“Grow a mere gown with golden down, cut me a robe from toe to lobe, give me a skin for dancing in.” 🔪 Today’s #filmfriday is the 1966 British horror movie The Witches, also known as The Devil’s Own. This gem offers an intriguing blend of English charm, rural bewitchment, and of course, witchcraft. Set in a quaint country village, the story follows newly appointed teacher Gwen Mayfield (played by Joan Fontaine) as she uncovers the village’s seedy underbelly and the brewing of a malevolent plan amongst members of its community. There is a slow buildup of suspense in this movie that really reeled me in despite its initial, seemingly aimless, direction. Parts of the narrative are completely superfluous, but once we reach the meat of the story, the film really delivers. The initial Hitchcock-inspired vibes carry the movie along, giving it a classic air of ominous intrigue. What really sets The Witches apart is watching these classic tones slowly take on a strange, orgastic flavor that explodes in a mesmerizing finale. There is something truly unsettling about rural folk getting weird, but man, do I revel in it. I appreciated that the two main characters are middle-aged women, something we don’t often see in horror movies. Kay Walsh and Joan Fontaine both give excellent performances and I especially love Walsh’s confidence and determination as the sassy Stephanie Bax. Plus, Hammer glamour is in full effect as she dons a dramatic priestess outfit complete with a candle-lit headdress. You know I live for a good witchy costume. Although the film isn’t scary and doesn’t quite seize its full potential for wickedness and horror, it’s still a great movie and a fun, captivating watch. Check it out! 🎞 #thewitches #thewitches1966 #thedevilsown #thedevilsown1966 #hammerglamour #hammerfilms https://www.instagram.com/p/B_7kyD3pwe6/?igshid=fip052wxror8
