Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

mark.waltz Don't go into this Italian film expecting anything resembling a Hammer horror movie. It is deliberately slow, erotic, moody and gripping. Once you get past the pacing, you will find this an interesting piece of foreign cinema that is more a subtle erotic thriller than a masterpiece of horror. The luscious looking Rosanna Schiaffino is the subject of lust by Richard Johnson, hired to work at the mysterious castle by her mother, the aging beauty Sarah Ferrati in archiving the erotic works of her late husband. It appears that Ferrati has a secret, and as Johnson becomes more involved in their world, he is consumed by his passions that are other worldly in their obsession for Schiaffino. Along the way, there's a battle to the death with Gian Maria Volontè, Schiaffino's obsessive paramour, and claims from an aging female art collector about Ferrati that creates more mystery. I don't watch many foreign films, but the dubbed copy of this I was able to locate made it easy for me to get into, and I found it compelling once certain aspects of the characters were revealed. As it reaches its spell binding conclusion, I was all the more intrigued, especially with the final few minutes where everything from before that was slow and confusing literally had my mind bursting metaphorically into flames. Horror doesn't always need to be scary or spooky or gross. This works on its own merits and is as intriguing as a stranger's wink, although after seeing this, a stranger's wink might make me think twice before responding to it.

sol- 'The Witch' - also known as 'The Witch in Love' (a literal translation of the original Italian title 'La strega in amore'), this psychological horror thriller involves a heartless philanderer who agrees to work in the private library of a mysterious old woman who has been following him around. The first eight minutes of the film are very well done with the protagonist, played by Richard Johnson, constantly commenting on how he can see her watching him, and yet she is always shot at extreme distance, nearly invisible to the point that we wonder whether it is all in his mind. Things only get more interesting as Johnson is invited to her abode where the camera creepily tracks around the old, near dilapidated building, and then suddenly an alluring girl claiming to be the old woman's daughter arrives and everything becomes even more uncanny. Promising as all this might sound, the film gives away a little too much too early on. The title certainly doesn't help ('Strange Obsession', another alias that the film is known by, leaves open more ambiguity) but title aside, it is fairly obvious from early on that something supernatural is up and that the two women are not really mother and daughter. As a result, the film has some pacing issues as we spend over half the movie waiting for Johnson to reach the same conclusion as us, but there are still plenty of interesting points. The seduction scenes are very well done, the aversion to sunlight is well-handled and grim ending is unpredictable in the best possible way. In short, it is flawed but encapsulating stuff from start to finish.

Scarecrow-88 I had just recently revisited Wise's The Haunting, starring Richard Johnson in a role as dedicated, wonderfully humane "ghost hunter", so I realized just what kind of talent the man really has seeing him in a completely different role as a successful ladies' man, always moving from one sexual relationship to another, being pursued by a batty old former beauty, Consuelo(Sarah Ferrati)living within a ramshackle mansion which seems modeled after her..both setting and owner have lost their luster, beauty now deteriorating. Johnson is Sergio, a "historian"(..he has a profession, but it plays second fiddle to his ongoing duties chasing tail)sought by Consuelo for more than his skills at translation and setting her husband's old library, falling to waste and crawling rats, in order. Sergio is the kind of male used to getting what he wants until growing tired of whoever he's dating. But, Sergio, who doesn't seem that interested in the job, and less so with Consuelo who is hideous and ugly to him, finds a reason to remain when he meets Aura(Rosanna Schiaffino; a stunning Italian beauty of the 60's, with perfect curves and soft skin)who seduces him by merely walking and moving around a room..she has that effect on people, and would me as well. Sergio would be taking the position of Fabrizio(Gian Maria Volontè), a slightly off-kilter man who seems a little distraught, absolutely obsessed with Aura, almost to the point of quiet madness. Very protective of her, Fabrizio wishes for Sergio to leave, but seems awfully distracted with her designs to perhaps release him for the new man who presents a threat to their relationship. Sergio, quite a caveman desiring to snatch Aura away and have her for himself, will soon come to blows with Fabrizio, with tragic results. With a cover-up ensuing thanks to Aura and Consuelo's threatening not to absolve him for an accidental murder, Sergio will find himself at the mercy of them..he desires Aura to the point that he'd do anything to embrace her, a blissful passionate union results, but Consuelo doesn't wish for their happiness to last. Sergio finds that Aura is controlled by Consuelo, a form of witchcraft she uses to enslave men and he is caught in her web. Will Sergio ever get to have Aura when that horrifying wretch controls her comings and goings? Or, will he remain in an emotionally tortured state awaiting Aura's return, at the mercy of Consuelo? I watched a rather bad quality print, and believe the film is definitely worthy of a proper transfer. To see this in a pristine form, with quality sound and properly enhanced visual quality, "The Witch" might capture a wider audience. Director Damiano Damiani(Amityville-The Possession)crafts quite a tale of obsession and desire with quite a cast at his disposal. Johnson delivers in spades regarding a direct change during this film going from confident, manipulative male, quite able to conquer the beautiful supply of female populating the city, to a shriveling worm, weak-in-the-knees and pleading for his Aura..completely controlled and under his paramour's spell. Ferrati looks like a witch, and has all the right features at creating an older jealous woman yearning to have the looks that would attract the men that were once cowering at her feet, making life miserable for those who now wish for Aura, a goddess manifested from her dark power to bring those like Sergio to a place of disquiet and agony. Interesting idea that Schiaffino's beauty is used as a weapon against men for they are overwhelmed by her outer qualities than the person herself which might just be the moral of the story..being eclipsed by a Helen of Troy and willing to go to any lengths to inherit her, we find ourselves heading for a downfall. The film like Schiaffino's character is quite a tease, not giving us what we truly desire. That in itself also works within the story, men want Aura, but never truly *have* her. Volontè has a much smaller role, but he is incredibly vital to the story because he represents what Sergio will soon become once he has taken Aura to bed. He's our example of what Aura's power will slowly do to any man who finds themselves in her trap, swept away by lust. I think this is where Damiani's true strength lies, establishing Schiaffino as a ravishing creature, only available to the men in her circle when Consuelo decides so. Schiaffino is often shown disrobing(..Damiani never shows her nude flesh to my chagrin)with the director just giving us a taste of her smooth skin, the camera often moving away as her clothes come off. We are carried away like Sergio because Schiaffino has that kind of on screen allure that draws you to her. Damiani wisely often closes his camera in on Aura as she works her magical grip over her victims. Schiaffino has that kind of face that enchants and a body to match. The film is what I'd definitely call a sleeper, probably will often be discovered either by chance or word-of-mouth. The director takes his time so this film might not work for everyone, but the use of darkness(..for which Aura often appears in and out of)within the dying setting and the psychological elements within the story might just compel those willing to hang in there. My favorite scene would have to be when Aura makes Sergio unbutton/undress her with his teeth, no touching with the hands. This is a good example of achieving an erotic response without divulging actual sexual occurrences.

Joe Stemme Had an opportunity to view a 16MM print of the English-dubbed version. Dubbing is often a distraction, but this is one of the better dubbed films of its era. Stylistically, this is a very slow European modern witch tale, not likely to appeal to the 'Creature Feature' crowd (which is surely why it bypassed US theaters and landed on late-nite TV). The acting, camera-work, direction and music (by IL POSTINO Oscar-winner Luis Bacalov) are all moody and well-done. Unfortunately, the slowness of the yarn (which builds the erotic tensions so well during the first half), minimizes the impact by the climax. Still, this is an intelligent, ADULT, and erotic piece which is worth searching out for high-minded horror fans.