A creepy voodoo doll is a small figurine that is often associated with African and Caribbean voodoo practices. It is believed to have mystic and supernatural powers that can manipulate people or bring harm to them. The doll is usually made from cloth or straw and is often adorned with pins, herbs, or personal belongings of the intended target. The idea behind the voodoo doll is that it represents a specific person and becomes a conduit for the practitioner to exert control or inflict harm upon that person. By piercing the doll with pins, it is believed that the person it represents will experience physical or emotional pain. The concept of the voodoo doll has been popularized in popular culture, particularly in horror movies and literature.
The concept of the voodoo doll has been popularized in popular culture, particularly in horror movies and literature. It has become a symbol of dark magic and malevolent intentions. However, it is important to note that voodoo dolls are not inherently evil or harmful.
Return from Witch Mountain (1978)
Alien kids with psychic powers, Tony (Ike Eisenmann) and Tia (Kim Richards), come to Los Angeles, California, for a vacation. After he is seen using his powers, Tony is kidnapped by an unscrupulous scientist (Christopher Lee, House of Dracula) and his greedy sidekick (Bette Davis), who want to exploit the boy’s abilities.
Reaction & Thoughts:
“That’s why I like science. They’re always discovering new expensive things.”
Against all expectations, Escape to Witch Mountain (1974) made tons of money for the Walt Disney Corporation. Not entirely unexpected, the studio decided that the success of the 1974 movie demanded a sequel. Malcolm Marmorstein, who had written Disney’s highly popular musical fantasy Pete’s Dragon (1977), came up with Return from Witch Mountain, which I ended up enjoying far more than I anticipated.
The movie continues the saga of extraterrestrial siblings with telekinesis powers, Tony and Tia. While Return from Witch Mountain isn’t as interesting as the somewhat somber Escape to Witch Mountain, the admittedly goofier sequel felt a bit tidier than its predecessor — the story moves along at an entertaining pace.
As he did with Escape to Witch Mountain, director John Hough (The Legend of Hell House) does his darn best to keep things from getting too cute. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the visual effects were a tad better the second time around. While the optical effects are still nowhere near the level of Mary Poppins (1964), the illusions are good enough. Lalo Schifrin’s (Dirty Harry) music score is good, too.
Additionally, veterans Bette Davis and Christopher Lee inject credibility into many silly situations. Lee is genuinely creepy as the “mad scientist” who wants to use the kids for his own nefarious purposes. It’s as if no one bothered to tell him that this was a Disney flick — Lee’s imposing 6’5″ frame and potent voice tower over all others in the film.
Lee has good rapport with Davis. However, unlike Lee, Davis places her tongue into her cheek — she provides plenty of giggles as Lee’s greedy partner-in-crime. Child actors Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards are as likable as ever. Character actor Anthony James (Burnt Offerings) has a few good moments as Davis’s shady nephew.
Conclusions & Final Thoughts:
Return from Witch Mountain may not have quite the amount of cheerleaders Escape to Witch Mountain has, but I liked it. The film is light entertainment, but I don’t really see that as a negative. The kids were great, and it was a lot of fun seeing heavyweight champions Bette Davis and Sir Christopher Lee together in a movie aimed at children. Followed by a short-lived TV series. Color, 94 minutes, Rated G.
Bette Davis AND hot mess express Kim Richards in a movie together? That’s almost too much to handle. I love 70s Disney, so much fun and the look of the films of this era are so fake and polished. Love it.
In traditional voodoo practices, they are often used in healing rituals or to bring luck and positive energy. Despite its association with black magic and witchcraft, many people collect voodoo dolls as novelty items or use them in innocent ways, such as decoration or as talismans for good luck. It is essential to respect the cultural and religious significance of voodoo dolls and not misuse or misrepresent them..
Reviews for "The Controversy Surrounding Creepy Voodoo Dolls: Cultural Appropriation or Cultural Exchange?"
1. Katie - 1 star
I was highly disappointed with "Creepy voodoo doll". The film lacked substance and was filled with cliches. The storyline felt predictable and unoriginal, offering nothing new to the horror genre. The characters were poorly developed, and their actions and decisions seemed forced and unrealistic. The special effects were also lacking, making the scare-factor incredibly weak. Overall, I found "Creepy voodoo doll" to be a forgettable and underwhelming horror film.
2. Mark - 2 stars
"Creepy voodoo doll" had potential but failed to deliver. The concept was interesting, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was slow, and there were long periods of boredom between the few moments of suspense. The acting was mediocre, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The film also relied too heavily on jump scares, which quickly became repetitive and lost their effect. I was hoping for a terrifying and gripping horror experience, but "Creepy voodoo doll" left me more bored than scared.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars
I had high hopes for "Creepy voodoo doll" based on the intriguing trailer, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The plot was convoluted and confusing, leaving me with more questions than answers. The film had potential to explore interesting themes surrounding voodoo and its dark origins, but it never delved deep enough. The character development was weak, and the actors seemed uninterested in their roles. While there were a few moments of suspense, they were overshadowed by the overall lackluster execution of the film. I wouldn't recommend "Creepy voodoo doll" to anyone seeking a genuinely scary horror experience.