Superstition (1982, Review)
aka The Witch
Director: James W. Roberson
Cast: James Houghton, Albert Salmi, Lynn Carlin, Larry Pennell, Jacquelyn Hyde
Starz/Anchor Bay / NTSC R1 / Rated R / 1.85:1 Widescreen / English (Dolby Digital 1.0) / 85 minutes / PURCHASE
1692 – A woman claiming to be the “Daughter of Satan” is drowned in Black Pond by the local church and swears revenge on them, their families and the entire surrounding area.
1982 (Present Day) – After a couple of teenage pranksters die horrible deaths in a house owned by the local church (that happens to be on the land where the witch was killed), Inspector Sturgess and young priest, Father David (James Houghton), start to investigate the incidents before the new residents (a drunken priest, his wife and two hot-ass teendaughters) move in. As the home is being cleaned up and renovated, people start to disappear and die gruesome deaths but the family move in anyway.
The investigation is stepped up as an old woman who lives on the property gives clues to the horrible history of the land and Father David starts to put 2 and 2 together. Meanwhile, Inspector Sturgess is finding clues buried deep in the heart of the house until they both begin to realize that they are up against something much more sinister than coincidence and happenstance…maybe the power of Satan himself.
I love the look and overall grimy aesthetics of this movie. The feeling is pretty tense and the atmosphere reminded me a lot of the European (more specifically, Italian) horror films of the time. There are some very silly scenes and dialogue that makes little sense if you think in a real-world way, but who doesn’t love a little cheese with their bloody, possessed house cinema? I don’t think it detracted from it at all.
The old woman that was giving them clues seemed to know everything. Her whole deal, aside from one scene, was to talk to the young priest through the front window of her cottage and spout ominous warnings and murky hints. There was no nudity, but some pretty gratuitous shots of the drunken priest’s daughter flaunting their stuff in bikinis and nightgowns with panties. With some awesome kills (my favorite being a circular saw blade sawing its way through the chest and out the back!) and lots of gore, especially for a haunted house flick, I would say this is a must-see for any 80′s slasher fan. Check. It. Out.
