A 17th century executed witch kills anybody who enters a house that was built on the site of her execution.
Supernatural horror that plays out like a slasher movie with many inventive deaths every 10 minutes or so. This is well paced and there is plenty of good gore, including an exploding head in a microwave, death by an escaped circular saw, spike through forehead, and so on. This was made during the Golden Age of the slasher movie and certainly gives good value for money. Give me 1980's effects and vibe any day over 21st century CGI and remakes!
Original title in 1982 was Superstition. It did appear on the seizure list during the Video Nasties farce but was given a rerelease as The Witch in 1985. Sadly this film appears to be something of a forgotten one, I can't even reference in it in my collection of horror movie books. It really does deserve a DVD/BR release so that a new audience can see it.
84 Reviews
Very superstitious...
lost-in-limbo24 April 2020
An unusual, but rather enjoyable no-nonsense and wicked low-budget cursed haunted house/witch feature. A Reverend and his family move into a strange, remote house with a horrific past. Mysterious occurrences begin to happen and people within the property start dying or disappearing to only end up dead.
The plot is quite slight, with a premise relatively basic... revenge from beyond the grave; A drowned witch who reappears in demon form hidden under a cloak with glimpses of her long green hands and evil laughter to go with it. Its set-pieces are there for nothing more than atmospheric shock effects (gory, but creative and insane deaths), but director James W. Roberson effectively handles them and suitably paces the narrative with a dark, nervy energy.
It plays out like a haunted house ride... false jumps to only pump out the real one within its predictable superstitious framework (like the all mighty cross; the torment of all evil and good for exploding doors). Also there's a real nasty streak, which doesn't hold back for anyone and this makes the downbeat ending even more fulfilling. There's a real italian horror vibe to it all. The imagery is well-photographed (especially of the witch) and the score does pack that an ominous sting that crackles with intensity. Characters are one-dimensional, but the cast are committed with James Houghton, Larry Pennell, Lynn Carlin and Albert Salmi as a stubborn, hard-pressed detective.
I thought it was silly, but lively and unpleasant 1980s horror pulp that doesn't outstay its welcome. Fans of 80s horror overabundance should love.
The plot is quite slight, with a premise relatively basic... revenge from beyond the grave; A drowned witch who reappears in demon form hidden under a cloak with glimpses of her long green hands and evil laughter to go with it. Its set-pieces are there for nothing more than atmospheric shock effects (gory, but creative and insane deaths), but director James W. Roberson effectively handles them and suitably paces the narrative with a dark, nervy energy.
It plays out like a haunted house ride... false jumps to only pump out the real one within its predictable superstitious framework (like the all mighty cross; the torment of all evil and good for exploding doors). Also there's a real nasty streak, which doesn't hold back for anyone and this makes the downbeat ending even more fulfilling. There's a real italian horror vibe to it all. The imagery is well-photographed (especially of the witch) and the score does pack that an ominous sting that crackles with intensity. Characters are one-dimensional, but the cast are committed with James Houghton, Larry Pennell, Lynn Carlin and Albert Salmi as a stubborn, hard-pressed detective.
I thought it was silly, but lively and unpleasant 1980s horror pulp that doesn't outstay its welcome. Fans of 80s horror overabundance should love.
Splattery supernatural fun from the early '80s.
BA_Harrison16 October 2014
Brought to us by producer Ed Carlin and co-producers Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna, who gave us haunted house horrors The Evil and The Changeling, Superstition is yet another supernatural offering set in and around a creepy old property. This time around, the spooky shenanigans are accompanied by a whole handful of creative, bloody deaths, and lots of jump scares (probably in an attempt to draw in the slasher crowd)—a good job since the plot is an often illogical mish-mash of hoary old horror clichés.
