A film with a twist at the end is often judged on that twist. Reading a number of online reviews of The Secret Village (or Salem Witch Hunters, as it has been known), it was predictable. I am happy to say I didn't find it so. I felt the audience was successfully lead to believe a couple of red herrings before the truth was finally revealed. That's not to say I found The Secret Village entirely satisfactory.As a horror, it was lacking any real chills. Instead, we get a thunderously urgent musical soundtrack accompanying tension-light scenes, furiously trying to convince us that very solid, tangible, cowled figures walking around in broad daylight is endlessly terrifying. Equally, the two heavies in constant pursuit of heroine Rachel (Ali Faulkner) bungle her capture every time, meaning that the next time they show up, the viewer is hardly given cause to be overly concerned.Ponderous though some of the scenes may be, all performances are fine. Faulkner excels, as does Jonathan Bennett as Greg – truly we don't know where his allegiances lie, and this is communicated very well.Yet the revelation at the end which really sells this. The viewer is left to trace the various clues throughout the film. Hardly incongruous at the time, they are given new meaning in retrospect.

I will start with what this 'film' is supposed to be about; here goes. Greg - an unsuccessful screen writer - and Rachel 'a beautiful journalist' investigate occasions of mass hysteria in some dreary backwater. This they cunningly discover may be linked to ergot poisoning!! Yes a theory that has been around since medieval times - that is investigative journalism for you.So what happens? Well the villagers are all failed am dram applicants who have a penchant for wearing monks robes with hoods; they wander about in a lack lustre way to induce a sense of 'scariness'. The plot is such a botch that even if you can be bothered to follow it you will realise it was a waste of effort. The music is all overly dramatic and tries to add some horror by being jumpy etc - needless to say it fails miserably. The camera shots are childish, the SFX look like they were done on some 1980's Nintendo and the lighting is reminiscent of an insipid wedding video I was once forced to watch.As mentioned the acting is beneath awful despite the efforts of the two 'stars' who do manage a half decent job of what is a laughable script. The rest of the ensemble should never have been put in front of a camera. We have scenes that are so obviously staged and stilted with no mood setting - just the 'shouting is acting' type approach. The sound levels vary too - possibly in an attempt to stave off a potential coma that could be induced from such turgid dross.Some of the make up is juvenile too and the whole oozing mess is about as scary as putting your knickers on back to front. I think the 'unsuccessful screen writer' may be a case of art imitating life. The editing is lamentable with scenes all over the place and obvious filler that at least give you the chance to hit the fast forward. There is not one reason to see this atrocity and thousands why not too - seriously avoid like an e-coli buffet.

......and I'm being kind. The only good thing about this whole crapquake is laughing at the many shills here that desperately try to give this 'movie' a high rating and good review. As someone else here has pointed out, having your review history consisting of 1 review i.e. this piece of trash, is a bit of a giveaway, wouldn't you say? But don't feel too bad, you are not alone. There are many analbots out there, just like you, writing the same kind of 'reviews' and every single one comes across like a more-on.I suggest that if you want to continue writing fake reviews that you at least take a creative writing course as, at the present time, you make those Nigerian 419 scammers letters read like George Bernard Shaw in comparison.

The movie was a good watch. It started off well and ended very well. It seemed a little slow and confusing in the middle, but had a chilling suspense throughout.Location was beautiful and seemed to be a good vacation spot for fall. The movie urged the interest to read on ergot poisoning, It was not a horror movie and there was no explanation on the hooded characters as well.The ending scene though nice, seemed a little short and abrupt. It could have been slightly longer as it is still in mind.Overall, I liked the movie and the end twist.