Witchfinder General

The 1968 British horror flick Witchfinder General may seem relatively tame by present-day standards, but it's still a literate, well crafted shocker that's disturbingly effective. Set in England during the war-torn Middle Ages, the film is loosely based on the factual exploits of notorious witch-hunter Matthew Hopkins (Vincent Price, in one of the most deliciously villainous roles of his career), a self-righteous arbiter of faith who roams from town to town, offering his lucrative services and executing innocent victims. When a noble British soldier (Ian Ogilvy) discovers that his lover is one of Hopkins' potential victims, he races to the rescue, but his quest for revenge comes at the price of his own sanity. Boasting a well-written screenplay by director Michael Reeves and Tom Baker (not he of Dr. Who fame), Witchfinder General presents a serious and adequately authentic treatment of the witch-hunting persecution, ending on a chillingly tragic note (hastily improvised when the production ran out of time and money) that is powerful and unforgettable. Originally released in U.S. theaters by American International Pictures under the senseless title The Conqueror Worm (with alternate opening narration by Price) to capitalize on AIP's popular series of horror films based on the fiction of Edgar Allan Poe), the eventual VHS home video debut replaced the beautifully orchestrated original score by Paul Ferris with a terrible synthesizer track. Presented here in its fully restored original version, DVD extras include a full-length, enjoyably anecdotal commentary by producer Philip Waddilove and Ogilvy, and a featurette in which notable critics and film historians explore the production's history and eventual restoration. Recommended. [Note: Witchfinder General is also available as part of the Vincent Price: MGM Scream Legends Collection (DVD: 4 discs, $39.98), which also features Tales of Terror, Twice Told Tales, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Dr. Phibes Rises Again, Theater of Blood, and Madhouse, along with a bonus disc of over an hour's worth of featurettes.] (J. Shannon)