This film, while not a classic, avoids being a schlockfest for several reasons. The script, about a 17th century English witch being summoned back from the dead by a spell and inhabiting the body of a college co-ed, is a cut above. It's all opinion, but the acting is uniformly good, considering the usual stock of talent that populates these films. The filmmakers must have raided the best of the local collegiate theater majors and community theater talent, because the actors all give competent performances. The low budget enhances the film in some ways. The prologue, showing the hanging of the titular witch, is an effective montage of tight shots of the witch's and executioners' feet walking through muddy sludge to the gallows and the aforementioned characters' faces as the execution transpires. The film then cuts to the opening titles, shown over silent footage of windy autumnal Dallas streets as a singer performs a witch's "rune" acapella. It's an unsettling performance that creates some much-needed atmosphere and, hopefully, gives one an inkling of what will follow. I'm not a filmmaker, but the style exhibited in these opening moments made me hope that what I was about to watch would be, at least, competent and, at most, a great lost film. MARK OF THE WITCH is not a lost classic, but it is an effectively made little horror flick, made on the cheap by people who show not a little raw talent. Some will be disappointed that it's not a train wreck of bad acting and threadbare production values, while others will rue the fact that the movie isn't packed with blood and gore. What MARK OF THE WITCH is is a movie that moves toward it's ending methodically at a pace more in keeping with early 70s TV movies than modern slashers. But that's a good thing. Just train yourself to wait for the payoff.
21 Reviews
Low-budget, melodramatic witch flick shot in Dallas in 1969
Wuchakk23 March 2020
A witch that is hanged in the 1600s is inadvertently resurrected 321 years later at a Dallas area college by some nice students playing around with an old book of spells. The witch possesses a student and seems intent on getting revenge on the descendant of the man who executed her.
"Mark of the Witch" (1970) is a low-budget horror flick that's rather generic, but also effective in several ways. The overt satanic rituals were nothing new at the time as they were featured in earlier slicker films like "Masque of the Red Death" (1964) and "Devils of Darkness" (1965). While the movie was shot in 1969, the protagonists aren't hippies, but rather groovy-but-agreeable college students & their hip professor (Robert Elston).
The actress who plays the witch at the beginning of the film lays it on too thick and is exasperating. But the actress who plays Jill (Anitra Walsh) is impressive for a no-name. Actually winsome Anitra is one of the main reasons this movie is worth catching. She looks great in her blue mini-dress, etc. Unfortunately she died prematurely in 1980 at the age of 32.
The tame special effects are surprisingly proficient and the music is effectively creepy. Regrettably, the final act needed more oomph. But "Mark of the Witch" is a must to observe college culture in 1969 (styles, décor, vehicles, social customs, etc.).
The film runs 1 hour and 24 minutes and was shot in the Dallas area, including Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.
GRADE: B-
"Mark of the Witch" (1970) is a low-budget horror flick that's rather generic, but also effective in several ways. The overt satanic rituals were nothing new at the time as they were featured in earlier slicker films like "Masque of the Red Death" (1964) and "Devils of Darkness" (1965). While the movie was shot in 1969, the protagonists aren't hippies, but rather groovy-but-agreeable college students & their hip professor (Robert Elston).
The actress who plays the witch at the beginning of the film lays it on too thick and is exasperating. But the actress who plays Jill (Anitra Walsh) is impressive for a no-name. Actually winsome Anitra is one of the main reasons this movie is worth catching. She looks great in her blue mini-dress, etc. Unfortunately she died prematurely in 1980 at the age of 32.
The tame special effects are surprisingly proficient and the music is effectively creepy. Regrettably, the final act needed more oomph. But "Mark of the Witch" is a must to observe college culture in 1969 (styles, décor, vehicles, social customs, etc.).
The film runs 1 hour and 24 minutes and was shot in the Dallas area, including Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.
GRADE: B-
Remarkably entertaining- quite a surprise
hedonis8 April 2010
I love old horror movies, especially when I know none of the people in them, and they are from an era before there were cell phones, iPods, and back when clichés were being made, rather than laughed at for their ridiculousness.
The story is pretty basic- ancient curse of a doomed witch, jumping forward to the "present" (ha ha), where of course, the witch returns. The pacing is pretty good, with the story at least always moving forward. I didn't find it too predictable, which was good, and despite how dated the fashion and music were, it was interesting.
Technically, it was a mixed bag for me. Grainy old film stock and imperfect sound actually make an old horror film better for me in some respects. Like one of the other reviewers, I found the spoken words over the opening titles a bit creepy, but most of the soundtrack is rather annoying.
The acting is acceptable from some of the cast ("Alan" was pretty good), and the copy I watched was choppy and the film was scratched. Still, this brings back some fond memories of movie-watching to those of us old enough to have operated a "record player".
While not a classic, I'd recommend this for anyone who loves old horror movies. Simple, fun, and not so burdened by huge effects sequences or big stars that you ever feel distracted from the story. Watch and enjoy!
The story is pretty basic- ancient curse of a doomed witch, jumping forward to the "present" (ha ha), where of course, the witch returns. The pacing is pretty good, with the story at least always moving forward. I didn't find it too predictable, which was good, and despite how dated the fashion and music were, it was interesting.