In 1692, a witch is executed—drowned in a pond, and trapped there with a crucifix. For almost three hundred years, the evil woman's spirit is the cause of violent deaths in and around the nearby church-owned property. When Reverand George Leahy (Larry Pennell) and his family move into the old house, the witch soon starts to cause trouble, now even more powerful thanks to the removal of the crucifix during the dredging of the pond. Reverand David Thompson (James Houghton) discovers the truth behind the killings and tries to put an end to the witch once and for all.
The film opens in terrific style with a juicy double death scene: having played a prank on a courting couple (thereby providing the film with the first of many jump scares), a pair of pranksters meet their fate in the creepy property, one being decapitated, his severed head exploding inside a microwave oven, the other getting chopped in two by a sash window. Several other macabre set-pieces follow in quick succession, including the hanging of an electrician in an elevator shaft and the death of a priest, a circular saw blade spinning into his chest and exiting through his back.
Also adding to the fun: Sheryl and Ann (Maylo McCaslin and Heidi Bohay), sexy teenage daughters of Reverand Leahy, going down to the pond for a spot of fun in the sun (wearing bikinis, naturally), only for one of them to be grabbed around the ankle by a severed hand; a flashback to the trial of the witch that allows for some silly Exorcist style guttural utterings, a few cool facial bladder effects, and the sight of a priest being crushed in a wine press; some memorable visuals with impressive lighting effects (somewhat reminiscent of Argento); Reverand Thompson's surprised expression every time he uses the crucifix to open (or blow up) a locked door; George having his face lacerated by flying shards of glass from an exploding mirror; Sheryl getting nailed through the head with a big spike; and blonde daughter Ann (Heidi Bohay) running around in skimpy silk night-gear.
In 1692, a witch is executed—drowned in a pond, and trapped there with a crucifix. For almost three hundred years, the evil woman's spirit is the cause of violent deaths in and around the nearby church-owned property. When Reverand George Leahy (Larry Pennell) and his family move into the old house, the witch soon starts to cause trouble, now even more powerful thanks to the removal of the crucifix during the dredging of the pond. Reverand David Thompson (James Houghton) discovers the truth behind the killings and tries to put an end to the witch once and for all.
The film opens in terrific style with a juicy double death scene: having played a prank on a courting couple (thereby providing the film with the first of many jump scares), a pair of pranksters meet their fate in the creepy property, one being decapitated, his severed head exploding inside a microwave oven, the other getting chopped in two by a sash window. Several other macabre set-pieces follow in quick succession, including the hanging of an electrician in an elevator shaft and the death of a priest, a circular saw blade spinning into his chest and exiting through his back.
Also adding to the fun: Sheryl and Ann (Maylo McCaslin and Heidi Bohay), sexy teenage daughters of Reverand Leahy, going down to the pond for a spot of fun in the sun (wearing bikinis, naturally), only for one of them to be grabbed around the ankle by a severed hand; a flashback to the trial of the witch that allows for some silly Exorcist style guttural utterings, a few cool facial bladder effects, and the sight of a priest being crushed in a wine press; some memorable visuals with impressive lighting effects (somewhat reminiscent of Argento); Reverand Thompson's surprised expression every time he uses the crucifix to open (or blow up) a locked door; George having his face lacerated by flying shards of glass from an exploding mirror; Sheryl getting nailed through the head with a big spike; and blonde daughter Ann (Heidi Bohay) running around in skimpy silk night-gear.
A surprisingly good film--albeit cliched
weltonb24 March 2002
This movie has all of the elements that you expect from a horror film--and I mean that in the best way! All right, it's admittedly low budget, but the frequent deaths, presented with almost metronomic spacing, are inventive and entertaining. Plus, it is a delight to see a film that really does have a supernatural grounding, instead of the so-tired slasher bit.
You should definitely watch this movie when you are alone at night--watching it with friends or in the daytime gives you too much chance to let the low budget distract you from the flow...
You should definitely watch this movie when you are alone at night--watching it with friends or in the daytime gives you too much chance to let the low budget distract you from the flow...
