brutalizing the movie and wrecking its original dark vision. I understand a DVD is available now with original score restored - I can only hope the ending, too, is given back to Reeves's vision. Incidentally, Michael Reeves's "Sorcerers", made just before "Witchfinder", anticipated the vicarious thrills of snuff movies and the Internet by decades, and contains one of Boris Karloff's finest performances. We mourn the loss of Reeves, but in his brief career he created at least one enduring masterpiece, and it's called "Witchfinder General".
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Mark
4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to watch, but the artistry is undeniable.
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2019
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This is a difficult film to watch. Neither the striking cinematography or the verisimilitude of the graphic portrayal of real historical events completely offset this impression, but it's undeniable that there's artistry here, and not just pandering to jaded and ghoulish tastes.

Wunderkind director Michael Reeves relentlessly lays bare here the hysteria and self-serving hypocrisy of historical witch-hunting agendas in 17th century England, condemning American witch trials in Salem by inference and eliciting terrific performances from his leads, Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Robert Russell, and Hillary Dwyer, along the way. Price is marvelously understated in particular, and plays corrupt lawyer General Matthew Hopkins with coiling, quiet menace, and a consummate sense of such latent evil that the shadow of his presence even seems to fall over scenes in which he doesn't appear. (Other reviews here have related how Reeves elicited such a powerful and atypically uncampy performance from Price. )

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of this film is that no character's destiny seems to play out quite the way the audience expects it to do, which culminates in an ending that's genuinely stunning, and even manages to top all the shock that's come before. This is the mark of a master film director and storyteller, and "Witchfinder General" is some kind of classic film.
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Snige
2.0 out of 5 stars Résolution / qualité du Blu-Ray est pire que la plupart des DVDs !
Reviewed in France on March 19, 2018
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Inutile de payer plus pour acheter le Blu-Ray. La résolution / qualité du Blu-Ray est pire que la plupart des DVDs ! (voir la photo j'ai pris)
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Snige
2.0 out of 5 stars Résolution / qualité du Blu-Ray est pire que la plupart des DVDs !
Reviewed in France on March 19, 2018
Inutile de payer plus pour acheter le Blu-Ray. La résolution / qualité du Blu-Ray est pire que la plupart des DVDs ! (voir la photo j'ai pris)
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Mr N.P.M (U.K)
5.0 out of 5 stars A real classic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2016
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A tale of brutality in the name of righteousness as perpetrated by the real life witch-hunter Matthew Hopkins and his followers during the English Civil War. Uneasy viewing, but fascinating also, as the barbarity shown is very likely how Hopkins actually sought out his victims and dealt with them. It was a bad era in which to find oneself in the wrong place at the wrong time, as discovered by a young soldier and the love of his life caught up in the mayhem. These two leading characters may be fictitious, but the background is much nearer the truth, as explained very illuminatingly in one of the many “extras” within the Blu-ray package.

This Blu-ray version certainly doesn’t lack the excesses depicted in the film’s original theatrical release, fully justified in my opinion in order to describe realistically an uncomfortable period of British history. Dating from the late 1960s, “Witchfinder General” may not contain the pacey shock-horror treatment expected by today’s audiences, but surely it’s the drawing out of the scenes containing physical and mental torment that helps to make the film so haunting. Full marks to the talented and sadly short-lived young director for his imaginative treatment and lasting impact that still sends shudders up my spine nearly fifty years after seeing it in the cinema. To label it solely as a “horror” film, though, may be unjustly demeaning; there’s more to it than that.

Technically, the quality of both picture and sound is very good, considering that this relatively small scale production has not undergone a full restoration. Just a few minor flashes and sparkles here and there on the vision, probably little more than what would have been visible on an early release print. The audio is in original mono, but pleasantly intelligible; in those days before optical stereo tracks existed, multi-channel audio was reserved for “bigger” productions using large format or anamorphic prints carrying 6-track or 4-track magnetic sound but, had a suitable system been available for “Witchfinder General”, it’s questionable whether the film would have benefited from it except for enhancing the lush music.

The acting may be a trifle studied compared with modern realism, but there is a strong cast. Vincent Price as Matthew Hopkins almost underplays the ruthlessness of his character who thinks he’s only doing a good job, but comes across as just about the nastiest anti-hero ever – arguably his finest film role. Even nastier is Hopkins’ aide John Stearne, most convincingly played by prolific bit-part actor Robert Russell (not to be confused with a modern namesake), exuding venom mercilessly. Ian Ogilvy as the hero soldier may be recognizable more as the actor who took over the TV role of Simon Templar (“The Saint”) from Roger Moore a decade later. Amongst others, Rupert Davies played a memorable TV Maigret in the early 1960s, Wilfrid Brambell was the dad in the long-running TV comedy series “Steptoe and Son”, and Peter Haigh in another life presented the cinema-going series “Picture Parade” on television and “Movie Go Round” on the radio. Some of us will remember them well.
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Victor
5.0 out of 5 stars Witchfinder General, 2003 special edition - Vincent Price's most chilling performance
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2009
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An avid watcher of Vincent Price films, I am a great fan of the style of camp gothic horror he perfected along with Roger Corman. I was totally unprepared for what I saw in this film.