Technically, it was a mixed bag for me. Grainy old film stock and imperfect sound actually make an old horror film better for me in some respects. Like one of the other reviewers, I found the spoken words over the opening titles a bit creepy, but most of the soundtrack is rather annoying.
The acting is acceptable from some of the cast ("Alan" was pretty good), and the copy I watched was choppy and the film was scratched. Still, this brings back some fond memories of movie-watching to those of us old enough to have operated a "record player".
While not a classic, I'd recommend this for anyone who loves old horror movies. Simple, fun, and not so burdened by huge effects sequences or big stars that you ever feel distracted from the story. Watch and enjoy!
Dull and boring
Wizard-826 November 2011
I got the opportunity to watch the recently unearthed R-rated version of this movie (the movie was cut for its original theatrical release in order to get a PG rating). So I was expecting the movie to be somewhat explicit in either gore or sexual material. But I was surprised. This original cut shouldn't have got an R rating back in 1970! The only sexual material is one (brief) scene of toplessness, and when it comes to violence there are only a few drops of blood and a couple of scenes of hangings directed in a restrained manner.
Still, despite this lack of exploitive material, the movie could still have been a decent supernatural shocker. But it isn't. It's very slow moving, and with a LOT of chitchat to pad things out. So I would say the PG version is the version to seek out if you really want to see this movie - because it's shorter and therefore easier to sit through.
Still, despite this lack of exploitive material, the movie could still have been a decent supernatural shocker. But it isn't. It's very slow moving, and with a LOT of chitchat to pad things out. So I would say the PG version is the version to seek out if you really want to see this movie - because it's shorter and therefore easier to sit through.
Typical 70's Witchcraft Thriller Schlock
speechdr6 May 1999
This movie had potential in its storyline. Very enthralling basis about a witch who is summoned to the twentieth-century and wreaks havoc upon the descendent of the man who is her lover and persecutor centuries before. While this plot is fascinating, the film itself flounders with typical and hackneyed evil spells and tricks used by the witch, which make the true fiber of the story into a peripheral byline until the very end. I saw this movie in the early eighties and the fact that I can remember so much about the storyline is a testament to what this movie could have been. However, it is a big disappointment and you will kick yourself for having wasted your time to watch it.
Very cheesy
Dan_Scarpa20 December 2002
During some sort of witchcraft party, a group of young adults all decide to have a séance. They summon the witch using a chant they found in some book, but it seems like nothing happens. But something did happen. The main character is possessed by the witch and goes on a murderous killing spree! Of course, since this was a low-budget film made in the early seventies, all the lines are incredibly cheesy and bad. Lines like "I like girls dumb, but you're pushing it!" and stupid things of that nature are said.
I saw this movie because the guy that played Harry was my drama teacher.
I saw this movie because the guy that played Harry was my drama teacher.
Indie horror flick
Leofwine_draca4 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
MARK OF THE WITCH is an independent US horror flick from 1970 that just about gets by despite the entire lack of budget and talent behind the camera. The film follows a bunch of dated college students as they become convinced that one of their peers is the reincarnation of a witch who died some 300 years previously, swearing revenge on her persecutors. It's mainly a static and talky little enterprise, but it does manage to build up a relatively fair head of steam along the way, and the ritualistic moments, although limited, tend to hit home. The spooky storyline brings to mind the likes of CITY OF THE DEAD and the actors certainly work hard to invest in the tale.
This would work so much better as an adult film!
Coventry29 December 2018
"Mark of the Witch" is the prototype of a cheap and amateurish 70s exploitation/horror movie, and I can't possibly be too harsh on those. Yes, it's truly bad and becomes even worse when analyzing it more thoroughly, but the enthusiasm and goodwill of the people in front and behind the camera literally radiates from the screen. They can't help being utterly incompetent, right? This film has almost too many problems to list. For starters, even though the plot is nonexistent, it's still inaccurate, derivative and senseless! The story opens with the execution of a witch 300 years ago. Funny, I wasn't aware witches were hanged? And certainly not in Texas! Anyway, the vicious she-devil keeps ranting and ranting on before eventually putting the obligatory spell on the descendants of her prosecutor. Fast forward to present day on a Houston college campus, where the descendant - Mac Stuart - is a funky professor who throws occult seance parties for his class of dimwits. During such a seance, the innocent college cutie Jill becomes possessed by the spirit of the medieval witch! The biggest forte of "Mark of the Witch" is that they couldn't possibly had chosen a more saintly and purer actress than Anitra Walsh for the role of the supposedly evil witch. Walsh is looking so sweet and naive that the contrast with her vulgar talks and malevolent acts work surprisingly well! She causes for a parakeet to explode just to prove how evil she is, and then continues to seduce and murder her fellow students for no apparent reason. "Mark of the Witch" is so boring slow-paced that your thoughts too easily wander off. I, for instance, couldn't stop imagining that the film would work much better as an adult movie. Think about it! The male actors are ugly and sleazy enough to be vintage porn actors, especially Robert Elston, while the girls are ravishing and curvy. Given the subject matter, the clumsy production values and the lousy acting performances, nearly every sequence also fits perfectly into an erotic context. The satanic ritual dance, the naughty student seducing her professor, the lesbian encounter, etc. Alas we must settle for thick red 70s blood, laughable dialogues, weird camera angles and one brief but worthy topless moment provided by the lovely Anitra Walsh.
