Warlock Moon (1973)

A college girl meets a reporter, they take a trip to the country, and they wind up meeting a creepy old woman who lives in a closed-down resort.

Director:

William Herbert

Writer:

William Herbert (as John Sykes)

Stars:

Laurie Walters, Joe Spano, Edna MacAfee

Cast

Cast overview:
Laurie Walters	...	Jenny Macallister / Ghost Bride
Joe Spano	...	John Devers
Edna MacAfee	...	Agnes Abercrombi
Harry Bauer	...	Hunter
Charles Raino	...	Sheriff
Ray K. Goman	...	Deputy Luther (as Ray Goman)
Steve Solinsky	...	Axman
Richard Vielle	...	Axman
Michael Herbert	...	Lecturer
Joan Zerrien	...	First Girl

Storyline

Young lovers John and Jenny decide to go for a drive in the countryside one day when they happen upon the remains of a long-abandoned resort spa. After doing some exploring, they find that an elderly couple is still living in the crumbling building. They tell the youngsters that the resort was shut down long ago because it was the headquarters of a Satanic cult that performed cannibalistic rituals on unsuspecting visitors, and then invite the pair to stay for dinner. Will John or Jenny make it back to civilization alive? Will anyone believe their story?

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Plot Keywords:

grindhouse film | american horror | human monster | villain | gore | 

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Taglines:

A horrifying tale of the supernatural

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

A Canadian death metal band took their name from this film, and cover of their 2009 EP "Power of Darkness" featured the artwork from the 1980s Unicorn Video release.

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Goofs

John scoops up the grocery sack with his right arm, but he's holding it with his left throughout the rest of the scene.

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Quotes

Jenny Macallister: What kind of meat is this, Mrs. Abercrombi? Is it beef?
Agnes Abercrombi: No.
Jenny Macallister: Well then, lamb or pork?
Agnes Abercrombi: No.
Jenny Macallister: What is it then?
Agnes Abercrombi: It's an old family recipe. I call it hunter's stew. It'd spoil all the fun if I told you how I made it.

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Crazy Credits

The finale plays out under the end credits and the film concludes after the credits have ended. The filmmakers later stated the credits were devised as such so viewers would be forced to read them.

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Alternate Versions

The Media Blasters DVD is missing the following footage that appeared on the Unicorn VHS release:

• Begins with the extended opening sequence, which is available as a mute extra on the DVD.
• Immediately before John & Jenny find the road to the spa, they're pulled over by a pair of condescending cops (briefly seen later) who warn, "The people in this valley don't care too much for strangers."
• As Mrs. Abercrombi serves tea the first time, she tells John and Jenny that the spa closed due to financial problems and nasty rumors. She goes on to reveal her father was the caretaker and the two remained residents after the spa closed, though he passed away when she was around Jenny's age.
• When Jenny comes in and finds Mrs. Abercrombi's cottage empty, she looks up at the ceiling, walks over to the fireplace and runs her hand across it.

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Connections

Referenced in Seinfeld: The Smelly Car (1993)

User Reviews

Underrated 1970s horror film

Jenny, a college student meets John, a cub reporter and together they find horror at an abandoned spa.

Like many others, I discovered this on late night TV when WOR in New York showed low budget and forgotten horror films. This is low on gore but great on atmosphere and shocking twists. Laurie Walters (later on Eight Is Enough) and Joe Spano (Hill Street Blues) are likable as the couple. Edna Macafee is creepy as the initially kind old woman they meet. She is the kind of scary old hag you may see in other films of the time like "Lemora-The Lady Dracula" and "Don't Look In The Basement". The low budget and grainy photography, so prevalent in early 1970s horror are great assets in this film. This also touches on subjects such as Satanism, cannibalism and ghosts. Other similar films are the well known "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and the lesser know "Terror At Red Wolf Inn".

Don't miss this one if you like these type of films, the ending is a shocker!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bloody Spa

Filming Locations:

University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sweet Blindness Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min (DVD) 89 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color