While it's not as mind-numbingly, relentlessly gruesome as the later MARK OF THE DEVIL, WITCHFINDER GENERAL comes about as close as a movie of this period probably could: we see hangings and drownings and a surprisingly graphic witch burning; add to all that perhaps the VILEST performance of Vincent Price's career and you're in deep with this one. Price is as dour and as malevolent here as he's ever been in any movie- sans, thankfully, the almost tongue-in-cheek attitude and ever-present smirk just waiting to happen that normally characterizes his performance(s). Herbert Lom and Reggie Nalder would eventually make Price's Witchfinder look almost TAME by comparison, but that had more to do with the fact that MARK OF THE DEVIL pushed the envelope as far as GORE effects went. (We were given "vomit bags" upon entering the theater to see MARK OF THE DEVIL- "The first movie rated V for Violence!"- and I thought they were going a bit far with the schlocky marketing campaign. But I was a kid, and I had no idea what I was in for. There were actually police officers manning some of the entrances. Again, I smiled at the theater owner's shenanigans. But then I got a whiff of air as we entered the theater and it was that foulest of stenches just this side of decaying flesh: VOMIT. People were scrambling for the bathrooms; some appeared to have been physically assaulted... Enough. See my comments on MARK OF THE DEVIL under the User name "Poe426.") WITCHFINDER GENERAL, for all its despicable doings, is a finely-crafted tale and one worth seeing.

Opening with a very brutal, pre-credits hanging, 'Witchfinder General' goes on to feature an exceptional performance from Vincent Price, who despite a clash with Director Michael Reeves (Reeves declined to greet the actor at the airport on his arrival and made it abundantly clear he was not happy with his casting), names this as one of his favourite performances. It is easy to see why – he is given Matthew Hopkins, a Witchfinder steeped in hypocrisy, cruelty and genuine sin. Despite Price's tendency to play extravagant characters, he invests Hopkins with a certain restraint, and is therefore extremely powerful: it is an excellent performance. Hopkins was a real life lawyer who, in 1644 elevated himself to witch-hunter, and is believed to be responsible for the deaths of 300 in the following two years.There is a lot of screaming in this film. Indeed, even as the end credits roll, the heartfelt cries of Sara (Hilary Dwyer) threaten to drown out the music before they finally fade away. Such outbursts are entirely warranted, given the saturation of lies and duplicity that make the law by which normal people are expected to live their lives.Michael Reeves died one year after this film's release, aged only 25, his potential as a director and writer barely tapped. His work on 'Witchfinder General' is unstinting in its depiction of vile human behaviour and gleeful cruelty, the camera never in any hurry to move away from scenes of graphic violence and barbarism, not least from Hopkins, who misuses the word of God entirely for his own end. Hopkins dies violently, but not as graphically as he deserves, hacked to death by a crazed Richard Marshall (Ian Ogilvy), whose wife Sara has suffered innumerable terrible acts of maltreatment.Whilst watching my DVD version of this film, there are many brief moments where the picture quality deteriorates noticeably – it suddenly struck me that these are scenes cut from the previous/initial release for reasons of bloodshed. Even with such pruning, the film provoked much outrage when it premiered. Despite this – or probably because of it – it was a success, even now held up as a cult classic. And so it should be. The way of life is presented in a way that causes the viewer to watch from behind their hands even today, and every member of the impressive cast is terrific, giving full-blooded, forceful performances. Donald Pleasance, Reeves' original choice for Hopkins, would have provided his own brand of excellence, but this is probably Vincent Price's finest hour – which is quite something for so prolific a performer.

The movie is definitely horror with the torture scenes in order to get a confession of witchcraft out of the poor victims as the main attraction, Next to the torture scenes (being called interrogations by the witch hunters) there is the hanging, the water test and burning at the stake accurately showing how cruel the witch hunting must have been and many died innocently just because witch hunters were greedy, abused the superstition or fear of people. Anyone making trouble for the authorities was likely going to be accused of witchcraft. Even though it is as usual another great performance from Vincent Price as the titular character he has not really that much screen time. To give the movie not too much of a documentary feeling they did put a story in it from a girl and her husband (who is a soldier) seeking revenge upon the witchfinder Matthew Hopkins for falsely condemning the girl's uncle of witchcraft which resulted in death by hanging. How accurate this story of the witchfinder general is, I have no idea. I don't think it ended the way it did. The ending I believe is to create still some sort of feel good and it clearly feels rushed.

I've seen bits and pieces of this film before - vague memories of seeing it years ago. Tonight I was able to re-view the uncut version of the film... I have to say it is one of Vincent Prices best films - in fact, maybe for the entire cast! Richard and Sara's romance is the stuff fairy-tales are made of - the kind of romantic relationship I dream of having. Although the movie is not a romance film - Richard and Sara's relationship is one if the focuses of the movie.Price portrays Matthew Hopkins very well - he's vicious, wicked and down right nasty.The story is well written and easy to follow. Some of the scenes in the movie are hard to watch: realistic rape, torture and general brutality so well filmed that it's hard not to take your eyes off the screen.Impeccable costuming, settings and scenery. This is yet another movie I felt I was drawn back to medieval times.9.5/10