Marked off my list...for good.
mark.waltz7 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Cheapo horror films of the 1960's and 70's come in two types: campy and fun (especially for a night of light partying with friends) or a one off viewing where the disc goes into the trash simply because you never intend to watch it again or risk losing a friend by passing it on. This is the later, a cheaply made story of supernatural revenge that was decently photographed but features hideous headache inducing soumd effects.
Turn filmed in Dallas, filmed in the past with a witch being hanged and vowing revenge on his descendants, coming back when one of the students at a modern Dallas College comes across the books on witchcraft and brings her back thanks to have a spell. The witch takes over her body, and plans to utilize the descendants of the men who put her to death for her own nefarious purpose. It's painful to listen to and offers no chills. The acting, especially the young girl playing the unfortunate body lender, can best be described as shrill.
Turn filmed in Dallas, filmed in the past with a witch being hanged and vowing revenge on his descendants, coming back when one of the students at a modern Dallas College comes across the books on witchcraft and brings her back thanks to have a spell. The witch takes over her body, and plans to utilize the descendants of the men who put her to death for her own nefarious purpose. It's painful to listen to and offers no chills. The acting, especially the young girl playing the unfortunate body lender, can best be described as shrill.
A mixed bag
le_chiffre-11 September 2009
What I liked about this movie:
I don't know what film stock this was shot on, but it gives the movie a distinct look. Deep blacks and the colors haven't faded much, which is unusual for a 40-year-old movie. I assume it was done using the color process that preceded the one that was so prone to fading and that gave so many 70's movies their washed out look.
Some of the photography was quite nice, as when they're sitting around a table doing a ritual near the end.
The soundtrack, consisting of the ominous blips and drones of an analog synthesizer, was very effective, and the singsongy, a cappella piece done by Trella Hart over the opening credits was downright eerie.
The actress who played Jill (Anitra Walsh), even if I wasn't mesmerized by her performance, was a doll, which made her scenes a pleasure to watch.
On the down side, the acting was amateurish, going from the bad acting typical of low-budget movies to the two main female characters (Margery of Jourdemain and Jill) delivering overwrought monologues like they were in a stage play (good actors like Vincent Price can get away with that sort of thing in movies, but these two just came off like members of a high school drama club).
The woman who played Margery of Jourdemain (Marie Santel) was every bit as hideous as Anitra Walsh was gorgeous. With her botched nose job, she looked like Michael Jackson.
I found the story hard to follow at times and it seemed like there were holes in the plot (though maybe I missed something). I think the writers were trying to be clever by inserting unpredictable plot twists, but the execution was so poor that it just made the story incoherent. At times it seemed the filmmakers couldn't decide whether they were creating a horror movie or a comedy (a movie can be both, of course, but in this case the combination didn't work).
The movie was a mixed bag. It had good atmosphere but I had trouble getting into the story and characters. Overall, with a 5 out of 10 being the middle, I think this movie was more good than bad, so I'm giving it a 6 out of 10. I watch a lot of old horror movies and this one is more memorable than many, despite its flaws. Worth a look if it's running on TV or you see it for rent at a video store.
I don't know what film stock this was shot on, but it gives the movie a distinct look. Deep blacks and the colors haven't faded much, which is unusual for a 40-year-old movie. I assume it was done using the color process that preceded the one that was so prone to fading and that gave so many 70's movies their washed out look.
Some of the photography was quite nice, as when they're sitting around a table doing a ritual near the end.
The soundtrack, consisting of the ominous blips and drones of an analog synthesizer, was very effective, and the singsongy, a cappella piece done by Trella Hart over the opening credits was downright eerie.
The actress who played Jill (Anitra Walsh), even if I wasn't mesmerized by her performance, was a doll, which made her scenes a pleasure to watch.
On the down side, the acting was amateurish, going from the bad acting typical of low-budget movies to the two main female characters (Margery of Jourdemain and Jill) delivering overwrought monologues like they were in a stage play (good actors like Vincent Price can get away with that sort of thing in movies, but these two just came off like members of a high school drama club).
The woman who played Margery of Jourdemain (Marie Santel) was every bit as hideous as Anitra Walsh was gorgeous. With her botched nose job, she looked like Michael Jackson.
I found the story hard to follow at times and it seemed like there were holes in the plot (though maybe I missed something). I think the writers were trying to be clever by inserting unpredictable plot twists, but the execution was so poor that it just made the story incoherent. At times it seemed the filmmakers couldn't decide whether they were creating a horror movie or a comedy (a movie can be both, of course, but in this case the combination didn't work).
The movie was a mixed bag. It had good atmosphere but I had trouble getting into the story and characters. Overall, with a 5 out of 10 being the middle, I think this movie was more good than bad, so I'm giving it a 6 out of 10. I watch a lot of old horror movies and this one is more memorable than many, despite its flaws. Worth a look if it's running on TV or you see it for rent at a video store.
