Veteran horror actor Vincent Price stars as real-life 17th century witch hunter Mathew Hopkins who persecuted and executed many innocent people in his maniacal pursuit of "serving God" but instead brought sorrow and violence, and here is portrayed as abusing his power by the corrupt societal circumstances of the time, here 1645 England engulfed in Civil War.
Price is excellent here in a restrained performance playing a truly evil though intelligent man, with good direction by Michael Reeves, but this is the kind of film that despite its technical achievements is profoundly unpleasant and ultimately unsatisfying to watch, with the unrelenting nihilism and tragic, downbeat ending making viewer feel as though they've been through an ordeal, without the needed dramatic weight and historical insight to make it worthwhile.
Also known as "Conqueror Worm" an equally apt title, though this picture had nothing to do with writer Edgar Allan Poe.
Price is excellent here in a restrained performance playing a truly evil though intelligent man, with good direction by Michael Reeves, but this is the kind of film that despite its technical achievements is profoundly unpleasant and ultimately unsatisfying to watch, with the unrelenting nihilism and tragic, downbeat ending making viewer feel as though they've been through an ordeal, without the needed dramatic weight and historical insight to make it worthwhile.
Also known as "Conqueror Worm" an equally apt title, though this picture had nothing to do with writer Edgar Allan Poe.