Superstition (1982)

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 | Sweden:15 | Ireland:18 | 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)

Cheap thrills.

A witch, the daughter of Satan himself, drowned in the aptly named 'Blackpond' back in the 17th century, returns to terrorize a family newly settled in the area. The local priest tries his best to control the situation, and the disbelieving police chief is determined to pin the multitude of gruesome murders on the local halfwit. Only the mysterious woman who lives down the lane knows the full story...and of course she's not talking, too busy as she is being all moody and mysterious. Before long, everyone wishes they hadn't set foot in the place.

In the first five minutes of this low-budget supernatural horror, you've already got one of the most over-used clichés in the genre; two teenagers making out are 'attacked' by an unknown assailant. But don't be lulled into a false sense of security - from then on 'The Witch' takes liberties with the viewers' expectations and comes out as a surprisingly effective chiller. Budgetary and thespian limitations aside, this is what a horror film should be: gory, unsettling and scary!