A waste of good beer.
BA_Harrison23 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
After performing a magic ritual, college student Jill (Anitra Walsh) is possessed by the spirit of a 17th century witch who seeks revenge on a descendant of the man who betrayed her.
Anitra Walsh died way too young at the age of 32 (IMDb doesn't say how), but even if she had lived a full life and actively pursued her acting career, I doubt she would have become a star if her turn as Jill in Mark Of The Witch is anything to go by: her performance is terrible (she's in good company - everyone else in the film sucks too!).
Thankfully, Anitra is quite the looker, which means that, what this hokey piece of '70s schlock lacks in talent and originality (the whole vengeful witch thing had been done ten years earlier in Bava's Black Sunday), it makes up for in eye-candy: Anitra spends most of her time in a fetching mini-dress, and even provides some brief topless nudity. For that, I'll give the film 4/10.
Best moment: Jill magically explodes a parakeet.
N.B. Look out for the cheap newspaper prop - a real newspaper which has had a new headline clumsily pasted over the original wording. Also, those two draft beers... what a waste!
Anitra Walsh died way too young at the age of 32 (IMDb doesn't say how), but even if she had lived a full life and actively pursued her acting career, I doubt she would have become a star if her turn as Jill in Mark Of The Witch is anything to go by: her performance is terrible (she's in good company - everyone else in the film sucks too!).
Thankfully, Anitra is quite the looker, which means that, what this hokey piece of '70s schlock lacks in talent and originality (the whole vengeful witch thing had been done ten years earlier in Bava's Black Sunday), it makes up for in eye-candy: Anitra spends most of her time in a fetching mini-dress, and even provides some brief topless nudity. For that, I'll give the film 4/10.
Best moment: Jill magically explodes a parakeet.
N.B. Look out for the cheap newspaper prop - a real newspaper which has had a new headline clumsily pasted over the original wording. Also, those two draft beers... what a waste!
Marks the end 60's horror.
tvcarsd7 October 2020
I don't know of that many time traveling horror movies like this from around it's time so the script was a bit daring. The acting is pretty normal for its time and once it gets going I found it pickings up. The acting and creative directing reminded me a lot of The Evil Dead (1981) actually so there's really little to complain about.
The excessive use of painful and distracting synth sounds and uneven volume through out the movie would have to be the low points. Apart from the underwhelming and substandard sound work on the movie I found it easy to follow, a little over-acted at the start but it unraveled consistently and was easy to follow. Definitely under-rated but it doesn't fall into the gem in the rough category, well not a highly valuable gem anyhow. It's okay, just don't expect The Exorcist.
I found it a little sad in way, as this movie to me depicts an end to a great era.
The excessive use of painful and distracting synth sounds and uneven volume through out the movie would have to be the low points. Apart from the underwhelming and substandard sound work on the movie I found it easy to follow, a little over-acted at the start but it unraveled consistently and was easy to follow. Definitely under-rated but it doesn't fall into the gem in the rough category, well not a highly valuable gem anyhow. It's okay, just don't expect The Exorcist.
I found it a little sad in way, as this movie to me depicts an end to a great era.
Painfully boring early 70's horror
dworldeater28 October 2021
Mark Of The Witch is a very dated and super boring occult horror flick. Don't expect a low budget Rosemary's Baby or even The Devil's Rain for that matter. The devil definitely does not get his due in this stinker. The acting is on par with Plan 9 From Outer Space and if you can manage to stay awake you might get a good laugh. However if you want to actually watch something that one might consider good, you would be best suited to stay away from this drive in stinker. Mark Of The Witch is pure schlock that is guaranteed to test the patience of the most ardent exploitation fans.
"They Will Remember My Words Until They Gibber In Madness!"...
azathothpwiggins7 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
MARK OF THE WITCH opens in olden times, where a woman / witch in tarantula-like eyelashes gives a lengthy, very animated speech, cursing all involved, before being hanged.
Zoom forward to modern days, and we are introduced to a young woman named Jill (Anitra Walsh) who buys a mysterious book. Later, at a college bash, Jill astonishes the crowd by using her book for recitations and incantations!
Oh no!
Something's happened to Jill! She now speaks in a strange, affected voice instead of her usual grooviness! Now possessed, it's not long before she kills a dog and doles out some overdue retribution! Jill's boyfriend, Alan (Darryl Wells) doesn't believe in witches, until Jill makes a parakeet explode like a feathery grenade! In no time, Jill is yelling malarkey and causing a backyard hullabaloo!
Dear lord! She gets the girls out!
Meanwhile, an eternally long discussion is had concerning just what to do about the "Jill problem". Much hyperbole, emoting, and stylish branding follow, while Jill does her best to reduce the airhead population.
This movie is a rib-tickler from start to finish. Jill's cackle alone is enough to make it a classic!
DO NOT MISS: The Beelzebub vs. Jeezuz, cross-eyed Jill finale, complete with a bloody kiss, time travel, and a flashing crucifix! It will pickle thy soul!...
