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This DVD promises an uncut version of Jess Franco’s historical romp complete with “copious amounts of nudity”. If that is what you are looking for, then don’t bother. Remind me to have a word with trading standards will you…..
Anyway, the trading cards and other (dull) extras are replete with scenes not in the movie (as indeed is the back cover). The German version looks to have been a whole deal racier.
It is a standard Christopher Lee baddy film, with him hanging Protestants rather than necking girlies. Cinematography is uneven. Plot is thin. His “redemption” risible.
If you want a far better Jess Franco early ’70s film, go and buy Eugenie. This film is a Saturday afternoon matinee job.
Rating: 2 / 5
Not Christopher Lee’s greatest film (or Jess Franco’s for that matter), but I thought this at least looks quite good visually in terms of sets and costumes and has a good musical score – considering the low budget. And yes, this is quite similar in theme to Vincent Prices ‘Witch Finder General’.
Contrary to popular belief, this film IS the full version complete with ‘naughty bits’. I have the Dutch version also and this is exactly the same.
My main criticism of the film is that much of the ‘saucy bits’ seem to be at odds with the rest of story and characters. For example, when the heroine is locked in the torture chamber and is about to be taken to ‘The Bloody Judge’ she decides to linger so that she can lick one of the other naked female prisoners from the knees upwards. This seems rather surreal and inexplicable, its not ‘in character’ or explained and even the gaoler just stares in bemused disbelief.
Apparently when these parts were added at a later stage Christopher Lee was so incensed that he has refused to watch this film – ever !
Rating: 3 / 5
Not nearly as titillating as the synopsis makes it sound, this is Jess Franco’s remake of ‘Witchfinder General’ AKA ‘The Conqueror Worm’. Chris Lee plays the title role, a judge who delights in sentencing people to the most grotesque and bloody deaths, but has never actually stayed around to see one of his sentences carried out. The plot is drawn out interminably, and focuses on lovers separated by station and circumstance (she of course, is accused of being a witch). There are some intriguing shades of grey here: Lee’s character appears to have absolute conviction that what he does is right, and is filmed with remorse after seeing an execution. The whole thing plays like an extended historical melodrama. Inbetween all this, there’s obviously spliced in footage of a couple of girls being whipped and tortured in a manner neither particularly shocking or at all relevant to anything else going on. But this *is* Jess Franco, after all. Still worth a look, but be prepared to use the fast-forward button, and if you’re after quality, go buy ‘Witchfinder General’ instead.
Rating: 3 / 5
Boringly written, poorly dubbed, woodenly acted and totally inept in all the technical departments. Jesus Franco’s Witchfinder General-ripoff has absolutely nothing to recommend it, dears. This sad excuse for a film and its makers blow chunks!!
Rating: 1 / 5