Fluentiama Perfect cast and a good story

Onlinewsma Absolutely Brilliant!

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Maleeha Vincent It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Leofwine_draca THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA is one of the films caught up in the UK's video nasties craze, where it was banned for many years due to the objectionable content. Thankfully that was long in the past and the film is now readily available both online and in the shops via a pristine Blu-ray print. As with many of these so-called video nasties, the most interesting about it is the controversy surrounding it, because it really isn't a very good film.This is a slow, psychological drama about a woman going out of her mind. The main actress, Millie Perkins, was well known for playing the title role in 1959's THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK; it's quite a difficult and challenging role for her to play here but she does a pretty convincing job, as you can fully believe that there's madness lurking behind those bright blue eyes. The supporting cast are much worse, and rather amateurish, but 99% of the film is focused on Perkins alone so that's not too big a problem.No, the main issue with THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA is the slow nature of the script, which is given to introspection and the occasional outburst, but really isn't very interesting. The writer had the opportunity to get to the real heart of the matter by crafting an intense character study, but instead everything gets dragged out so that they can do a big reveal at the end instead. It doesn't work very well. The controversy comes from some graphic flashback sequences dotted through the narrative; the early threesome gone awry is wince-inducing indeed, but the childhood flashbacks are truly sickening due to what they reveal. As a result this is the kind of grubby film that makes you long for a shower after viewing.

hippiedj NOTE: The 2018 Blu-ray / DVD release from Arrow Video is the FULL uncut 88-minute version of the film!There have been many posts about what this film is about, so I'm going to concentrate on the controversy surrounding the cover art. So many complain that it's misleading art, but it has everything to do with the film and its story, it's just not a LITERAL depiction.Those that keep damning the cover art for this film don't seem to know what's really behind it. Yes, it's a borrowed painting, but altered for the film's mythos; you can clearly see it's Millie Perkins' face, and the decapitated head she is holding is in the image of her father. Granted, this was not the original artwork for the film, it was used much later and it helped gain attention and viewers. However, it at least does have enough symbolism to still be associated with the story. What the cover art does is capture the essence of the film. People should realize the importance of this, art is not always literal.In Arrow Video's 2016 set American HORROR PROJECT Vol. 1 which includes the full 88-minute cut of The Witch Who Came From the Sea, there is a book that explains a lot about the actions and thoughts of the character Molly which relates a LOT to the cover art that so many bitch about not having anything to do with the film (but it DOES!).In one scene Molly and a man are looking at the Botticelli painting The Birth Of Venus. Venus was born in the sea and her father was a god. He was castrated, and his sperm was dropped into the ocean. "The sea was knocked up, Venus was the kid," he said. The Arrow booklet's article states "As her eyes dart over the image you can see her brain forming the same analogies we are." Molly loved her father despite his incestuous actions and she felt he was like a god, since he was a sea captain. She also then seeks out "perfect" looking men and the castrations and killings begin. The painting on box cover is a representation of all of this -- what kind of cover did people really want? A viewer's job is to read (like the back of the box) and educate yourself before just snatching up a video and expecting a literal interpretation of what you see on the front of a DVD / Blu-ray / VHS box. Especially these days where info can be retrieved about anything on your phone, it's easy to find out for sure what you're getting into. I love this film, there's so much more going on psychologically than what you see on the surface (another problem people are experiencing with the film The Witch, not researching a little before heading into something that they weren't really going to be into in the first place). The Witch Who Came From The Sea is much smarter than many people realize, and I for one love the cover art. Bravo to Arrow Video for restoring it to the full cut (the Subversive and Cult Epoch DVD releases were just the R-rated 83- minute cut). The commentary in this newer release has been ported over from the DVD, but Arrow edited the commentary to fit the longer running time. I'm so happy they put so much care and respect into films like this!

gavin6942 A disturbed woman (Millie Perkins, best known for "Diary of Anne Frank") is haunted by memories of childhood abuse, which culminates in a murder spree.The script came from Robert Thom, who wrote it for his then-wife Millie Perkins, though much was cut before it got to shooting because it would have run over four hours. Thom was already something of a legendary writer, coming out of AIP with "Death Race 2000" and "Wild in the Streets" (among others) under his belt. Interestingly, by the time the film was released, Thom and Perkins were separate, and Perkins was dating Jack Nicholson (another AIP alumnus).Whether it was original in Thom's script or not, director Matt Cimber said "the MPAA almost had a hemorrhage when they saw this" because of the subject matter of child molestation, a taboo topic ever since Fritz Lang's "M" (1931). Cuts had to be made just to get the film an R, including blood spurts (and have unfortunately not been restored).From the opening shots, this film is reminiscent of "Night Tide" (1961). Was this intentional? Probably not, and more likely they just both have that feel because they are horror films that revolve around sailors and the sea. The actual plots share almost nothing.In retrospect, the most amazing thing about this film is that the cinematographer was Dean Cundey. At the time, he was just another cameraman, but within a few years he would be well-known as John Carpenter's go-to guy, and after that go on to bigger and better things with the likes of Steven Spielberg. Is his talent evident here?Interestingly, this film is a "video nasty" that is actually quite good, unlike many on the list. One critic viewed the film as not being a horror film but actually representing a scathing indictment of child sexual abuse as well as a study of a troubled woman's descent into madness; "a study of a woman whose sanity teeters on the edge". While this is a great sentiment, it is still a horror film -- but perhaps a horror film with a deeper meaning than the average movie.Arrow Video has gone to the ends of the earth to find the best elements possible to restore the film to glory. They also have a few special features, including an audio commentary with Dean Cundey, Matt Cimber and Millie Perkins. For some reason, it seems to have been recorded in a bathroom or echo chamber, but still fascinating just the same. In my estimation, Cundey is one of the all-time greats, and getting him on record is always wonderful.

HumanoidOfFlesh Millie Perkins is a disturbed young woman plagued by disturbing visions.She hates men and castrates them because she was the victim of incest during her childhood."The Witch Who Came from the Sea" is a strange and moody exploitation flick with dream-like atmosphere and strong symbolism.Millie castrates two popular football players in fantastically oneiric sequence of sexual violence.The film is slow-moving and deeply unpleasant character study of woman's torment.The central performance of Millie Perkins is fantastic as is the supporting cast.If you are into beautiful and highly subversive 70's US horror you can't miss this oddity.8 mermaids out of 10.