This is a movie supposedly based on real accounts of the witch hunts in 15th-19th century Europe. Albino (Reggie Nalder) is an evil corrupt witch hunter in a small town. He, at random, accuses people of being witches and tortures and kills them. Lord Cumberland (Herbert Lom) arrives in town with his helper (Udo Kier). Kier falls in love with beautiful Vanessa (Olivera Katarina). Cumberland tells Albino that he is in charge of witch finding now. In revenge Albino accuses Vanessa of being a witch and has her locked up. Things escalate and ends up in an all out rampage.
This is the infamous film that was "rated V for violence" (actually R rated) and free vomit bags were given to people who attended the movie. It was a huge hit in the US and spawned many sequels. What this is is a badly dubbed German exploitation film full of pointless female nudity and graphic violence. The acting ranges from OK (Lom and Nalder) to downright lousy (Kier and everybody else). Still this DOES work. The 2004 Blue Underground DVD is uncut and has a pristine print with strong color and good sound. Kier and Katarina are both a attractive and make a likable couple. There's a beautiful music score and some incredible scenery. Also the frequent bursts of VERY graphic violence are incredibly disturbing: people are burnt alive; a tongue is torn out; a topless woman on the rack is burnt with a hot branding iron; a man is stabbed in the eye...it goes on and on. Worst of all is the character of Baron Daumer. Young, attractive actor Michael Maien is shown being beaten up and tortured throughout the course of the film. I almost turned it off when he is forced to sit bottomless on nails as his feet are whipped! This is a vicious unrelenting film. On one hand it IS exploitation. On the other hand this is (I've heard) a pretty accurate representation of what went on way back then. Recommended--if you can get the Blue Underground DVD.
This is the infamous film that was "rated V for violence" (actually R rated) and free vomit bags were given to people who attended the movie. It was a huge hit in the US and spawned many sequels. What this is is a badly dubbed German exploitation film full of pointless female nudity and graphic violence. The acting ranges from OK (Lom and Nalder) to downright lousy (Kier and everybody else). Still this DOES work. The 2004 Blue Underground DVD is uncut and has a pristine print with strong color and good sound. Kier and Katarina are both a attractive and make a likable couple. There's a beautiful music score and some incredible scenery. Also the frequent bursts of VERY graphic violence are incredibly disturbing: people are burnt alive; a tongue is torn out; a topless woman on the rack is burnt with a hot branding iron; a man is stabbed in the eye...it goes on and on. Worst of all is the character of Baron Daumer. Young, attractive actor Michael Maien is shown being beaten up and tortured throughout the course of the film. I almost turned it off when he is forced to sit bottomless on nails as his feet are whipped! This is a vicious unrelenting film. On one hand it IS exploitation. On the other hand this is (I've heard) a pretty accurate representation of what went on way back then. Recommended--if you can get the Blue Underground DVD.