Witchfinder General

"He'll hang, burn, and mutilate you. He's the… Witchfinder General"

May 17 1968 Unrated 1h 26m
Biography, Drama, Horror

England, 1645. The cruel civil war between Royalists and Parliamentarians that is ravaging the country causes an era of chaos and legal arbitrariness that allows unscrupulous men to profit by exploiting the absurd superstitions of the peasants; like Matthew Hopkins, a monster disguised as a man who wanders from town to town offering his services as a witch hunter.

Plot

England is torn in civil strife as the Royalists battle the Parliamentary Party for control. This conflict distracts people from rational thought and allows unscrupulous men to gain local power by exploiting village superstitions. One of these men is Matthew Hopkins, who tours the land offering his services as a persecutor of witches. Aided by his sadistic accomplice John Stearne, he travels from city to city and wrenches confessions from "witches" in order to line his pockets and gain sexual favors. When Hopkins persecutes a priest, he incurs the wrath of Richard Marshall, who is engaged to the priest's niece. Risking treason by leaving his military duties, Marshall relentlessly pursues the evil Hopkins and his minion Stearne.

Written by

Tom Baker, Michael Reeves, Louis M. Heyward

Directed by

Michael Reeves

Production Countries

United States of America, United Kingdom

Production Companies

American International Pictures, Tigon British Film Productions

Languages

English

Awards

1 win & 2 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
13,663
Average Rating
6.7 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA