By Melissa Antoinette Garza
There’s nothing quite better than British sexploitation of the 1970s. VIRGIN WITCH (1972) shines as a superb example of creepy erotica done right.
The films opens with Christine (Ann Michelle) and Betty (Vicki Michelle) looking for work. Christine is brought in by agent Sybil Waite (Patricia Haines) who is seemingly impressed with her figure. She gets a job as a semi-nude model.
The photographer Peter (James Chase) and Christine have a near instant attraction. As they are about to make love, Sybil catches them and becomes furious. She wants Christine all to herself. She warns Peter to stay away from Christine, but he can’t. He’s smitten.
Betty who traveled with Christine to the filming location, stays at the house in the country. Unbeknownst to both sisters, the owner Gerald Amberley (Neil Halett) is the leader of a cult with Sybil standing by as high-priestess in the coven.
When Christine finds out she was brought there to be initiated into the coven because of psychic abilities she has, she jumps at the chance. Though things get dark and don’t work out quite as planned, God bless Christine. I love adventurous woman! She joins a coven of witches with the intent of practicing good magic without batting an eye.
That in essence is what I love about the 1970s depiction of women in horror. They weren’t just victims like critics like to pretend they were. At times, they were dark heroes, sometimes straight-up villains, some were the intelligent protagonists who defeated with wits, others were dimwits, some were temptresses, others prudes, many were naive and many far more wiser than their male counterparts. In essence, they were allowed to be everything. There was no soap box or the necessity to build the female character in a way that makes everyone happy. Instead, we had complete artistic freedom. If a gal wanted to screw the butler at 4 and the maid at 4:30, they would. They had unlimited abilities, sexual partners and prowess with zero shame. They were goddamn rock-star goddesses and God help the man who tried to get in their way! These women understood the core of feminism. Sex and beauty are not anti-woman and it’s time we stop pretending that they are.
I like watching attractive people in movies having wild sex. It’s fun! The naturalistic beauty and sensuality that women in 1970s film showcase is hot as hell! Nowadays if a woman is naked on a film, everyone feels the need to point out that it’s a purposeful focal point. In the 1970s it was so excessive and in your face that it wasn’t a focal point, it was an expected and celebrated gift of gorgeousness that was bound to return in 15 or so minutes. I love that. It’s the big Fuck You to the censors and critics who try to shut it down. Now, everyone pretends they put sex in for the art of it or to be avant-garde or for retro grindhouse artistry. No Thank you! Just let it be what it is and openly admit it. It’s a mechanism used to speak to primal desires and when it’s done right and cast well, it’s phenomenal! That in itself is an art! Capturing the right angles, lighting and accentuating the best parts of the most beautiful people while they pose or fawn over another is a craft.
VIRGIN WITCH (1972) definitely delivers on that front. These strong unabashed women have all sorts of crazy fun and it makes for an enjoyable watch.
The movie stars real life sisters Ana and Vicki Michelle who shine in the spotlight together. They play off each other well and are so obviously natural with one another that their reactions always come across believable.
Unsurprisingly, I highly recommend this one. It’s the cool kind of strange that I enjoy. I love having women at the helm, and despite the presence of Gerald, this film is still a female led production.
If you don’t own it, it is available for all streaming sites and looks like it’s hiding on YOUTUBE as well.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10
