Jan 20th
Witchfinder***
(review by Mark Richards)
Headgate Theatre, Colchester

(Will Parrick as Matthew Hopkins and Joe Sales as John Stearne) 

Witchfinder tells the story of the self-styled Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins and his assistant John Stearne and their witch hunts of the 1640s in East Anglia. It is an atmospheric film, enhanced by the use of locations such as Colchester Castle and its dungeons where many alleged witches awaited trial. I was struck by the brutality of Hopkins’ methods and their portrayal in the film such as relentlessly walking the accused back and forth until they collapsed from exhaustion or depriving them of food and sleep for days on end. The opening felt a little clumsy with too much narrative. Clearly a lot of information has to be conveyed in a relatively short time in order to set the scene and establish Hopkins but it could have been smoother. The cast gives a good account of itself, while some performances were slightly off-key these were hardly distracting. The editing was occasionally idiosyncratic and distracting, especially in the extreme close-ups, which often did not follow the character that was speaking or being spoken to. These are minor grumbles though. One of my favourite scenes was the fair, a complex crowd scene, which was faultlessly executed. Indeed, for a small scale production, it triumphs in its evocation of the 1640s by its attention to detail, particularly in the costumes and use of locations. Most of all it is the performances of the enthusiastic cast that convince and make the film work as well as it does. An interesting and well-made film that deserves to do well and get recognition beyond its week long run at the Headgate Theatre in Colchester.

MR

followed by:
The Making of Witchfinder**
(GB 2007. 25m.; Amusing collection of outtakes from the film, plus some interesting insights both from a historical and a film-making perspective.; d, narr: John Worland.)
JS

(Will Parrick on the set of Witchfinder)