Burning the Witch May Be of Help
Tweetienator19 June 2019
A witch of old times on the road of revenge and a "haunted" house/property - the good thing: the death toll is not a small one!
Nice little horror flick from the beginning of the 80s. No masterpiece or classic, also no Oscar material, but a good watch - if you want some horror with a good slice of nostalgia and some blood spilled on the floor. Yummy.
Nice little horror flick from the beginning of the 80s. No masterpiece or classic, also no Oscar material, but a good watch - if you want some horror with a good slice of nostalgia and some blood spilled on the floor. Yummy.
A fun gore filled ride, nothing more nothing less
acidburn-1030 June 2022
'Superstition' is a 1982 supernatural slasher movie that may not have any sort of originality, but makes up for some of its short comings by having some inventive death scenes, cool gore and a creepy atmosphere. The movie is rather entertaining and does deliver on the carnage.
The plot = In the 1600's where a witch is sentenced to death by crucifixion in the black pond as she swears vengeance on her persecutors. Then we flash forward to the present day of 1982 a series of bizarre murders plague the house near the lake as the witch is haunting the property from beyond the grave.
The direction by James W. Roberson is quite decent as he doesn't shy away from the shock factor, the film feels very much in the vein of the 80's slashers due to the sheer over the top murders that occur throughout which thankfully helps distract you from the utter haphazard pacing, uneven acting performances & a fairly by the numbers story. This is by no means a plot driven flick but the mystery element is sustained long enough to keep you interested.
Overall this is a fun ride dripped in pure cheese with sheer enthusiasm for its gruesome set pieces, but doesn't really offer much more than that with no characters to really root for mainly because they're just cannon fodder & none of the performances really stand out to be honest, but if you're looking for nothing more than a fun ride, then 'Superstition' is the movie for you.
The plot = In the 1600's where a witch is sentenced to death by crucifixion in the black pond as she swears vengeance on her persecutors. Then we flash forward to the present day of 1982 a series of bizarre murders plague the house near the lake as the witch is haunting the property from beyond the grave.
The direction by James W. Roberson is quite decent as he doesn't shy away from the shock factor, the film feels very much in the vein of the 80's slashers due to the sheer over the top murders that occur throughout which thankfully helps distract you from the utter haphazard pacing, uneven acting performances & a fairly by the numbers story. This is by no means a plot driven flick but the mystery element is sustained long enough to keep you interested.
Overall this is a fun ride dripped in pure cheese with sheer enthusiasm for its gruesome set pieces, but doesn't really offer much more than that with no characters to really root for mainly because they're just cannon fodder & none of the performances really stand out to be honest, but if you're looking for nothing more than a fun ride, then 'Superstition' is the movie for you.
good beginning, but the rest...
Hellraiser-112 February 2003
This had a very promising and shocking starting but for the rest, apart from some gory scenes this was the typical cheap and tired B-movie with an enchanted house. It was a very cultivated genre at that age(not now) and perhaps at that time it was acceptable, but not for today´s standards. I don´t agree it is better than "Amityville horror", in fact I prefer that movie by far, this was precisely a follower of "Amityville" and "Poltergeist", there were a lot of them. I give this a 4 out of ten.
Above average
rocknrelics5 June 2021
I found this to be a very enjoyable film, and quite unique.
The supernatural /slasher/gore mix works really well, and the pacing of the film is excellent, not a minute is wasted, there's no padding, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.
Obviously not the biggest budget, but the sequence set in 1692 looks great and really adds to the atmosphere.
I definitely recommend a viewing. I watched the Scream Factory blu ray, and when the film is well lit, it looks great, in the darker scenes, not so much. There are also a lot of speckles/flecks evident in the darker scenes, but overall the picture is good.
The supernatural /slasher/gore mix works really well, and the pacing of the film is excellent, not a minute is wasted, there's no padding, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.