Zoom forward to modern days, and we are introduced to a young woman named Jill (Anitra Walsh) who buys a mysterious book. Later, at a college bash, Jill astonishes the crowd by using her book for recitations and incantations!
Oh no!
Something's happened to Jill! She now speaks in a strange, affected voice instead of her usual grooviness! Now possessed, it's not long before she kills a dog and doles out some overdue retribution! Jill's boyfriend, Alan (Darryl Wells) doesn't believe in witches, until Jill makes a parakeet explode like a feathery grenade! In no time, Jill is yelling malarkey and causing a backyard hullabaloo!
Dear lord! She gets the girls out!
Meanwhile, an eternally long discussion is had concerning just what to do about the "Jill problem". Much hyperbole, emoting, and stylish branding follow, while Jill does her best to reduce the airhead population.
This movie is a rib-tickler from start to finish. Jill's cackle alone is enough to make it a classic!
DO NOT MISS: The Beelzebub vs. Jeezuz, cross-eyed Jill finale, complete with a bloody kiss, time travel, and a flashing crucifix! It will pickle thy soul!...
Not Bad For A Low Budget "B" Movie
jimcarter195931 October 2020
Most of the cast were one and done with their film careers. Oddly; the majority of the actors prominently featured died prematurely. Despite the subject matter (and a flash of nudity), this was filmed at various "Christian" universities in Texas.
Smell.
valstone524 August 2019
Who forgot to call Frankie & Annette?
BloodTheTelepathicDog23 April 2023
A witch movie set in the groovy late-Sixties, with a bunch of awe-shucks college kids, putting aside their beach blankets for a night to muck around with witchcraft.
Those of short attention spans will miss out on some of the interesting material in this B-movie, for watching MARK OF THE WITCH is like turning on a baseball game and finding the home team down 8-to-0 in the first inning. Most folks would change the channel rather than endure a drubbing, but the horrendous opening scene and the worst "song" ever played during credits, will give way to a mildly entertaining witch themed diversion.
The lovely coed Jill (Anitra Walsh), sweet as apple pie and the perfect portrait of the girl-next-door, finds a book on witchcraft at a university book sale. She buys the book, takes it to a party with all her hepcat friends, and playfully calls forth the spirit of a witch. All is done in fun and jest, but a witch, dead some 300 years, is indeed summoned and takes residence in Jill's nubile body. The witch has mayhem in store for this buttoned-up college.
STORY $$: Nothing terribly inventive is unveiled in this flick, which hinders the overall viewing experience. What the witch has in store is anyone's guess, for she saunters out to a grove at night, calls forth her coven, but no other witches or warlocks rear their heads. She makes a few sacrifices, explodes a caged bird and tries to seduce a professor... standard witch stuff, you know.
ACTING $$: This is pretty much all Anitra Walsh. Surprisingly, this is Miss Walsh's only film credit of any substance. She shows a rather remarkable skill for soliloquies, camera up close on her profile, as she calls out to her coven in the netherworld. She proves more than capable of carrying a picture, with the aptitude for acting and a screen presence that is casual, like one doing exactly what they were put on this earth to do.
SEX/NUDITY $$: While calling out to her heinous, devil-worshiping cronies at midnight, Jill gets aroused and lets her breasts have some night air. A body double for Anitra Walsh was almost certainly used.
Those of short attention spans will miss out on some of the interesting material in this B-movie, for watching MARK OF THE WITCH is like turning on a baseball game and finding the home team down 8-to-0 in the first inning. Most folks would change the channel rather than endure a drubbing, but the horrendous opening scene and the worst "song" ever played during credits, will give way to a mildly entertaining witch themed diversion.
The lovely coed Jill (Anitra Walsh), sweet as apple pie and the perfect portrait of the girl-next-door, finds a book on witchcraft at a university book sale. She buys the book, takes it to a party with all her hepcat friends, and playfully calls forth the spirit of a witch. All is done in fun and jest, but a witch, dead some 300 years, is indeed summoned and takes residence in Jill's nubile body. The witch has mayhem in store for this buttoned-up college.
STORY $$: Nothing terribly inventive is unveiled in this flick, which hinders the overall viewing experience. What the witch has in store is anyone's guess, for she saunters out to a grove at night, calls forth her coven, but no other witches or warlocks rear their heads. She makes a few sacrifices, explodes a caged bird and tries to seduce a professor... standard witch stuff, you know.
ACTING $$: This is pretty much all Anitra Walsh. Surprisingly, this is Miss Walsh's only film credit of any substance. She shows a rather remarkable skill for soliloquies, camera up close on her profile, as she calls out to her coven in the netherworld. She proves more than capable of carrying a picture, with the aptitude for acting and a screen presence that is casual, like one doing exactly what they were put on this earth to do.
SEX/NUDITY $$: While calling out to her heinous, devil-worshiping cronies at midnight, Jill gets aroused and lets her breasts have some night air. A body double for Anitra Walsh was almost certainly used.
Mark = F+
saint_brett14 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I wanted to watch 'Alice, Sweet Alice' tonight but was unable to locate my copy. Did I give it away? We'll watch whatever this short movie is.
