Rare Flix: The Witchmaker (1969)

This is anything like a Coffee Maker?  Today's Film is the 1969 forgotten Film known as The Witchmaker.  What a strange title, no?  Is this about a guy who makes Witches?  Is it about a machine that makes Witches?  Is it a Floor Cleaner?  Is that SNL reference too old for most readers?  The Film is actually about a strange Warlock who has his killing spree interrupted.  When people come to look into what he is doing, he changes his tactic.  Now he wants one of the people come to stop him to be part of his Coven.  The Plot involves a curious mix of dry science talk, fanciful magic and a Swamp.  It's an odd combination to say the least!  Its Director only made two Films- this was the 2nd.  The main Producer- LQ Jones- is more notable for playing old tough guys on Westerns or in Films like Lone Wolf McQuade.  The final product isn't quite what you might be expecting.  In fact, it was edited enough to be a safe 'mid-market' Film that a stronger cut- called Naked Witch- was released in 1975.  I'd check that out, but I've found like 3 Films with that Title...and none of them are this.  I'll just stick with this Film for now as you read on...

In a Cold Open, a man- Luther the Berserker- kills a woman and drains her blood (implied) for a ritual sacrifice.

After the Credits, a Professor, his Helpers and a Reporter go to the same Swamp to investigate the incidents.

It's not quite a Cabin in the Woods (since it's a Swamp), but it is clear Evil Dead influence...

The man- a Warlock- is watching.  One of the women with him, you see, is a 'Conduit.'  She can pick up magical energies in the air like some sort of divining rod.

Her connection to magic- and a past involving a Witch descendant- makes her a good target.

I know for a fact that I'm not watching the 1975 Cut of the Film since we get hilarious, Austin Powers-style blocking of nudity with plants.

On the plus side, this saves me work that I have to do for the next Witch Movie I'm reviewing...

Luther is up to something big, so he calls in a Witch from his Coven.  He transforms her into a young beauty to aid in their work.

So is he the Witchmaker now?

He begins to turn her to his side, while also offing the dead meat...I mean, ancillary characters at the Cabin.

Eventually, the Doctor figures out that something is up...

They make a plan that somehow involves garlic necklaces making you invisible to Witches (what Book is that from?) and using a secret weapon.

They'll need this since the rest of the Coven has arrived.  In a nice twist, they aren't all just people in cloaks- they are random and different characters.

They switch the ritual blood- that would empower the Witches/Warlocks- with pig's blood...which apparently kills them Bewitched-style (they just blink out of frame).

The Reporter seems to have stopped the ritual and takes out the last Witch...

...but Luther escaped (and possibly killed the other Leads- it's not clear) and a battle ensues.

Luther is weakened by the garlic and drowns in the Swamp, but so does our Hero when the woman appears to have been converted already and leaves him to die.  The End.

A confusing mix of trash and serious Film.  The combination here is just a bit strange.  On one hand, the Film feels like/sets up future stock Horror Plotting.  People go out to the Woods to catch a thing and it catches them.  Other Movies obviously copied this/were inspired by this over the years.  It sets up a bunch of stuff that should be in a more trashy Film.  You have a bunch of Witches and Warlocks doing a big ceremony, but it just involves dancing.  The Film feels like it should/would have nudity in it, but never does.  That could be a positive or negative for you.  Every time you're expecting some gore or nudity, it just doesn't quite show up (see below).  With all of that going on, the Film is chock full of vague pseudo-science involving magic.  People can track magical energy like radio waves?  Pig's blood kills Witches?  Garlic necklaces render you invisible to them?  It has this very self-serious tone that would work really well if the Film got, well, a bit trashier.  As it is, the Film has a pretty slow 2nd Act that sure didn't help keep me awake initially.  Once you get to the 3rd Act, things mercifully pick up as the other Witches and Warlocks show up.  The final Scenes have a strange, but good feel to them.  The ending is a bit muddled as two characters aren't shown being killed, so are they alive?  The twist isn't that special, but it works.  All in all, The Witchmaker is a curious gem that fans of Occult Films will like- just know that it is slow as molasses in the middle.  On the plus side, it *sort of* inspired Baywatch with this slow-mo running Scene...

Next up, I cover another Witch Film.  This one is quite a bit different...and also British, so it is inherently classy.  Stay tuned...