Obviously not the biggest budget, but the sequence set in 1692 looks great and really adds to the atmosphere.
I definitely recommend a viewing. I watched the Scream Factory blu ray, and when the film is well lit, it looks great, in the darker scenes, not so much. There are also a lot of speckles/flecks evident in the darker scenes, but overall the picture is good.
Just move along... not much to see here.
TOMASBBloodhound21 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I had never heard of this film until I stumbled across a few minutes of it one late night on TCM. And of course leave it to Netflix to find me a copy. The viewing experience of the entire film was somewhat of a disappointment, however. There were some interesting pieces here, but not enough of them to put together a compelling (albeit low budget) horror film. The story concerns some evil goings on at an old house owned by a church. A new pastor takes over and is ordered by local law enforcement to clean the place up as it has become a trash-strewn make-out site. The only regular inhabitants live in a cottage next door. They are an old woman and her mute, but apparently dangerous son. The new pastor, as well as an older one, heads out to the property to have a look around. And boy, do we find some strange goings on here....
It turns out that the house is haunted by the ghost of a witch who was executed some 300 years earlier. She is some angry witch, too! She was in league with Satan, and still carries a grudge to this day. Anyone who tries to move into the house is usually killed violently. And that's a problem since another new pastor and his family will be moving in soon! There are sure a lot of pastors in this story. And this new one and his entire family basically serve as made-to-order victims for this witch. Policemen, home improvement workers, clergymen, you name it all get whacked by this witch! Almost the entire cast dies if I recall. And there are a few really gory deaths.
After an eye-catching opening sequence where two pranksters are killed, this film quickly becomes a cheese fest. The acting is less than adequate for one thing, and the cast has few recognizable faces. Albert Salmi as the head cop is about the only guy I recognized. He had a brief role as Danny Noonan's dad in Caddyshack. The photography is generally clear and bright, but the action isn't blocked in a way that we can always tell what happens to people. The music at times seems upbeat and inappropriate. Sometimes it too closely resembles the opening tune from The Shining. I don't recall ever seeing much of the witch except her demon-like hands and her silhouette as she's approaching some victims. But we do get a close-up of something much more hideous. That being the bra-less boobs of the new preacher's wife as she stands by a window. Unfortunately she's an older woman who looks noting like one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta or similar cougar-themed shows. Its just a really curious shot when we'd rather see her two daughters up close like that. I'd give the entire venture about 4 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
It turns out that the house is haunted by the ghost of a witch who was executed some 300 years earlier. She is some angry witch, too! She was in league with Satan, and still carries a grudge to this day. Anyone who tries to move into the house is usually killed violently. And that's a problem since another new pastor and his family will be moving in soon! There are sure a lot of pastors in this story. And this new one and his entire family basically serve as made-to-order victims for this witch. Policemen, home improvement workers, clergymen, you name it all get whacked by this witch! Almost the entire cast dies if I recall. And there are a few really gory deaths.
After an eye-catching opening sequence where two pranksters are killed, this film quickly becomes a cheese fest. The acting is less than adequate for one thing, and the cast has few recognizable faces. Albert Salmi as the head cop is about the only guy I recognized. He had a brief role as Danny Noonan's dad in Caddyshack. The photography is generally clear and bright, but the action isn't blocked in a way that we can always tell what happens to people. The music at times seems upbeat and inappropriate. Sometimes it too closely resembles the opening tune from The Shining. I don't recall ever seeing much of the witch except her demon-like hands and her silhouette as she's approaching some victims. But we do get a close-up of something much more hideous. That being the bra-less boobs of the new preacher's wife as she stands by a window. Unfortunately she's an older woman who looks noting like one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta or similar cougar-themed shows. Its just a really curious shot when we'd rather see her two daughters up close like that. I'd give the entire venture about 4 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
Director influenced by Argento?
ericdetrick200223 May 2005
After watching the opening 10 minutes of this film I was happy to see the director wasn't afraid to "show it all" in the area of gore. Stylistically, I would really be surprised if the director and/or cinematographer wasn't influenced by Dario Argento. Some of the music reminded me of a slight take on what Goblin did for Argento films- but no where near as well of course. The good thing about mimicking a maestro such as Argento is that you have good taste in film making. The bad thing is...not many can "do Argento" like Argento. So many will walk away thinking it is a cheap ripoff.
