Following a horrifying experience with the occult in Africa, a schoolteacher moves to a small English village, only to discover that black magic resides there as well.Following a horrifying experience with the occult in Africa, a schoolteacher moves to a small English village, only to discover that black magic resides there as well.Following a horrifying experience with the occult in Africa, a schoolteacher moves to a small English village, only to discover that black magic resides there as well.
- Linda Rigg
- (as Ingrid Brett)
- Granny Rigg
- (as Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies)
- Mark
- (uncredited)
- Mrs. McDowall
- (uncredited)
- Mr. Glass
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was Joan Fontaine's final film, perhaps due to its poor box office reception, though she continued to work in television well into the 1990s.
- GoofsWhen Linda starts dancing in the finale, Tom's position changes between long shots and close-ups.
- Quotes
Gwen Mayfield: Look at this! Stuck full of pins and it's head missing. What do you think it could possible be?
Stephanie Bax: Witchcraft? Somebody having a little dabble? Yes, I would think so. Or did you think I was going to say, no no no, it can't happen here? I bet there are lots of remote spots where remnants of witchcraft are still practiced. Places like Heddaby, in fact. I've often wondered.
Gwen Mayfield: Well, what are we going to do?
Stephanie Bax: Do? Ah.
Gwen Mayfield: Well, I'd like to start by removing those pins.
Stephanie Bax: Yes, we could- Oh, no! Emphatically not! Do you see why? Well, that would mean admitting belief in it all, for ourselves I mean.
Gwen Mayfield: Oh, I see!
Stephanie Bax: I did some articles on witches once. No, not witches, damn them, people who thought they were witches. The psychology of it. It's a sex thing deep down, of course, mostly women go in for it, older women.
Gwen Mayfield: Like, um, Mrs. Rigg, for instance?
Stephanie Bax: Yes. They relish the idea of a secret power, especially when their normal powers are failing. Now, they may believe in it, the point is, do we? What are we giving into if we admit the possibility that a healthy young kid can be put in hospital by mere ill will? That's where it gets fascinating.
Gwen Mayfield: I see, what we admit we believe and what we believe I suppose, could destroy us.
Stephanie Bax: Beautifully put.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The World of Hammer: Wicked Women (1994)
"The Witches" is a Hammer film that can be divided in two parts: the first one, with the arrival of Mayfield to Heddaby, is intriguing and suspenseful. Joan Fontaine, in her last work in the cinema, performs a fragile and vulnerable woman due to a trauma in Africa, and wondering if there are witches in the village. The second part, when she returns from the mental institution, is simply awful. The long ritual of the witches is disgusting and silly, and spoils a promising film. Kay Walsh, the former wife of David Lean, has a great performance, highly above the rest of the cast. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "A Face do Demônio" ("The Face of the Demon") Note: On 10 Dec 2018 I saw this film again.
- claudio_carvalho
- Feb 16, 2006
- Permalink
- How long is The Witches?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Bajo la sombra del infierno
- Filming locations
- Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK(Studio Interiors)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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