1970·Horror·1h 36m
7.0
★
In 1700s Austria, a witch-hunter's apprentice has doubts about the righteousness of witch-hunting when he witnesses the brutality, the injustice, the falsehood, the torture and the arbitrary killing that go with the job.
Directed by Michael Armstrong and Adrian Hoven
rape
torture
religious fundamentalism
witch trial
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Herbert Lom
Lord Cumberland
Udo Kier
Count Christian von Meruh
Olivera Katarina
Vanessa Benedikt
Reggie Nalder
Albino
Herbert Fux
Jeff Wilkens - Executioner
Johannes Buzalski
Advocato
Michael Maien
Baron Daumer
Gaby Fuchs
Deidre von Bergenstein
Adrian Hoven
Nobleman
Ingeborg Schöner
Nobleman's Wife
Günter Clemens
Friedrich
Friedrich Schoenfelder
Narrator
Crew
Michael Armstrong
Director
Adrian Hoven
Director
Michael Armstrong
Writer
Adrian Hoven
Writer
Michael Holm
Original Music Composer
Adrian Hoven
Producer
Popular Reviews
23 reviews
Sarah
7.0★ · 03/20/26
Watched for 2026 Cult Movie Challenge - letterboxd.com/that1oboist/list/the-2025-cult-movie-challenge/
13/52: Udo Kier Week
13/52: Udo Kier Week
Watched for 2026 Cult Movie Challenge - letterboxd.com/that1oboist/list/the-2025-cult-movie-challenge/
13/52: Udo Kier Week
13/52: Udo Kier Week
Joni
6.0★ · 03/07/26
this didn't feel very religious horror to me
this didn't feel very religious horror to me
Corinne
4.0★ · 11/27/25
see this shi is scary bc i j know they would have called me a witch😭
see this shi is scary bc i j know they would have called me a witch😭
Cthulhusshoes
6.0★ · 10/23/25
Religious fanaticism is bad, guys.
A lot more a historical-exploitation-drama than horror, with the exploitation bits being pretty lackluster and definitely not the star of the show.
Going into this biting on the hook line of "rated V for violence", along with the age old marketing campaign of barf bags at theaters I definitely was expecting to be entertained by the violence here, but my attention was honestly kept more by the actual plot, which drew some genuine anger out of me in regards to the historical practices of witch-hunting, which obviously boils down to just misogyny (I say as I sip my iced matcha).
Supposedly based on true documents, though I have no idea to what degree as I am not a historian (though I almost lived in Salem), all I can say is I'm glad we no longer live in fear of god like this.
October #21
A lot more a historical-exploitation-drama than horror, with the exploitation bits being pretty lackluster and definitely not the star of the show.
Going into this biting on the hook line of "rated V for violence", along with the age old marketing campaign of barf bags at theaters I definitely was expecting to be entertained by the violence here, but my attention was honestly kept more by the actual plot, which drew some genuine anger out of me in regards to the historical practices of witch-hunting, which obviously boils down to just misogyny (I say as I sip my iced matcha).
Supposedly based on true documents, though I have no idea to what degree as I am not a historian (though I almost lived in Salem), all I can say is I'm glad we no longer live in fear of god like this.
October #21
Religious fanaticism is bad, guys.
A lot more a historical-exploitation-drama than horror, with the exploitation bits being pretty lackluster and definitely not the star of the show.
Going into this biting on the hook line of "rated V for violence", along with the age old marketing campaign of barf bags at theaters I definitely was expecting to be entertained by the violence here, but my attention was honestly kept more by the actual plot, which drew some genuine anger out of me in regards to the historical practices of witch-hunting, which obviously boils down to just misogyny (I say as I sip my iced matcha).
Supposedly based on true documents, though I have no idea to what degree as I am not a historian (though I almost lived in Salem), all I can say is I'm glad we no longer live in fear of god like this.
October #21
A lot more a historical-exploitation-drama than horror, with the exploitation bits being pretty lackluster and definitely not the star of the show.
Going into this biting on the hook line of "rated V for violence", along with the age old marketing campaign of barf bags at theaters I definitely was expecting to be entertained by the violence here, but my attention was honestly kept more by the actual plot, which drew some genuine anger out of me in regards to the historical practices of witch-hunting, which obviously boils down to just misogyny (I say as I sip my iced matcha).
Supposedly based on true documents, though I have no idea to what degree as I am not a historian (though I almost lived in Salem), all I can say is I'm glad we no longer live in fear of god like this.
October #21
Olivia
7.0★ · 10/13/25
Flirting (Count Christian) vs Sexual harassment (Albino)
What was their problem, witch hunt back in those times was crazy. I guess being too beautiful means you’re a witch and they’re JEALOUS. Women always deserved better.
This got brutal out of nowhere!
What was their problem, witch hunt back in those times was crazy. I guess being too beautiful means you’re a witch and they’re JEALOUS. Women always deserved better.
This got brutal out of nowhere!
Flirting (Count Christian) vs Sexual harassment (Albino)
What was their problem, witch hunt back in those times was crazy. I guess being too beautiful means you’re a witch and they’re JEALOUS. Women always deserved better.
This got brutal out of nowhere!
What was their problem, witch hunt back in those times was crazy. I guess being too beautiful means you’re a witch and they’re JEALOUS. Women always deserved better.
This got brutal out of nowhere!