Superstition (1982)

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

Director:

James W. Roberson

Writers:

Galen Thompson (screenplay) (as Donald G. Thompson), Michael O. Sajbel (story)

Stars:

James Houghton, Albert Salmi, Lynn Carlin

Cast

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

Storyline

A family moves into a long-condemned New England household with a big pond out back that everybody loves to swim in. Soon, however, they find that the pond was the site of the execution- by-drowning of a witch three hundred years before, and she's back to revenge herself on anybody nearby, whether they're Catholic or not.

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Plot Keywords:

slasher | video nasty | murder of a child | psychotronic film | supernatural power | 

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Taglines:

Terror that grabs the scream right from your throat!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Superstition was extremely popular on pre-cert video in the UK on the VTC label in the early 1980s. It was so popular that it actually got a subsequent cinema release in 1984, under the title "The Witch", courtesy of Bordeaux Films International. This is one of the few times a video release was followed up by a theatrical release, rather than the other way around. It was then re-released by Stablecane under the title "The Witch", again on video shortly afterward.

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Goofs

(at around 1 min) During the flashback to 1692, as the witch is being raised on a pole to be drowned in the lake, one of the villagers raising the post is wearing a wrist watch.

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Quotes

Rev. David Thompson: How long has this violence been going on?
Elvira Sharack: Since 1692.
Rev. David Thompson: That's almost 300 years!
Elvira Sharack: My, you are clever!

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Connections

Referenced in Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)

User Reviews

Burning the Witch May Be of Help

A witch of old times on the road of revenge and a "haunted" house/property - the good thing: the death toll is not a small one!

Nice little horror flick from the beginning of the 80s. No masterpiece or classic, also no Oscar material, but a good watch - if you want some horror with a good slice of nostalgia and some blood spilled on the floor. Yummy.

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 January 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Witch

Filming Locations:

Garbutt House, 1809 Apex Ave. Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carolco Entertainment, Panaria

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1