For those not familiar with Argento's work, you should find this to be a refreshing take on the horror genre in the 80s time period. If you are like me, I enjoy "grade Z" movies more then big budget films if they entertain me. It is about entertainment. This film entertained me. There were even a few times that I actually felt a little creepy tension- something that doesn't usually happen with lower budget flicks.
If you are looking for big budget romps, then keep on renting movies on the "new rental wall" at Blockbuster. Otherwise, you may have some fun with this one.
For those not familiar with Argento's work, you should find this to be a refreshing take on the horror genre in the 80s time period. If you are like me, I enjoy "grade Z" movies more then big budget films if they entertain me. It is about entertainment. This film entertained me. There were even a few times that I actually felt a little creepy tension- something that doesn't usually happen with lower budget flicks.
If you are looking for big budget romps, then keep on renting movies on the "new rental wall" at Blockbuster. Otherwise, you may have some fun with this one.
Just a warning...
indy-3923 January 2010
Just a warning to maybe save someone else from wasting their time. Seeing that this was on TCM and after having read a number of the reviews on IMDb I decided to give it a watch.I was intrigued by how many people referenced Argento- some even citing Suspiria. Sorry to say this one is strictly for fans of gore. Poorly directed and cheaply made with little to no style- shocking how badly shot when you consider it was made by a cinematographer- (not so shockingly, he has directed little else). Not bad for this sort- but the worst of Bava or Argento is far superior. For those who can't see that, don't be offended- be glad your easily pleased.
Splattery Fun
barrynewblood2 December 2019
What at first feels like a creatively impaired Amityville Horror rip off quickly spirals into a balls-out, splatter fest that's a lot more fun than you'd think. The story is that a house has been cured ever since a witch was executed in the lake that surrounds the property and anyone who enters has come to a bad end. A priest and his family move in and begin to experience creepy things until the vengeful witch returns to kill them all one by one.
Superstition doesn't waste any time in getting to the good stuff. The opening of the film alone features a body being torn in half by a shattered window and a teenager's head exploding in a microwave. Once the main victims move in, the witch doesn't spend her time making chairs move or opening doors - she just goes right for the jugular and starts killing people in creatively bloody ways.
In some ways, Superstition feels more like a slasher movie than a ghost story, but it's not a bad thing. It certainly makes the film stand out from similar films from the time and it mixes subgenres quite well. If you're looking for a spooky good time, Superstition will hook you up.
Superstition doesn't waste any time in getting to the good stuff. The opening of the film alone features a body being torn in half by a shattered window and a teenager's head exploding in a microwave. Once the main victims move in, the witch doesn't spend her time making chairs move or opening doors - she just goes right for the jugular and starts killing people in creatively bloody ways.
In some ways, Superstition feels more like a slasher movie than a ghost story, but it's not a bad thing. It certainly makes the film stand out from similar films from the time and it mixes subgenres quite well. If you're looking for a spooky good time, Superstition will hook you up.
Supernatural slash!
BandSAboutMovies20 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
For years, Superstition was a movie that was impossible to find. The 2006 Anchor Bay release was out of print and you could only find bootlegs of the film at conventions. That's just part of this movie's troubled history, as even though it was finished in 1981, it wasn't released in the U.S. until 1985.
That's probably why when people bring up great 80's horror, this is a film that rarely enters the conversation. That's changing, thanks to Shout! Factory finally bringing this odd film out on blu ray.
