Ep954: Beyond Hammerland: WITCHFINDER GENERAL (1968)
Our journey Beyond Hammerland concludes with one of the series' most harrowing films!
Michael Reeves' 1968 drama, Witchfinder General stars Vincent Price as Matthew Hopkins, the titular judge, jury, and executioner wandering the English countryside in a quest to snuff out evil--at least that's what he tells any townsfolk willing to pay him to exorcise local "witches"! When he and his blood-hungry sidekick, Stearne (Robert Russell), accuse and dispatch a beloved priest, they find themselves in a gruesome game of cat-and-mouse with the priest's niece and her soldier husband. The result is one of the most shocking Hammer-adjacent films you'll ever see!
In this year-end extravaganza, Ian and AC dig into Witchfinder General's odd and tragic history; its influence on late-60s American cinema; and the masterful ways in which Reeves conjures terrifying moments from non-supernatural horrors!
Also, they guys look back on some of their favorite 2023 "Beyond Hammerland" entries, and tease what's to come in 2024!
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Show Links
Watch the Witchfinder General (1968) trailer.
Order AC's books on essential and obscure horror movies, Horror 101 and Hidden Horror!
Subscribe to AC's YouTube channel, Horror 101 with Dr. AC.
It’s not too late to catch up with our 2023 trip “Beyond Hammerland”!
Check out 2022's year-long journey, "Son of Hammerland"!
And watch the series that started it all: "Hammerland"!
