Witches' Night (2007)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Paul Traynor

Writer:

Paul Traynor (writer)

Release Date:

8 July 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Halloween weekend. A jilted groom. A hastily-organized canoe trip. A pristine river. A deep, dark forest...

Plot Keywords:

Witches Horror

Cast

Gil McKinney	...	Jim
Jeff Christian	...	Bill
Wesley Walker	...	Rick
Jeff Alba	...	Ted
Betsy Baker	...	Marge
Lauren Ryland	...	Eva
Meghan Jones	...	June
Elisabeth Oas	...	Valerie
Stephanie Cantu	...	Gretchen
Paul Bentzen	...	Doyle
Matthew S. Harrison	...	Randy
Chris Nolte	...	Chet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Siri Bell	...	Goat Head
Jolian Blevins	...	Goat Head
Sandra Bowers	...	Witch
Autumn Brennan	...	Cloaked Figure
Ben Chester	...	Old Crone
Terry Derks	...	Witch
Patricia Fargen	...	Witch
Shirley Gochenaur	...	Witch
Kymberly Harris	...	Esmerelda
Heidi Roberts	...	Brunhilda
Michelle Roberts	...	Hagitha
Molly Royer	...	Cloaked Figure
Susan Tatar	...	Witch
Susan Thering	...	Witch

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (RCA Sound System)

Filming Locations:

Wisconsin, USA

Company:

Hay Moon

Witches Delight...

A rather enjoyable piece of old school horror, "Witches Night" takes the viewer on a wild ride and into dark places that we have not ventured in a while. Writer/Director Paul Traynor has obviously done his homework, and understands what it takes to make a modern horror film with classic scares. The film's premise is quite simple, a group of friends set out to cheer up a recently dumped buddy, and decide that a drunken canoe trip in Wisconsin is the right thing to do. Unbenounced to them, they fall prey to coven of (beautiful) witches and find themselves with various skin rashes and horrific visions... Solid acting from all involved, especially Wesley Walker in the role of "Rick". His foul-mouthed rants are at times hysterical and at other moments frightening. The cinematography looks superb, and the locations give the viewer a real sense of isolation and dread. The "Old Lady in the Woods" is down-right scary, and the producers of "The Blair Witch Project" could have taken some tips from these guys... I will agree with some other comments that the ending is a bit of a let-down, and seems really rushed. This is a shame, because the segments leading up to the final scene are suspenseful and creepy. Also there is a lack of any REAL gore, yet the sheer creepiness of the film leaves the viewer feeling uncomfortable...

All in all a great little Indie to add to any horror collection, "Witches Night" uses old school values to sell a modern tale about things we shouldn't mess with.