Filmed under the title The Witch, Superstition is all about murder. Violent, slasher-like murders filled with brutal amounts of blood-spraying gore. This is a movie that does more than not care about its characters. It seems to outright despise them, reveling in their horrible destruction. That makes it stand out from the pack of Amityville Horror and Poltergeist films. Much like Umberto Lenzi's Ghosthouse, it melds the world of the slasher with the supernatural.
It all starts when two boys play pranks on a couple parked on lover's lane. As they hide inside an abandoned house, they're soon dispatched, which brings Inspector Sturgess (Albert Salmi, Viva Knievel!) and Reverend David Thompson (James Houghton, TV's Knot's Landing) in to investigate. Sturgess believes that the house is a place where occult rituals are taking place, as more than one murder and several drowings have happened on the estate.
What follows is a brutal series of kills, such as Sturgess' partner being dragged under the lake, an elderly priest (Stacy Keach Sr., father of Stacy and James) being killed by a table saw, a contractor being hung by a clawed hand, exploding shards of glass mutilating another priest and so much more. Don't fall in love with a single character in this movie - man, woman or even child.
Everything can be traced way back to a witch trial that happened in 1692, during when Elondra Sharack was accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl named Mary. The witch was drowned and then the church nearby instantly burned down. So when young Mary's ghost starts wandering thr grounds, nothing good can happen. By the end, not even a crucifix can stop the witch from killing anyone and everyone that crosses her path.
Look for Larry Pennell - Dash Riprock from The Beverly Hillbillies - as doomed priest George Leahy, who somehow has a wife and three kids, one of whom is played by Billy Jayne, who is also Billy Jacoby, brother of actors Robert Jayne, Susan Jayne and Laura Jacoby, as well as the half-brother of Scott "Bad Ronald" Jacoby. Billy is also in Bloody Birthday, The Beastmaster and Cujo.
Director James W. Roberson has a great eye for setting up all this carnage. You've seen his work before, as he was the cinematographer for The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Encounter with the Unknown and Terror On Tour.
While not an official sequel, Alessandro Capone's 1989 film Witch Story was also sold as Superstition 2. That makes sense, as thematically these movies are incredibly similar. However, in Germany, Witch Story was retitled Tanz der Hexen Teil 2 and sold as the sequel to Larry Cohen's Wicked Stepmother, a movie that feels like a complete 180 from Capone's attempt at making a haunted house film.
That's probably why when people bring up great 80's horror, this is a film that rarely enters the conversation. That's changing, thanks to Shout! Factory finally bringing this odd film out on blu ray.
Filmed under the title The Witch, Superstition is all about murder. Violent, slasher-like murders filled with brutal amounts of blood-spraying gore. This is a movie that does more than not care about its characters. It seems to outright despise them, reveling in their horrible destruction. That makes it stand out from the pack of Amityville Horror and Poltergeist films. Much like Umberto Lenzi's Ghosthouse, it melds the world of the slasher with the supernatural.
It all starts when two boys play pranks on a couple parked on lover's lane. As they hide inside an abandoned house, they're soon dispatched, which brings Inspector Sturgess (Albert Salmi, Viva Knievel!) and Reverend David Thompson (James Houghton, TV's Knot's Landing) in to investigate. Sturgess believes that the house is a place where occult rituals are taking place, as more than one murder and several drowings have happened on the estate.
What follows is a brutal series of kills, such as Sturgess' partner being dragged under the lake, an elderly priest (Stacy Keach Sr., father of Stacy and James) being killed by a table saw, a contractor being hung by a clawed hand, exploding shards of glass mutilating another priest and so much more. Don't fall in love with a single character in this movie - man, woman or even child.
Everything can be traced way back to a witch trial that happened in 1692, during when Elondra Sharack was accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl named Mary. The witch was drowned and then the church nearby instantly burned down. So when young Mary's ghost starts wandering thr grounds, nothing good can happen. By the end, not even a crucifix can stop the witch from killing anyone and everyone that crosses her path.
