Witchcraft (1964)

Memorable, crazy movie

Absolutely Fantastic

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Blistering performances.

It could be--as far as I know, it's not available on a standalone DVD. I found it paired with a double feature disc, so who knows? At any rate, this could be one of Lon's last few standout features or roles. His career hadn't totally sunk into the abyss yet, but he was still solid, whatever else was going on in his life during this point.As for "Witchcraft" itself, a good B-movie if you don't have high hopes--and that angle may make the movie more enjoyable. Not sure if I should go into too much detail--aside from the obvious--witches, satanic rituals, some nice co-stars (oh, Amy), and a nice, fiery climax where Lon and his niece in the movie get destroyed.Didn't see that coming, but I suppose she was supposed to be evil, too. Of course, having seen so many horrors, you don't always get out alive if you're supposed to be good in heart. Good, popcorn and horror entertainment...7.5 out of 10....

In all honesty "Witchcraft" is just an average British horror accomplishment from the sixties, but I'm slightly biased and overenthusiastic because I'm a big admirer of the subject matter (witchery and family curses), the director (Don Sharp also made "Psychomania", "Dark Places" and many other overlooked genre movies) and the notorious cool guy who receives top billing even though he only sporadically appears in the film (Lon Chaney in finally another role that suits his grim appearance). Somewhere deep in the remote en rural British countryside, the centuries old feud between the Whitlock clan and the Lanier family sparks up again. For the big upcoming real estate project of the Laniers, a bulldozer ravages straight through the Whitlock family cemetery and destroys the grave of 17th Century ancestress Vanessa Whitlock, whom was accused of witchery and buried alive by the Lanier family. Well, the accusation wasn't false for sure, as Vanessa promptly rises from the tomb and teams up with the grumpy Morgan Whitlock in order to bring the entire Lanier family down. Several members of the Lanier family die in mysterious circumstances, but complications arise when it turns out that Morgan's little niece Amy is in love with a Lanier enemy. "Witchcraft" is a competent enough and well-paced occult thriller with gloomy black & white cinematography, a couple of original ideas in its screenplay and an extremely tense finale. Lon Chaney Jr. is naturally menacing, but the biggest creeps are provided by Yvette Rees as silent the hypnotically staring witch Vanessa Whitlock. If she would appear behind me on a flight of stairs, I would surely throw myself down from them as well! There are also two very nifty and imaginative fright scenes involving a car and its passenger(s) driving through a bumpy landfill and towards certain death, although in their minds it looks as if they're driving on a safe and cozy lane.

Lon Chaney Jr is mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore! Land developers make a big mistake when they bulldoze through the Whitlock cemetery unearthing the final resting place of witch Vanessa(Yvette Rees, never uttering a word..she's photographed to creepy effect and doesn't need dialogue)who rises from her casket ready to murder Laniers. A long feud between the Anglo-Saxon, Satanist witch coven Whitlocks, still practicing the old ways within the old crypt(located near what used to be their home now owned by the Christian Laniers)and the Laniers has been continuing for quite a long time. The Laniers came into the area condemning the Whitlocks and their devil-worshiping ways claiming their land and homes. Vanessa was condemned of consorting with Lucifer and buried alive as punishment(her tombstone has the "witch's circle" etched into the stone claiming a pact with Satan). Morgan Whitlock(Lon Chaney Jr, not in it but maybe fifteen minutes, if that long)lets his angered voice be heard against the Laniers and partner Myles Forrester(Barry Linehan)for developing through the Whitlock cemetery. The Whitlocks use "devil dolls" as weapons of destruction against the Laniers harming them through a type of hypnotic suggestion that causes Myles to drown and Aunt Heleb Lanier(Viola Keats)to drive off a cliff. Vanessa herself "pushes" Grandma Lanier(Marie Ney)down the stairs without ever touching her physically. Todd(Lainer)and Amy(Whitlock)are the Romeo and Juliet of the film, stuck in a difficult position as their families bicker and quarrel. Amy(Diane Clare)is barked at by Uncle Morgan not to consort with Todd(David Weston)or the Laniers. Former Tennis pro, Tracy(Jill Dixon)will be in great peril as husband developer Bill(Jack Hedley)and Todd(both almost killed the way Helen was)leave for meetings with business associates. The witches, led by Morgan, plan to use Tracy as a sacrifice when she follows Amy into the secret worship chamber of the crypt..there are four witches' sabbats every year and the coming Friday of the film would be "roodmass" where they give a sacrifice to their Lord Satan.This little sinister quickie, directed with style and atmosphere by Don Sharp, is quite fun. It just flies by, though, and is over before you know it. Interesting seeing Chaney Jr in one of those black robes chasing after Laniers who have disturbed their coven's perfectly set-up ceremony to Satan. As in many a Hammer film(for which Sharp has directed a few), certain buildings go up in flames. Good cast, too. My favorite scenes contain the witch Vanessa as she pops up out of nowhere ready to harm the Laniers, such as the bedroom scene where she appears at Helen's bedside(..and in the back seat of her car right before it drives off the cliff).

A modest but good British horror film that offers a decent part for aging star Lon Chaney. There has been a feud going on between the Whitlock family and the Lanier family ever since the 17th century when the Laniers denounced young Vanessa Whitlock as a witch and buried her alive. Now in modern day England, the Laniers are part of a land developing business that is running bulldozers over the ancient Whitlock graveyard and disturbing their headstones, much to the protest of head spokesman Morgan Whitlock (Chaney). To make matters worse, Morgan's niece Amy (Diane Claire) is in love with Bill Lanier (Jack Hedley). When the tomb of Vanessa Whitlock gets accidentally desecrated, the angered witch (Yvette Rees) rises to seek vengeance by placing curses on the Laniers. It's nice to see Lon Chaney amidst this devilish action, and he adds dignity to what was one of his last good horror movies. Director Don Sharp (Hammer's KISS OF THE VAMPIRE) sets up a few eerie shots and imbues these black and white proceedings with a haunting atmosphere. This movie would make a fine double feature with HORROR HOTEL (aka "The City of the Dead"). *** out of ****