The Mark of the Witch is a horror film released in 1970. Directed by Tom Moore, it stars Robert Elston, Anitra Walsh, and Darryl Wells. The film revolves around a young woman named Jill, who is accused of being a witch and causing supernatural events in her small town. Jill's peculiar behavior and mysterious powers attract the attention of her classmates and the townspeople, who begin to believe that she is a witch. As the accusations against her intensify, Jill becomes increasingly isolated and scared. Meanwhile, a paranormal investigator named Harry attempts to uncover the truth behind the strange occurrences in the town.
Those of short attention spans will miss out on some of the interesting material in this B-movie, for watching MARK OF THE WITCH is like turning on a baseball game and finding the home team down 8-to-0 in the first inning. Most folks would change the channel rather than endure a drubbing, but the horrendous opening scene and the worst "song" ever played during credits, will give way to a mildly entertaining witch themed diversion.
The few attacks here where she takes out the other students are really all that goes on for the vast majority of the film s second half where it revolves around an endless stream of remarks about the need to complete her mission yet never does anything unless someone does something first. Given the subject matter, the clumsy production values and the lousy acting performances, nearly every sequence also fits perfectly into an erotic context.
Meanwhile, a paranormal investigator named Harry attempts to uncover the truth behind the strange occurrences in the town. He becomes fixated on Jill and believes she may hold the key to unraveling the mystery. As Harry delves deeper into his investigation, he discovers dark secrets and a history of witchcraft in the town.
Mark of the Witch (1970)
Many moons ago when I was at boarding school, there was a patio restaurant across the main drag from campus that had a detached building containing the restrooms. In the short hallway between latrines, there was a poster for a horror flick I had never heard of, entitled Screams of a Winter Night. After some research using 2004-era internet access (no small feat, to be honest), I found that the movie had been filmed in and around Natchitoches, Louisiana (where my boarding school was located) by college students in the late seventies. They made three prints of the film and took them to drive-ins in the nearest cities, where Screams was discovered and picked up for nationwide distribution. Although it’s my understanding that the film has since found a home on DVD, it took some time to locate a pirated VHS copy of the movie at that time; although it has a certain nostalgic appeal for me, it’s not a very good movie, being largely amateurish in its narrative cohesion and poorly filmed in general, with lighting that renders much of the film impossible to see at points. Maybe I’ll get around to reviewing it for the site one day, but this is really just a preamble to discuss today’s selection, another cheap regional production, 1970’s Mark of the Witch, which, unlike Screams of a Winter Night, is actually a lot of fun and definitely worth seeking out.
In the late sixties, two Dallas women named Martha Peters and Mary Davis noticed that, although the horror genre was exploding, very few films were being made by or for women. Since both women had an academic interest in the occult, they composed a draft of Mark of the Witch, in which a young co-ed is possessed by the spirit of a centuries-dead witch. The film was shot with a cast and crew comprised mostly of local Texan amateurs: Peters seems to have never written anything else, while Mary Davis’s sole other screenwriting credit was for 1974’s Scum of the Earth. This was the first directing credit for Tom Moore as well, although he would direct Return to Boggy Creek (sequel to The Legend of Boggy Creek) seven years later before going on to have a largely unremarkable career as a TV director for episodes of various programs, including Cheers, Picket Fences, The Wonder Years, Mad About You, and L.A. Law.
The film opens with the hanging of the titular witch (Marie Santell), overseen by the betrayer MacIntyre Stuart (Robert Elston); he and two other members of their coven turned on the other ten members, leading to their execution. With her final words, the witch curses Stuart: he and all of his descendants shall bear her mark, until she returns to exact her vengeance. Some three centuries and change later, Leonard Nimoy lookalike Alan (Darryl Wells) is buying some books on witchcraft at the local university bookstore, where his girlfriend Jill (Anitra Walsh) is assisting with a book drive. They briefly discuss the psychology course that they are taking from Professor “Mac” Stuart (Elston again) and make plans to attend one of his parties/seminars that evening. After Alan leaves, Jill discovers a real spell book, later identified as the Red Book of Appin. That evening, she brings the book to the meeting and encourages her friends and classmates, including horndog Harry (Jack Gardner) and ditzy Sharon (Barbara Brownell), to participate in a ceremony outlined in the book: summon a witch.