Look for Larry Pennell - Dash Riprock from The Beverly Hillbillies - as doomed priest George Leahy, who somehow has a wife and three kids, one of whom is played by Billy Jayne, who is also Billy Jacoby, brother of actors Robert Jayne, Susan Jayne and Laura Jacoby, as well as the half-brother of Scott "Bad Ronald" Jacoby. Billy is also in Bloody Birthday, The Beastmaster and Cujo.
Director James W. Roberson has a great eye for setting up all this carnage. You've seen his work before, as he was the cinematographer for The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Encounter with the Unknown and Terror On Tour.
While not an official sequel, Alessandro Capone's 1989 film Witch Story was also sold as Superstition 2. That makes sense, as thematically these movies are incredibly similar. However, in Germany, Witch Story was retitled Tanz der Hexen Teil 2 and sold as the sequel to Larry Cohen's Wicked Stepmother, a movie that feels like a complete 180 from Capone's attempt at making a haunted house film.
Terrible
Maciste_Brother1 January 2000
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers
I don't know why others here have given this dreadful flick good reviews because this movie is simply terrible. Here's my plot summary: People appear at a house. People are killed in weird ways (a bouncing buzz-saw). Witch(?) appears. Everyone is killed. The end.
This incredibly non-scary and dull film is as thrilling as working in a slaughterhouse. This is the type of film that killed horror movies in the 1980s and up to this day. Blah!
The positive reviews here were probably written by the makers of this dreck.
I don't know why others here have given this dreadful flick good reviews because this movie is simply terrible. Here's my plot summary: People appear at a house. People are killed in weird ways (a bouncing buzz-saw). Witch(?) appears. Everyone is killed. The end.
This incredibly non-scary and dull film is as thrilling as working in a slaughterhouse. This is the type of film that killed horror movies in the 1980s and up to this day. Blah!
The positive reviews here were probably written by the makers of this dreck.
This isn't bad at all
Wizard-84 September 1999
I was surprised by this low budget horror movie. It isn't a masterpiece, but overall it's well done - certainly better than THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. Things happen in this movie that take you by surprise - both genuine shocks, and seeing stuff you usually never see in horror movies! And there are some splatter scenes that will really take your attention. You probably won't see this on TV, (and if you do, it'll be severely cut), so do some detective work in the video stores in your area. You won't be disappointed.
Now, I ain't superstitious... but I'm not swimming in that lake.
dfranzen7030 April 2019
Don't let the generic-sounding title lull you into thinking this is a lame haunted-house movie. Although it's true that a lot of its plot elements are borrowed from other films (deadly lake, demon in the house, burned witch in Puritan times), Superstition feels remarkably genuine and is (somewhat) surprisingly good. And, unlike most cheapo horror films of the 70s and 80s (and, well, every decade), the plot is definitely not entirely predictable. There aren't really any recognizable names in the cast (Stacy Keach's dad is in it, and Lynne Carlin was in the '71 cult hit Taking Off), and the movie has a now-dated vibe to it, but the action is relentless and expertly done. Definitely worth a look for those of you who enjoy scary movies.
Early 80s Film Brings Some Great Ideas To The Table
gavin694217 October 2007
Once upon a time, a witch was condemned to death by the local clergy. Her body was thrown in a pond and a cross was thrown in after her, to keep her really upset. Many years later (like 300) she has returned -- and death awaits anyone who comes near her ancestral home. Very nasty death!
This film is what a horror film should be, especially an 80s horror film. We have attractive ladies, a Catholic priest, a church administrator (who is not a priest and is free to enjoy the ladies), a witch... and some death scenes that are not flawless (some are cheesy), but are definitely creative. This isn't a masterpiece or a legendary film, but it's one worth seeing if you notice it at the video store.
