Witchfinder General

• Titled onscreen as Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General
• Directed by Michael Reeves
• May 19, 1968
• Based on Ronald Bassett’s 1966 novel Witchfinder General

During the English Civil War, a young Roundhead seeks revenge against a witch-hunter and his aid who have terrorized the soldier’s fiancée and executed her uncle.

I went into Witchfinder General with very little knowledge other than the presence of Vincent Price. I fully expected something much more supernatural in nature. Instead the story focused on the horror people can create rather than terror created by some otherworldly force.

At 80 around minutes this is not a long movie. From the opening shots this packs a lot in. Economy of storytelling is a genuinely lost art. With a little bit of voiceover work and a little bit of acting you understand the main characters and the general situation without having to know anything about British history. The only thing missing is an explanation of what a Roundhead is. To an American it sounds unusual.

Though starring Price as Matthew Hopkins, he is absent from the first half or so of the movie other than brief shots in the opening credits. Being that he was the star and he was a horror icon even by this time, it is a rather effective hook to keep you watching. Price eventually does show up being all sinister and all that as only Vincent Price could.

There’s a strong focus on the personal failures and flaws of the individuals. Usually humans being the terror is not my thing. Witchfinder General is not a horror movie but more about how terrible times bring out the worst in people. Opportunists seek fame and power. Horrible people use the chaos and anger to be openly horrible. This is as much fine drama as it is tragic story. The ending is perfect for the movie. It’s not happy, but it fits so very well.

The story moves at a brisk pace without coming off as rushed. Every minute is filled with story and builds on the narrative. It starts out a little quietly, but once we get past the initial set up and bring to focus that Matthew Hopkins is the villain this movie really takes off.

Price for his part please a character that is completely indifferent to what he is actually doing. He just happens to have found a job he was good at. And unfortunately with this job there’s no way to really get him in trouble if he is wrong.

Our good characters are Roundhead Cornet Richard Marshall (Ian Ogilvy) and his love Sara Lowes (Hilary Dwyer). Sara is not much of a character, but she is the motivating factor for Richard’s struggle. He’s willing to risk all to save and protect her. And you get the feeling that these two characters really care about each other.

The dialogue is absolutely fantastic. This is well acted and well directed and well written. You are hooked from the beginning because part of you does expect the supernatural but once you realize that’s never coming you still watch to see as the story progresses.

The costuming is cheap like a bargain basement theater production. It doesn’t take you out of things. The real harm comes in some of the action shots. You need to correctly angle the camera to hide that punches and kicks are not actually connecting. A bit of unintentional humor in this when a punch or kick does not connect yet the person takes a fall.

Witchfinder General is an amazing film. It’s much less horror but it is so very captivating. Good to watch. A must see for movie fans.