Protraph Lack of good storyline.

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

XoWizIama Excellent adaptation.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

steveo122 I didn't want to. I had been a Vincent Price/horror fan, at that time, all my life and this put a serious dent in my 'innocent' enjoyment of 'scary movies'. As there is no 'witchcraft' or any supernatural element, the 'horror' is based on human cruelty/brutality, which I still contend is distinct from 'horror'. In fact, I can see this being described/credited/blamed as the granddaddy/progenitor of the brutal/cruel branch-off that supposed horror movies subsequently took. However, if horror movies are judged on the level of dread for what's coming, then fine... Even now, despite the datedness of the production (obvious red paint blood), the script is not bad and it is still possibly one of the cruelest movies made. Price's work as a 'highly fictionalized' real life person is one of his evil best.

meddlecore What a great film. I watched the "Director's Cut" which had grainy segments of additional footage added back in. These were originally cut by BBC censors because they contained graphic images of women getting manhandled and tortured by a bunch of raging misogynists. Some of the shots are pretty nuts too! Like the one where they have an actress (or stunt double, maybe?) tied to that scaffolding which they are lowering over a real fire!!! The sad part is that this is supposed to be more of a historical drama than a typical horror genre film. And the first half speaks to that. It starts off pretty slow, but the pace really picks up by the end when everything starts to get graphic and extreme. In this sense the film is really effectively constructed because you almost let your guard down a little.Overall the acting is a bit cheesy, but Vincent Price has a genuinely creepy factor to him. And you have got to give them credit for doing an excellent job capturing the lustful misogyny in the facial expressions of the characters who were driving the witch-hunts and carrying out the torture. That's something that really stood out for me.As far as story goes, we start off with a couple young lovers: the daughter of the local preacher and her soldier fiancée. He must leave for the war, just as the Witchfinder General and his underlings move into their town- in search of witches to burn (so they can extract payment from the local magistrate).The Priest is accused...so his daughter tries to make a deal with the Witchfinder (who was forcing himself upon her) in order to save his life: she'll sleep with him (and betray her beloved) if he will spare her father's life. He f*cks her, then hangs dude anyways. DOUCHEBAG! Oh, she's also raped by his grimy partner. SCUMF*CK! Anyways...he finds this out and gets hellbent on vigilante justice.When they all cross paths again, the young couple find themselves bound and on about to be tortured by the Witchfinder and his crew. And of course, he tortures her and makes him watch- in an attempt to extract a confession from him, so that he can justifiably murder him, legally speaking.One thing leads to another, ultimately culminating with the explosive conclusion- which acts as both the climax and end of the film.And all of this is going down in what is effectively a period piece, remember.Really intriguing film with some really beautiful shots and really wild scenes (especially in the director's cut). This is among the first of the great Inquisition era Witchfinder films, alongside other greats like Inquisicion, Witch's Hammer, and of course Ken Russel's The Devils. Definitely check it out.8 out of 10.

Johan Louwet The movie is definitely horror with the torture scenes in order to get a confession of witchcraft out of the poor victims as the main attraction, Next to the torture scenes (being called interrogations by the witch hunters) there is the hanging, the water test and burning at the stake accurately showing how cruel the witch hunting must have been and many died innocently just because witch hunters were greedy, abused the superstition or fear of people. Anyone making trouble for the authorities was likely going to be accused of witchcraft. Even though it is as usual another great performance from Vincent Price as the titular character he has not really that much screen time. To give the movie not too much of a documentary feeling they did put a story in it from a girl and her husband (who is a soldier) seeking revenge upon the witchfinder Matthew Hopkins for falsely condemning the girl's uncle of witchcraft which resulted in death by hanging. How accurate this story of the witchfinder general is, I have no idea. I don't think it ended the way it did. The ending I believe is to create still some sort of feel good and it clearly feels rushed.

Rainey Dawn I've seen bits and pieces of this film before - vague memories of seeing it years ago. Tonight I was able to re-view the uncut version of the film... I have to say it is one of Vincent Prices best films - in fact, maybe for the entire cast! Richard and Sara's romance is the stuff fairy-tales are made of - the kind of romantic relationship I dream of having. Although the movie is not a romance film - Richard and Sara's relationship is one if the focuses of the movie.Price portrays Matthew Hopkins very well - he's vicious, wicked and down right nasty.The story is well written and easy to follow. Some of the scenes in the movie are hard to watch: realistic rape, torture and general brutality so well filmed that it's hard not to take your eyes off the screen.Impeccable costuming, settings and scenery. This is yet another movie I felt I was drawn back to medieval times.9.5/10