Like "The Devils", "Witchfinder General" (also called "The Conqueror Worm") is likely to disturb a lot of people through it's portrayals of witch hunts. This one portrays England during its civil war in the 1640s. With the people paranoid enough to accept anyone, puritan Matthew Hopkins (Vincent Price) goes around coercing witchcraft confessions out of women, and summarily executing them in the most vicious ways possible.

Things get ugly when Hopkins targets priest John Lowes (Rupert Davies). You see, Lowes' niece Sarah (Hilary Dwyer) is engaged to Cromwell soldier Richard Marshall (Ian Ogilvy). And Marshall may have a heart of gold, but he will go to any length to protect his beloved. And I mean ANY LENGTH.

Vincent Price was always a trustworthy horror star, and this movie doesn't disappoint. It's certainly worth seeing, but you might want to avoid it if you have a weak stomach.

This film is set during the English Civil War in the early-mid 17th century. In the midst of this long and bloody war, there wasn't much law other than judges who were appointed to keep the peace. However, in the case of the Witchfinder General (Vincent Price),keeping the peace entailed finding and executing witches. And, in the mind of this sick jerk, witches were everywhere. So, his men spent most of the movie either murdering people or trying to use their authority to rape innocent women.

This is a pretty savage film (especially compared to other Vincent Price films of the era) and is not good fare for kids--as there is some nudity and rape isn't the best thing for the kids to witness. However, the film doesn't go nearly as far as THE BLOODY JUDGE--a Christopher Lee film that goes way, way beyond WITCHFINDER GENERAL in its graphic depiction of savagery.

As far as the quality of the film goes, it is very well made and creepy. In fact, because this is actually based on real events and not monsters, it's much more shocking to see than the average Price horror film. Decent acting, a decent script involving you innocent lovers and competent direction make this a watchable but somewhat unpleasant film.

Without the use of monsters or other worldly apparitions Vincent Price in Witchfinder General created a fabulous portrayal with Matthew Hopkins. The demons that were within Hopkins are those we struggle with every day when others tell us how and what to think. And religious fundamentalism with the power of the state to enforce it is still a force to be reckoned with. Even here in the USA.

The setting is Great Britain of the civil war era with Roundheads and Cavaliers battling for control. The Roundheads being Puritans were the ones doing the inquisiting there and Price is only a person too glad to offer his services.

In fact in every society when one wants an orthodoxy enforced there are always people psychologically deranged enough for such work. Price works with a partner in Robert Russell who's a little bit more honest about the fact he's a sadist. He grates on Price a bit, but the two find a lot of mutual satisfaction.

A lot of the same themes can be found in the Tyrone Power classic Captain From Castile only it's the Catholics enforcing their doctrine in that one.

Here Price in his work debauches the girlfriend of Roundhead soldier Ian Ogilvy and when he finds out he becomes a man with a mission.

Witchfinder General is a study in sadism and with an eternal message about the mind of humankind being unshackled. Delivered with a really special performance by Vincent Price.