DVD released: September 11, 2007.
Approximate running time: 87 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic 1.85.1 Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono
DVD Release: MGM
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: $24.95

Reviewed by:
Ian Jane on September 26, 2005.

Released in North America by AIP and re-titled as Conqueror Worm (no doubt to cash in on the success of the Corman/Price Poe films), Michael Reeves' Witchfinder General has finally surfaced in a proper edition on DVD in North America. 

The story is not an overly complicated one. The immortal Vincent Price plays Matthew Hopkins, a former lawyer and self-appointed witch hunter who operated around Suffolk and Essex during the English Civil War that waged from 1644 to 1646. Hopkins was a rather despicable man responsible for the deaths of twenty three people – nineteen of whom were accused witches and hanged for their crimes against God, and four others who died in prison. 

When Hopkins hears word of a Catholic priest named John Lowes (Rupert Davies of The Oblong Box) who has been know to associate with Satan, he and his assistant, Stearne (played by Robert Russell) arrive on his doorstep to accuse him, and a few of the local women, of witchcraft. Lowe’s beautiful niece, Sarah, agrees to sleep with Hopkins in exchange for sparing her uncle’s life, but things don’t go as planned and when Hopkins leaves town, Stearne ends up raping her. 

Hopkins returns and has Father Lowe put to death despite his promise to Sarah, and when her fiancé, Richard (Ian Ogilvy who had worked with Reeves a year prior in The Sorcerers) arrives he swears he will send Hopkins to find true justice at the hands of God and vows to kill him no matter what it takes. 

Unfortunately for Richard, Hopkins is as smart as he is sinister, and he and Stearne think to kidnap Sarah in order to drag a false confession out of Richard so that they can legally execute him for witchcraft. 

Price turns in an excellent performance as Hopkins, eschewing all sense of camp in favor of a very serious turn as the self-righteous witch hunter. He’s menacing, contemptuous, and perfect in the role, and comes quite close to literally defining evil. Not only does his character do horrible things, but he does it in the name of his religion (an all to common occurrence throughout history), when in fact it is nothing more than an excuse for a perverted sadistic man in a position of some power to inflict his will upon the populace of the time. 

Those expecting the camp appeal or the tongue in cheek style horror movies that Price is oft times synonymous with may be surprised to find Witchfinder General contains some powerfully and disturbing interrogation scenes that are really nothing more than torture scenarios, some of which are quite gruesome. In the context of the film and its central titular character though, it makes sense that they be there and they do add a sense of dread to the film that it otherwise would not have had. 

Overall, the film is a fascinating look at a strange time in English history with solid performances and an important, if blatantly obvious, socio-political message that is just as important today as it was in the day the events took place.

A few notes pertaining to the version of the film contained on this DVD:  Vincent Price's opening reading of Poe's poem isn't in this version, nor are the shots of the bare-breasted bar maids. That said, the violence that was trimmed from older UK releases has been restored. This version also contains the original soundtrack, not the newly recorded one that was included on the HBO VHS release. While it's great to see the film in this edit, sadly none of the alternate material has been included with the supplments.

The English language Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack on this disc is fine. There are no problems with hiss or distortion to report and the audio, like the video, is noticeably improved from the Prism release. Optional subtitles are provided in English, French and Spanish and an English closed captioning option has also been provided.

Additionally, look for an interesting twenty-five minute featurette entitled Witchfinder General: Michael Reeves' Horror Classic which is an interesting examination of the director's life and times with an obvious emphasis put on the feature contained on this DVD. There are some great behind the scenes photos in here alongside interviews with various genre experts and crew members who cover everything from the merits of Reeves' earlier pictures to the HBO re-scoring of the film upon its home video release. It's definitely a well put together piece that sheds some interesting light on the film and its young director.

Sadly, as mentioned, the excised material from the alternate cut has not been included here, and neither has the theatrical trailer but aside from those complaints, the extras are interesting and pertinant.

Those who only know Price as a hammy actor would do well to check this one out as he's as sinister as sinister can get in the lead role and surrounded here by an admirable supporting cast. MGM's disc presents the full strength version of the film in excellent quality with some nice extra features to boot. This isn't the definitive version of Witchfinder General, but it's close and well worth acquiring for fans of Vincent Price or quality British horror.