Did I really buy this DVD? For heaven's sake, why?
It kicks off in a primitive time where some pilgrims are lynching a British hag who speaks her final words and rambles on about Ponda Baba for some reason. How'd Walrus Man become known as Ponda Baba today? We never referred to him as that back in the 1970s. Is it politically incorrect to say Walrus Man today? Does that offend certain people with neurofibromatosis or Proteus syndrome? They wouldn't want to watch the original 'Total Recall' then. Movie's full of mutants and Zoidberg's. Oh wait, I'm thinking of Anthony Hopkin's Elephant Man, not Walrus Man.
What looks like Pieter Vorstedt from 'Lethal Weapon 2' is the commanding officer in charge of hanging the hag, and he has a bobble head and Toby Mcguire's mouth and eyes.
The British hag is still running her mouth off. Just hang her already. Do you have any final words - not your entire autobiography.
The title of the movie appears, and the lady singing mentions Hammerhead in the lyrics twice. What's with all the 'New Hope' references?
What looks like the son of Spock buys a whole library of occult bibles from the Yorkshire Ripper and invites him to a sleepover at a coven gathering.
Boiling under the surface, you just know that at any minute now, one of the Patridge family members will pop up.
"I like my chicks dumb, baby, but you're really something else," says the dork with spittle drooling off his bottom lip. That's his pickup line for a total stranger.
How'd this crap time travel from the 16th century to the 60s? To think that only a decade earlier, Ed Gein was digging for treasures.
A bunch of 60s academics lower their standards and dabble in a silly seance, which is usually reserved for impressionable teenagers.
The British slag who was hung at the start is summoned and enters Jill, who uses an ancient foul text I've never heard before - you impotent lackwit. Lackwit? Is that even a word? A lackwit is a witless person or fool. I never heard of it.
The movie becomes about possession where a 16th-century hanging victim enters the body of little goody two shoes, Jill. She has 'V'-like powers and kills budgerigars but doesn't bite their heads off like the lizard people in 'V.' This Spock kid thinks he's Michael Nesmith from The Monkees. He's got his hair.
What am I watching: 'Halloween 5-Ply?' They sport a silly wrist tattoo of seahorses to communicate with the dead souls of yesterday.
Why am I watching this crap at Christmas time for? All I ever watch is garbage every night. And I own this DVD?
The movie's one big drama theatrical display with no action.
It descends into a farce when the dead witch roll calls dead students from a bygone era and names off every one of them twice in two scenes! Get a load of this hogwash. Before killing a kid, she prepares the soil and a tree trunk with a spell ritual and calls to the following: Harky, Gag-On, Bellsickle, and Curry Jack. They're supposed to appear and walk the earth again, apparently. They all sound like 1950s gang names. They're definitely not Star Wars characters, that's for sure. Not finished with her summonings, she further calls on A Snow Disc, Al Connect, Ark Fat Sac, and Alli Donut-San, Ali Mills karate sister, right?
The dead-possessed actress starts drugging unsuspecting cult members and making them sign up for a 12-month subscription to Satan Weekly or something.
It's hard to believe that there are some people in life who take all this crap seriously, which is sad as they give the occult a sinister edge considering that it's a portal to the astral world, which is beautiful in itself and not about murder, spells, or revenge portrayed here in this movie. The occult isn't as sinister as most will have you believe.
The dead witch starts plying reluctant members with truth serum and turning them into compliant dead zombies. Or, plain dead corpses, take your pick.
At the one hour and 7-minute mark, Mr. Miyagi's rare Devil's Cauldron bonsai appears in the background in another boring talkfest scene between the son of Spock, Michael Nesmith, and Pieter Vorstedt from 'Lethal Weapon 2.' The son of Spock, Nesmith, reminds me a bit of a young Anthony Perkins at times.
Around the one-hour, 10-minute mark, is that not Jeffrey Dahmer on the right there?
There she goes again, speaking in an ancient tongue, calling to whom exactly? Let me see if I can translate all these batches of non-Star Wars names. Ma'Hordan of the turkey horror order, Dead Arm: the prince who has a long, hard dappyhendrid. Hey, she said it, not me! It sounds like a plant or a cousin to Tippi Hedren. Belta Gord, Calda-something? Clowdadeath? Ass Mole'ias!?! Now we're getting into 'Beavis and Butthead' territory.
She's still going with her list, and I'm really struggling here.
Are Fack Sac, Kall Kannex, and Aladoins (Must be Creed's forgotten brother?) Levithan, Bell Bareath (one shade away from bad breath.) Ansatith (one shade away from antibacterial mouthwash.) Are you quite done, lady?
At the one hour and 14-minute mark, an Atari 2600 big boss in the form of a cross confronts the dead witch and polarizes her into relinquishing the possessed dead girl, Jill.
Um, not making any sense, what's his name from 'Lethal Weapon 2' hits first base with the dead witch, is transported back to the 16th century, and finds himself in the comfort of a noose, and the movie ends with no credits.
Why me?
Did I really buy this DVD? For heaven's sake, why?