Price plays Matthew Hopkins, a figure who looms large in the British folk memory. The Witchfinder General, a man of infinite infamy. Hopkins was a lawyer from East Anglia, who used the religious mania and political turmoil of the Civil War to prey upon his victims, persuading gullible villagers that various citizens were witches, and putting them to horrible deaths.

Price is totally chilling as the sadistic and cynical Hopkins. There is no hint of his more comedic performances here, he dominates the film and his malevolent presence overshadows every scene. The film follows his visits to several villages and explores his methods and motivations, leading to the deaths of various innocents. The story also follows a young soldier (an impressive Ian Ogilvy) in Cromwell's army, who is driven to revenge after Hopkins preys upon those close to him.

Director Michael Reeves beautifully brings the era of the civil war to life with some impressive location work and cinematography. He directs with a brisk pace, but manages to explore many characters fully and presents them as real people. Sadly, this was to be his last film as he died shortly after. Also worth getting is his only other work, `The Sorcerers', again with Ogilvy and an aged Boris Karloff. He only made two films but both were masterpieces that any director would be proud of.

It is hard to believe that this film was produced by Tigon, a film studio set up as a cheap rival to Hammer. It has a well crafted and well produced feel to it.

This special edition is pretty good. The film is presented in 16:9 widescreen with a mono soundtrack. The picture has been remastered and restored, and it shows. There are some decent extras, including a documentary about Michael Reeves and a trailer for `The Sorcerers'.

A great release for a great film. For my money a horror classic that stands alongside the `Wicker Man'.
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rbmusicman/and/movie-fan'
4.0 out of 5 stars 'HE PREY'S UPON FEAR'
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2014
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Master of Horror legend 'Vincent Price' plays 'Mathew Hopkins' who as a distraction
from the 'Royalist/Cromwell civil-war, with sadistic assistant 'John Stearn' (Robert
Russell) offer their services, at a price, to identify potential Witches living within the
communities of a fearful and superstitious villages of South-East Britain, carrying
out a torture and cleansing regime to extract a confession.
'Hopkins' and 'Stearn' are heading toward the small town of 'Brandistone' to investigate
accusations against the local Priest, 'John Lowes' (Rupert Davies)
The Priests niece 'Sarah' (Hilary Heath) is to marry 'Roundhead' Officer 'Richard Marshall'
(Ian Ogilvy) who in return has promised 'John Lowes' that he'll protect 'Sarah'
When 'Richard' learns of what has taken place in Brandistone' in his absence he takes
unofficial leave from his duties to pursue 'Hopkins' and 'Stearn' to serve justice upon them.
This is a nostalgic trip back in time giving an opportunity to reflect on a film we'd have viewed
as a Horror movie back in the late 60's.
The film of course does contain scenes of violence in the shape of torture, carrying out execution,
and some fight scenes.
This a 1968 movie that has been given an HD upgrade, which certainly gives a sharper picture
quality to that of a DVD version, some of the 80's and 90's upgrades are not as good in truth.
The film a journey into a bygone age in which the fearful and uneducated fell victim of ruthless
opportunists ...
Special Features -
* Audio Commentary with 'Benjamin Halligan' and 'Michael Reeves'
* The Blood Beast - The Films of 'Michael Reeves' (SD 24 mins)
* Blood Crimes - Witchcraft (SD 24 mins)
* 'Vincent Price' on Aspel and Company (SD 10 mins)
* Intrusion - 'Michael Reeves' short film (SD 10 mins)
* Alternative Scenes from the Export Version (SD)
* Alternative Opening and Closing Credits (HD)
* Theatrical Trailer (SD)
* Stills Gallery (HD)
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Bruggadung
4.0 out of 5 stars A Vincent tour-de-force
Reviewed in Canada on February 1, 2010
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As with any movie coming out of a less edit-heavy, production conscious tradition, one must allow it to have lapses in logic or continuity in places. For its time and genre, the movie works and, I would echo others, it is refreshing to see Vincent Price plumb his artistic depths... sadly, it would not be too much after this movie that he would be mocking his art in the campy TV show, The Hilarious House of Frightenstein.
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