The release history of NECROMANCY is perhaps more lively and entertaining than the film itself. This witchcraft horror is perhaps most interesting for featuring Orson Welles in a late role as a hefty Satanist with a sinister murder plot to bring his dead son back to life. I was delighted to see it, finally, because it's directed by the incredible long-running director Bert I. Gordon, who made all of those great giant monster movies back in the 1950s.
This film is notable for being re-released under a ton of different titles around the world, with the '80s re-release entitled THE WITCHING perhaps more popular than the original version. I'm happy to say that I watched the full and unedited original here. A pity, then, after all this fuss, that NECROMANCY turns out to be a disappointing film, far too pedestrian and hackneyed to make much of an impact.
As a film it owes a heck of a lot to other witchcraft chillers from the era, particularly ROSEMARY'S BABY. There are also shades of THE STEPFORD WIVES, with scenes of creeping social paranoia brought to the forefront. There were a whole wave of these slow-paced and subtle horrors made during the era, but I found NECROMANCY pedestrian. The direction is effective and there are a handful of creepy moments, but they add up to very little that hasn't been seen before. Pamela Franklin stars, adding another horror role to her extensive resume.
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