When nothing seems to happen, the group disbands for the evening and Alan, unaware that Jill has been possessed by the witch, gives her a ride back to her dorm, shrugging off her strange behavior as a kind of joke. Jill returns to Stuart’s home and tells him the truth. Stuart had donated the Red Book, a family heirloom, to the book drive in the hope that it would be found and a ritual performed as a psychological experiment; after a few demonstrations of her power, Stuart and Alan realize that they have unleashed an old evil in modern times. While the possessed Jill seeks out and kills Harry and Sharon to complete a rite that will make her ruler of the world, Alan and Stuart work together to try to find a way to exorcise her possessor before it’s too late.
This is a fun little movie, and surprisingly impressive for a film made on such a small budget and with only local talent. The fun is mitigated in a few places by special effects failures (the fire that the possessed Jill uses in her rites at the wooded grove is no larger than a dinner plate, for instance) and some repetitiveness (the witch uses the same overlong invocation in a few separate scenes), but it’s obvious that all of the players involved are having fun, and that sense of bonhomie and good humor is infectious enough that it’s no trouble to get swept up in the moment.
I saw the film at the Alamo Drafthouse’s weekly Terror Tuesday event in Austin, and the reels themselves were provided by the American Genre Film Archive, which is committed to preserving little oddities like this. Host Joe Ziemba noted that the film had never been checked out from the archive since its induction, and that only a few dozen people had seen the film in its original release. Although the quality of the 35mm print was imperfect (some parts of the film itself had actually turned to dust, resulting in a few skips in the narrative and a blank screen), it was still a great viewing. The entirety of Mark of the Witch appears to be available on YouTube, so viewing it in your own home is not only easy, but highly recommended.
DO NOT MISS: The Beelzebub vs. Jeezuz, cross-eyed Jill finale, complete with a bloody kiss, time travel, and a flashing crucifix! It will pickle thy soul.
Determined to protect Jill, he sets out to prove her innocence and expose the true source of the supernatural events. The Mark of the Witch is known for its atmospheric and eerie cinematography, which heightens its haunting storyline. The film explores themes of fear, paranoia, and the danger of mob mentality. Released during the height of the witchcraft subgenre in the 1970s, The Mark of the Witch received mixed reviews upon its release. Critics praised its atmosphere and suspense but criticized its slow pacing and lack of originality. Despite its flaws, the film has cultivated a cult following over the years and is considered a notable entry in the horror genre of the era. Its depiction of witchcraft and the supernatural continues to captivate audiences and serve as inspiration for subsequent films in the genre. In conclusion, The Mark of the Witch is a 1970 horror film that explores the themes of witchcraft, paranoia, and mob mentality. Although it received mixed reviews upon release, it has developed a cult following and remains a notable entry in the horror genre..
Reviews for "From VHS to Streaming: The Changing Audience Reception of "Mark of the Witch" (1970)"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to watch "Mark of the Witch 1970" after hearing all the hype, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, making it hard to follow along. The acting was also subpar, with many characters delivering their lines in an unnatural and forced manner. Additionally, the special effects were laughable at best. Overall, I found the film to be a letdown and not worth the time or money.
2. John - 1 star - "Mark of the Witch 1970" is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The storyline was incredibly disjointed and made no sense whatsoever. It felt like the director was trying to combine multiple genres, resulting in a jumbled mess. The acting was also cringe-worthy, with wooden performances that lacked any emotion. I would not recommend wasting your time on this film; there are much better options out there.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Mark of the Witch 1970" given its cult following, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The film also relied heavily on shock value, with unnecessary gore and violence that felt gratuitous. Overall, I was disappointed by the film's lack of substance and would not recommend it to others.
4. David - 1 star - "Mark of the Witch 1970" was a complete waste of time. The plot was convoluted and had no clear direction, leaving me confused and frustrated. The acting was terrible, with poorly executed dialogue and unconvincing performances. The cinematography was also lacking, with awkward camera angles and poorly lit scenes. I regret watching this film and would advise others to steer clear of it.