AIP seem to have been attempting to mash up Witchfinder-General and The Masque of the Red Death with this film which doesn't match up to either one with a poor script and a careless, hammy performance from Vincent Price. The scenes of cruelty and violence and a high nipple count don't compensate for its failure to engage.
Price is Edward Whitman, a cruel tyrannical lord in Elizabethan England who pursues suspected witches for his own sadistic pleasure rather than any idea of justice. His actions bring a curse on his family from genuine witch Oona ( Elisabeth Bergner) using foundling Roderick ( Patrick Mower ) as her instrument of vengeance.
Essy Persson ( as Lady Patricia Whitman )
Sex : Patricia is raped by her stepson Sean
Death : Patricia is ripped apart by Roderick
Essy was a Swedish actress who made her name in erotic films. She returned to Sweden after this and gradually got fed up of her image. She studied fine arts at college in the early eighties and gave up acting altogether after 1987. She is now 76.
Hilary Dwyer ( as Maureen Whitman )
Sex : Maureen is sleeping with Roderick
Death : Killed by Roderick ( offscreen )
Hilary starred again with Price in this. She does best out of all the young actresses for keeping her clothes on.
Pamela Farbrother ( as Margaret )
Sex : Margaret is rendered topless by her whipping
Death : Margaret expires after being roasted over a fire
Pamela ( who later preferred to be called Victoria ) made few films but had a respectable TV career in the seventies and eighties before she married Don Warrington and started a family. She made a surprise comeback in a recent episode of Casualty.
Quin O'Hara ( as Maggie )
Sex : Maggie is partially stripped as part of her interrogation
Death : Uncertain but probably killed by Sean
Quin was really Alice Jones from Edinburgh. She had been active throughout the sixties . She moved to America in the early seventies and appeared in many US TV series including a recurring role in Dallas ( though I'm struggling to recall her character ). She died earlier this year aged 76.
Jane Deady ( as naked girl )
Sex : She takes part in a ceremony lying nude
Death : Speared trying to escape an ambush
This is Jane's only film role
Jan Rossini ( as Bess )
Sex : Bess's breasts are bared by Sean and his mates
Death : Bess is executed by being burned alive on the flimsiest pretext
Jan was a bit part actress last seen on The Morecambe and Wise Show in 1973.
Sally Geeson ( as Sarah )
Sex : Sarah is prepared for rape
Death : Shot after stabbing Edward
This was Sally's last horror picture.
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