Legend of the Witches, 1970 - ★★★★½
REVIEWED
Viewed as part of my Beware the Docs of March Marathon 1. Brilliant and somewhat eerie B&W documentary oddity, covering English witches and paganism from medieval times through to modern day. It works as both a nature style docu with a narrator describing the actions of a witchcraft cult, and also includes the history of their beliefs, and how it predated Christianity.
For an old vintage film it really kicks ass, its got it all from debasing Christianity, a cock sacrifice, hallucinogenic herbs, sound induced trances and naked pagan fertility ceremonies. A little bit of the documentary uses old paintings or stock footage, but theres also heaps of marvelously filmed b&w footage of black masses and a bizarre Cornish witchcraft Museum, thats got jars of mutilated sex organs among its many delights. I was fascinated throughout, I learnt so much about my own countries darker history, plus it packed lots of boobs which sealed the deal for me. Its also given me a new twisted catchphrase "Piercing the wafer".
It could be argued that much of this is sensationalized performance pieces and not authentic witches in action. But aren't all docs subjects slightly playing up towards the camera, anyway out of all the great docs I've caught in March, this was probably my favorite (certainly in my top 3). I'm coming to the end of March now, but anyone recommend me any docu oddities please do so HERE.
Originally taken from Letterboxd
REVIEWED
"The symbolic whippings let him understand, from now hes subject to the disciplines of the cult."
Narrator
For an old vintage film it really kicks ass, its got it all from debasing Christianity, a cock sacrifice, hallucinogenic herbs, sound induced trances and naked pagan fertility ceremonies. A little bit of the documentary uses old paintings or stock footage, but theres also heaps of marvelously filmed b&w footage of black masses and a bizarre Cornish witchcraft Museum, thats got jars of mutilated sex organs among its many delights. I was fascinated throughout, I learnt so much about my own countries darker history, plus it packed lots of boobs which sealed the deal for me. Its also given me a new twisted catchphrase "Piercing the wafer".
It could be argued that much of this is sensationalized performance pieces and not authentic witches in action. But aren't all docs subjects slightly playing up towards the camera, anyway out of all the great docs I've caught in March, this was probably my favorite (certainly in my top 3). I'm coming to the end of March now, but anyone recommend me any docu oddities please do so HERE.
Originally taken from Letterboxd
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