By Melissa Antoinette Garza
After watching women vampires destroy toxic masculinity in THE BLOOD SPATTERED WIFE (1972) I’m still in the mood for some hardcore, punk rock dames to play rough with the boys. Sadly, my attempt has failed and I’ve ended up with a very tame and timid production.
MARK OF THE WITCH begins with so much promise. The titular character (Marie Santell) is brought to the gallows and without an ounce of fear, she showcases true badassery. She lifts her hair to allow the executioner to place the noose around her neck and then in curses all descendants of the town.
Directly afterward, she is killed and the credits begin to roll with Trella’s Hart’s voice coming thru in a strange dark melody with an unusual and unsettling voice. The whole intro kicks off the film quite nicely. Sadly, that’s where things begin to go downhill.
Now in present day, a bunch of teenagers are having a witchcraft party over their Professor Mac Stuart’s (Robert Elson) house. They have Ouija boards, tarot cards and books of real magic. Jill (Anitra Walsh) brings one such book over and encourages everyone to do the Enchantment for the Summoning Forth of Witches. The college students jump at the chance to practice some real black magic.
When Jill recites the words, she becomes possessed by the witch. The rest of the guests are in the dark, but the changes are stark and obvious. Annoyed by Mac’s dog, she kills it. Thankfully, it’s done off-screen. I can watch 1000 people get slaughtered in a movie, but if a single dog is hurt, I become sad.
After the event with the pooch, she walks inside and is accosted by misogynistic douche Harry (Jack Gardner) who believes he’s being smooth. Harry is an asshole. Witch Jill gives him a strong tongue-lashing and leaves abruptly when he jokingly comments about witch-hunting. Harry, who usually gets away with his jackass behavior is taken aback by the cold rejection.
Witch Jill is brought home by her boyfriend Alan (Darryl Wells), who does finally notice her odd behavior. Thinking she’s joking or tired, he drops her off. She heads back to Mac’s to have a one-on-one.
At first, he thinks that she’s still regular Jill. It isn’t until she confesses to murdering his dog and he attacks that he sees her true identity. She enlists his help, but still he’s doubtful until she reveals a birthmark on his wrist matches hers. It’s a marking of the Devil’s Kiss, linking them together as witches. Stuart worrying about the real Jill’s safety agrees to teach the Witch some basic modern concepts, products and advances that she’s unaware of.
The next day, Mac doesn’t show up for class. Alan has yet to hear from Jill and when he finds her at Stuart’s, he assumes the two are having an affair. Mac tells her that Jill is gone and the witch is inside of her body. Alan is doubtful until the witch performs some dark magic against an innocent bird. Will she please just leave the animals alone? There are plenty of humans to destroy!
The professor slowly becomes drawn in by the witch. He tries to fight but is continuously pulled back. He’s like Michael Corleone only the Witch is far more attractive than the mob.
Her powers increase and culminates in a summoning of the rest of her coven while Mac and Alan try to defeat her with the power of the cross which is coincidentally the best scene of the film.
This was actually quite a big letdown. It’s very tame and formulaic. I can certainly see why it isn’t as fondly remembered as many of the other cult classics.
There isn’t any nudity, very little gore and zero scares. The acting is solid though Marie Santell was the standout. She stole the entire film and was barely in it.
The biggest issue I had with the movie was the change in tone between Santell’s version of the witch and Walsh’s. Santell was playing the part like a 1970s feminist. She was balls-to-the-wall, angry and forcibly in control. Walsh had a different approach which confused the character. She wasn’t as angry as just motivated and assertive. She didn’t demand control. She used seduction instead. She was far more smiles and soft seduction than violently defeating her enemies. Even when she does go after targets, it’s more theatrics than unbridled hatred.
The few scenes with Santell are off the charts and wonderful. The rest of the movie is average for modern films, but far below average when comparing it to similar 70s movies.
MARK OF THE WITCH has a good premise, but never really found its pace, tone or charm. For Amazon customers, it is on Prime and only a 78 minute watch. The few good scenes are great, but be prepared for a slow-burn that barely pays off.
Scared Stiff Rating: 4/10
