Bloodtype Online

    During England’s civil war in 1645 law and order has collapsed. The Royalists are at war with Parliamentary Party for control. While this was is going on, Matthew Hopkins goes from town to town offering his services as a Witchfinder. He is paid graciously in silver and delivers the demises of anyone who is accused without much proof.  

    Richard Marshall dates a woman named Sara and while on a two day leave from the Parliamentary Party he visits her at her Uncle’s home in Brandeson, a town that Matthew Hopkins should be showing up in soon with his heartless partner in accepted crime, John Stearne. By the time they show up Richard Marshall is off to fight in the civil war with his comrades after getting a blessing from his uncle to wed Sara. Soon both Sara and her Uncle are in grave danger. When Richard catches word about a sexual assault of Sara and the death of her Uncle John Lowes he vows to avenge her by taking the lives of the ruthless villains who make profit off the slaughter of the innocent. 

    This story is a period piece that is comprehensible, sadistic and for 1968 the gore that is on display periodically is adequate. The pacing of this 87 minute film is great as it never drags. Also there are many distinguishable characters like Sara as the women in distress, Richard as her vengeful fiancée to be, John Stearne as the jealous a vicious right hand man to the perverse scumbag Matthew Hopkins. Vincent Price takes his role(that was originally intended for Donald Pleasence) seriously as the witch finder who makes profits on hanging, burning and drowning the innocent while letting some people slide if they’re to disrobe and roll around the sack with him. The screenplay is written by Tom Baker who adapted Ronald Bassets novel and to some degree Edgar Allen Poe’s poem The Conqueror Worm. 

    The film is filled with torturous glee that should titillate sadists. There is also is fair amount of double crossing, characters in agony, town snitches, off screen rape and much more amusement like priest being accused of working with Satan. The accused are examined by Stearne. They are to be pricked with a knife until Stearne pricks a section of the body that doesn’t make them bleed or scream. If they keep screaming Matthew Hopkins rationalizes and says the mark is well hidden. The story never establishes witchcraft as something any of the town folk practice. Witchcraft in this story is an excuse for greedy men to profit off small minded people that believe in such things. The story doesn’t spend much time with the accusers. The story just lets it be known that Hopkins was paid handsomely. It’s also great watching hypocrites like Hopkins and Stearne do such vile things to human beings. When it comes time for their comeuppance I already anticipated their demises from the moment I’ve seen them harm guiltless residents of each town he rides through.  

    The story is easy to follow and the characters are fantastic to watch whether it be the heroes, the tortured or the villains. The story is far from formulaic and mixes in the war subplot well with the story town leaders paying off Witchfinders to kill anyone they disapprove of. This is flat out a good film that makes a time period such as 1645 understandable without too much renaissance times jargon. I feel the film is ultimately about greed and about what a man will do when he is out for his own agenda. 

    The DVD has an Audio Commentary with Co Producer Philip Waddilove and Actor Ian Ogilvy who played Richard Marshall in the film. All in all I enjoyed this flick and recommend it to everyone. It was cool to see a witch movie not go with a gothic approach or take the subject matter of witchcraft seriously. What is to be taken serious are the depraved men capitalizing off the ignorance of the town folks that actually believe in such silliness. Also everything from the fight stunts to the bodies on fire satisfied me. The score is standard and might not be what was originally intended being that I know it was altered for its US release. 

Rating - *** 

-Russ Rutter