Mark of the Devil (1970) Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält (original title)

Director:

Michael Armstrong
(more)

Writers:

Michael Armstrong
Adrian Hoven

Release Date:

5 April 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Positively the most horrifying film ever made.

Plot:

Udo Kier is a witch hunter apprentice to Herbert Lom. He believes strongly in his mentor and the ways...

Plot Keywords:

Torture | Nun | Tortured To Death | Mentor | Witch Trial

Cast

Herbert Lom	...	Lord Cumberland
Udo Kier	...	Count Christian von Meruh
Olivera Katarina	...	Vanessa Benedikt (as Olivera Vuco)
Reggie Nalder	...	Albino
Herbert Fux	...	Jeff Wilkens - Executioner
Johannes Buzalski	...	Advocato
Michael Maien	...	Baron Daumer
Gaby Fuchs	...	Deidre von Bergenstein
Ingeborg Schöner	...	Nobleman's Wife
Adrian Hoven	...	Nobleman
Günter Clemens	...	Friedrich
Doris von Danwitz	...	Elisabeth
Dorothea Carrera
Marlies Petersen
Bob Gerry
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Percy Hoven	...	Blond Child (uncredited)
Friedrich Schoenfelder	...	Narrator (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Armstrong
Adrian Hoven		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Armstrong		(as Sergio Casstner)
Adrian Hoven		(as Percy Parker)

Produced by
Adrian Hoven	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Holm

Cinematography by
Ernst W. Kalinke

Film Editing by
Siegrun Jäger

Art Direction by
Max Mellin

Set Decoration by
Walter Karsch		(decorator)

Costume Design by
Barbara Grupp

Makeup Department
Alena Hejdankoba	....	makeup artist
Günter Kulier	....	makeup artist (as Gunther Kulier)

Production Management
Gerhard Motel	....	production manager
Heinz Scheloks	....	unit manager

Sound Department
Hans-Dieter Schwarz	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Georg	....	assistant camera
Joachim Gitt	....	assistant camera

Other crew
Gerhard Cepe	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Aquila Film Enterprises (uncredited)
• Atlas International Film
• HIFI Stereo 70 Kg

Distributors

• Gloria Filmverleih AG (1970) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Hallmark Releasing (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1972) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Blue Underground (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Cheezy Flicks Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Elite Entertainment (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Lightning Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• VMP (19??) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Vestron Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Treasures (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält" - West Germany (original title)

Runtime:

96 min | Norway:90 min | USA:90 min | Germany:87 min (cut version)

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:(Banned) (original rating) | Australia:R (re-rating) (uncut) | Germany:18 (cut) | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:(Banned) | Norway:(Banned) (video rating) | Germany:BPjM Restricted | West Germany:18 (nf) (cut) | Canada:16+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Castle Moosham, Salzburg, Austria

Company:

Aquila Film Enterprises

Trivia:

The original ending was supernatural with the dead rising and pulling Christian into the abyss, but the second director hated it and had the negatives destroyed. The only remaining footage are stills that can be seen on the DVD release.

Quotes:

Albino:[to an accused witch] I accuse you of having trampled on the cross, of having ridden to the Sabbath, of throwing the Holy Cross of our Saviour into manure so that the skies grew dark, and the rain fell upon the earth!

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Gory Gimmicks (1996) (V)

Excellent look at witchfinding. Gory and effective entertainment.

I'm a bit puzzled by the amount of negative comments for 'Mark Of The Devil'. To me it was a very effective and entertaining drama (not horror) with a witchcraft theme. Similar in many ways to Jess Franco's 'The Bloody Judge', a movie which generally has a better reputation for some reason. 'Mark Of The Devil' is a much more satisfying movie. Also gorier and with a stronger cast (veteran Herbert Lom, living legend Udo Kier, and Franco semi-regular Adrian Hoven). Forget the naysayers, this is flawed, true, but highly recommended to fans of Mario Bava and Hammer horror.