Superstition (1982)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

James W. Roberson

Writers:

Bret Thompson Plate (story)
Michael O. Sajbel (story)

Release Date:

January 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

You'll believe it just before you die...

Plot:

A witch put to death in 1692 swears vengeance on her persecutors and returns to the present day to punish their descendants.

Plot Keywords:

Pond | Death | Blood | Psychotronic | Witchcraft

Cast

James Houghton	...	Rev. David Thompson
Albert Salmi	...	Inspector Sturgess
Lynn Carlin	...	Melinda Leahy
Larry Pennell	...	George Leahy
Jacquelyn Hyde	...	Elvira Sharack
Robert Symonds	...	Pike
Heidi Bohay	...	Ann Leahy
Maylo McCaslin	...	Sheryl Leahy
Carole Goldman	...	Elondra
Stacy Keach Sr.	...	Rev. Maier
Kim Marie	...	Mary
Billy Jayne	...	Justin Leahy (as Billy Jacoby)
Johnny Doran	...	Charlie
Bennett Liss	...	Arty
Joshua Cadman	...	Arlen (as Josh Cadman)

Also Known As:

The Witch (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

Australia:86 min | Netherlands:85 min | USA:85 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (uncut DVD version) | Italy:VM14 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 (video re-release) | Norway:(Banned) | USA:Unrated | Iceland:(Banned)

Company:

Carolco Entertainment

Trivia:

The film was listed on Greater Manchester Police's list of films subject to seizure during the UK video nasty scare of the 1980's. It was later released fully uncut in 1986 (as "The Witch") on the Stablecane label, and under its original title in 2005 by Momentum.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the father is trying to escape the witch, he looks in to a mirror, and you can see the cameraman's face moments before the mirror explodes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fright Show (1985)

A surprisingly good film--albeit cliched

This movie has all of the elements that you expect from a horror film--and I mean that in the best way! All right, it's admittedly low budget, but the frequent deaths, presented with almost metronomic spacing, are inventive and entertaining. Plus, it is a delight to see a film that really does have a supernatural grounding, instead of the so-tired slasher bit.

You should definitely watch this movie when you are alone at night--watching it with friends or in the daytime gives you too much chance to let the low budget distract you from the flow...