It kicks off in a primitive time where some pilgrims are lynching a British hag who speaks her final words and rambles on about Ponda Baba for some reason. How'd Walrus Man become known as Ponda Baba today? We never referred to him as that back in the 1970s. Is it politically incorrect to say Walrus Man today? Does that offend certain people with neurofibromatosis or Proteus syndrome? They wouldn't want to watch the original 'Total Recall' then. Movie's full of mutants and Zoidberg's. Oh wait, I'm thinking of Anthony Hopkin's Elephant Man, not Walrus Man.
What looks like Pieter Vorstedt from 'Lethal Weapon 2' is the commanding officer in charge of hanging the hag, and he has a bobble head and Toby Mcguire's mouth and eyes.
The British hag is still running her mouth off. Just hang her already. Do you have any final words - not your entire autobiography.
The title of the movie appears, and the lady singing mentions Hammerhead in the lyrics twice. What's with all the 'New Hope' references?
What looks like the son of Spock buys a whole library of occult bibles from the Yorkshire Ripper and invites him to a sleepover at a coven gathering.
Boiling under the surface, you just know that at any minute now, one of the Patridge family members will pop up.
"I like my chicks dumb, baby, but you're really something else," says the dork with spittle drooling off his bottom lip. That's his pickup line for a total stranger.
How'd this crap time travel from the 16th century to the 60s? To think that only a decade earlier, Ed Gein was digging for treasures.
A bunch of 60s academics lower their standards and dabble in a silly seance, which is usually reserved for impressionable teenagers.
The British slag who was hung at the start is summoned and enters Jill, who uses an ancient foul text I've never heard before - you impotent lackwit. Lackwit? Is that even a word? A lackwit is a witless person or fool. I never heard of it.
The movie becomes about possession where a 16th-century hanging victim enters the body of little goody two shoes, Jill. She has 'V'-like powers and kills budgerigars but doesn't bite their heads off like the lizard people in 'V.' This Spock kid thinks he's Michael Nesmith from The Monkees. He's got his hair.
What am I watching: 'Halloween 5-Ply?' They sport a silly wrist tattoo of seahorses to communicate with the dead souls of yesterday.
Why am I watching this crap at Christmas time for? All I ever watch is garbage every night. And I own this DVD?
The movie's one big drama theatrical display with no action.
It descends into a farce when the dead witch roll calls dead students from a bygone era and names off every one of them twice in two scenes! Get a load of this hogwash. Before killing a kid, she prepares the soil and a tree trunk with a spell ritual and calls to the following: Harky, Gag-On, Bellsickle, and Curry Jack. They're supposed to appear and walk the earth again, apparently. They all sound like 1950s gang names. They're definitely not Star Wars characters, that's for sure. Not finished with her summonings, she further calls on A Snow Disc, Al Connect, Ark Fat Sac, and Alli Donut-San, Ali Mills karate sister, right?
The dead-possessed actress starts drugging unsuspecting cult members and making them sign up for a 12-month subscription to Satan Weekly or something.
It's hard to believe that there are some people in life who take all this crap seriously, which is sad as they give the occult a sinister edge considering that it's a portal to the astral world, which is beautiful in itself and not about murder, spells, or revenge portrayed here in this movie. The occult isn't as sinister as most will have you believe.
The dead witch starts plying reluctant members with truth serum and turning them into compliant dead zombies. Or, plain dead corpses, take your pick.
At the one hour and 7-minute mark, Mr. Miyagi's rare Devil's Cauldron bonsai appears in the background in another boring talkfest scene between the son of Spock, Michael Nesmith, and Pieter Vorstedt from 'Lethal Weapon 2.' The son of Spock, Nesmith, reminds me a bit of a young Anthony Perkins at times.
Around the one-hour, 10-minute mark, is that not Jeffrey Dahmer on the right there?
There she goes again, speaking in an ancient tongue, calling to whom exactly? Let me see if I can translate all these batches of non-Star Wars names. Ma'Hordan of the turkey horror order, Dead Arm: the prince who has a long, hard dappyhendrid. Hey, she said it, not me! It sounds like a plant or a cousin to Tippi Hedren. Belta Gord, Calda-something? Clowdadeath? Ass Mole'ias!?! Now we're getting into 'Beavis and Butthead' territory.
She's still going with her list, and I'm really struggling here.
Are Fack Sac, Kall Kannex, and Aladoins (Must be Creed's forgotten brother?) Levithan, Bell Bareath (one shade away from bad breath.) Ansatith (one shade away from antibacterial mouthwash.) Are you quite done, lady?
At the one hour and 14-minute mark, an Atari 2600 big boss in the form of a cross confronts the dead witch and polarizes her into relinquishing the possessed dead girl, Jill.
Um, not making any sense, what's his name from 'Lethal Weapon 2' hits first base with the dead witch, is transported back to the 16th century, and finds himself in the comfort of a noose, and the movie ends with no credits.
Why me?
Booooooooh
willandcharlenebrown24 January 2020
Horrible acting from every single actor. Dud. Main actress was kinda cute and that is all the movie had going for it. Whether she was going to go nude. That's no reason to watch an hour and half of boredem and no talent acting.
A solid enough if somewhat flawed genre effort
kannibalcorpsegrinder5 September 2022
After finding a book in their library, a group of curious college students decide to enact a special incantation within, but when its revealed the spell worked and the spirit of a witch is reborn in her body several of her friends must find a way to stop her revenge-based rampage before it's too late.
Overall, this was a rather fun and enjoyable genre effort. One of the better features here is the fun setup that sets the curse in motion against them. The initial idea of the seemingly innocent party game that takes place here with the group performing the ritual and believing that it's all harmless fun is a solid start when the reveal comes that it's real when the possession takes place. Actually managing to honor the time-honored tradition of her unfamiliarity with the modern world as great care is made to introduce her to the advancements of technology and how to blend into modern society given that she's controlling a body that others are familiar with is another solid beginning here which helps to fulfill the fun of the curse throughout the first half. Once this is in place and her revenge pact gets started, this one has some fun to it. The initial attacks on the troublesome students that are intent on trying to get with her unaware of her condition have some chilling moments with her taking over and controlling them with her powers to the point of forcing them to commit ritualistic murders. That leads into the rather fun finale where the reversal spell that they try to switch their places back offers the first true sense of witchcraft that takes place here where she pulls off a highly impressive twist in the reveal about what's going on that gives this a rather grim and shocking twist ending that ends this on a high note. These here are the films' positives while there are some issues to be had here. One of the main drawbacks is the seemingly bizarre and curious decision to make the possession be revealed early on and in such a casual manner. The fact that her appearance at the professor's house to announce it and rub it in his face is such an underwhelming and lazy way of revealing everything that there's very little that's terrifying about the incident. The casual way she begins teasing him about her power and what's going to happen now that she's possessed the body isn't that chilling in the slightest, which is also quite prominently displayed in the investigation to reverse everything. Beyond one sequence of her powers being displayed, there's nothing here about her keeping them quiet with her secret that generates any kind of thrills which is a bit distracting. The last issue here is that this setup with her not threatening the guys who know the truth also manages to leave this one without a whole lot of action. The few attacks here where she takes out the other students are really all that goes on for the vast majority of the film's second half where it revolves around an endless stream of remarks about the need to complete her mission yet never does anything unless someone does something first. With the two guys spending the same time researching means of stopping her during this section of the film and also not giving this one a whole lot of action during this point, these factors bring this one down overall.
Rated PG: Violence, Language, and Brief Nudity.
Overall, this was a rather fun and enjoyable genre effort. One of the better features here is the fun setup that sets the curse in motion against them. The initial idea of the seemingly innocent party game that takes place here with the group performing the ritual and believing that it's all harmless fun is a solid start when the reveal comes that it's real when the possession takes place. Actually managing to honor the time-honored tradition of her unfamiliarity with the modern world as great care is made to introduce her to the advancements of technology and how to blend into modern society given that she's controlling a body that others are familiar with is another solid beginning here which helps to fulfill the fun of the curse throughout the first half. Once this is in place and her revenge pact gets started, this one has some fun to it. The initial attacks on the troublesome students that are intent on trying to get with her unaware of her condition have some chilling moments with her taking over and controlling them with her powers to the point of forcing them to commit ritualistic murders. That leads into the rather fun finale where the reversal spell that they try to switch their places back offers the first true sense of witchcraft that takes place here where she pulls off a highly impressive twist in the reveal about what's going on that gives this a rather grim and shocking twist ending that ends this on a high note. These here are the films' positives while there are some issues to be had here. One of the main drawbacks is the seemingly bizarre and curious decision to make the possession be revealed early on and in such a casual manner. The fact that her appearance at the professor's house to announce it and rub it in his face is such an underwhelming and lazy way of revealing everything that there's very little that's terrifying about the incident. The casual way she begins teasing him about her power and what's going to happen now that she's possessed the body isn't that chilling in the slightest, which is also quite prominently displayed in the investigation to reverse everything. Beyond one sequence of her powers being displayed, there's nothing here about her keeping them quiet with her secret that generates any kind of thrills which is a bit distracting. The last issue here is that this setup with her not threatening the guys who know the truth also manages to leave this one without a whole lot of action. The few attacks here where she takes out the other students are really all that goes on for the vast majority of the film's second half where it revolves around an endless stream of remarks about the need to complete her mission yet never does anything unless someone does something first. With the two guys spending the same time researching means of stopping her during this section of the film and also not giving this one a whole lot of action during this point, these factors bring this one down overall.
Rated PG: Violence, Language, and Brief Nudity.
GETS BAD MARKS
mmthos13 November 2021
With all these student actors on a college campus, blandly reading tedious dialogue, unimaginatively filmed to an appropriately annoying soundtrack, is this a student film project? An unconvincingly possessed student (obviously hired for her perfect body, like so many other sexploitive leading ladies who can't act) channels a hammy ancient witch to unconvincingly summon her coven to reek revenge for the old hag's burning at the stake 300 years ago. So what else is new.?
Not scary. Really no entertainment value beyond the leading lady's breasts.
Next.
Not scary. Really no entertainment value beyond the leading lady's breasts.
Next.
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