Let me give you a few examples: one man is decapitated (which is bad enough), and his head is put in the microwave! One time I put a Furby in a microwave, and I know what happens to cats in the microwave... so I knew what was coming from the human head! Oh my! Not much later, a buzz saw goes loose and buries itself in a man's chest until it burrows out of his back! Wow! These scenes aren't realistic (they could never happen in real life), but they really spark the dark parts of our imagination.
Bad dreams show up, flashbacks take place and a man of less than normal intelligence guards the witch ("his mistress") and will stop at nothing to save her. The church administrator must consult an old book -- the logbook of a church that no longer exists -- to ward away the witch! Oh, it's so dreamy! And unlike "Horror Rises From the Tomb" (where a warlock returns), this film doesn't take itself so seriously -- allowing us to just lay back and enjoy, like most films should be watched...
There's not much to say about this one because it's not really a film meant to be critiqued. No great score, no A-list acting... just a fun time. If that's what you want -- a horror movie with a sense of humor, but without being actually funny -- you want this movie. Rent it, buy it... get some popcorn and a bottle of whiskey. Drink a Coke Zero. You're going to have yourself a party!
This film is what a horror film should be, especially an 80s horror film. We have attractive ladies, a Catholic priest, a church administrator (who is not a priest and is free to enjoy the ladies), a witch... and some death scenes that are not flawless (some are cheesy), but are definitely creative. This isn't a masterpiece or a legendary film, but it's one worth seeing if you notice it at the video store.
Let me give you a few examples: one man is decapitated (which is bad enough), and his head is put in the microwave! One time I put a Furby in a microwave, and I know what happens to cats in the microwave... so I knew what was coming from the human head! Oh my! Not much later, a buzz saw goes loose and buries itself in a man's chest until it burrows out of his back! Wow! These scenes aren't realistic (they could never happen in real life), but they really spark the dark parts of our imagination.
Bad dreams show up, flashbacks take place and a man of less than normal intelligence guards the witch ("his mistress") and will stop at nothing to save her. The church administrator must consult an old book -- the logbook of a church that no longer exists -- to ward away the witch! Oh, it's so dreamy! And unlike "Horror Rises From the Tomb" (where a warlock returns), this film doesn't take itself so seriously -- allowing us to just lay back and enjoy, like most films should be watched...
There's not much to say about this one because it's not really a film meant to be critiqued. No great score, no A-list acting... just a fun time. If that's what you want -- a horror movie with a sense of humor, but without being actually funny -- you want this movie. Rent it, buy it... get some popcorn and a bottle of whiskey. Drink a Coke Zero. You're going to have yourself a party!
A witch comes back for revenge...again
The_Void29 December 2007
There are certain themes that recur again and again in horror films, and a witch coming back from the dead to gain revenge on those who put him/her to death is one that has been done many, many times before. There are films in which it has been done well; The Haunted Palace, for example, and then there are films in which it is not done well...this film for example. Superstition takes this horror cliché and, aside from a few amusing death scenes, doesn't add anything to it; which makes watching it pretty pointless. The plot revolves around an old house. A new family moves in, blah blah, and then people start getting killed, blah blah and eventually we find out that it's because of a witch that was put to death centuries earlier. As mentioned, this film does feature some good death scenes and they are rather gory; the best one sees a circular saw break free and rip through a man's chest, and a strangulation in an elevator shaft takes second place. It's obvious that nobody wanted to give the filmmakers much money (wonder why...) however, as the entire film looks very cheap and this does affect the credibility of the death scenes also. Overall, this is pretty much a big waste of time; there are better films about witches coming back for revenge, so see those instead!
You have a twentieth century mind
Tender-Flesh1 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is pretty standard haunted house fare. I've seen worse, I've seen better. What makes it stand slightly higher than normal hauntings are a few good gore scenes, including a guy being ripped in half by a window, so that half of him lays out in the yard and the other half twitches in a room. And, a severed head placed in a microwave explodes twice(once in a flashback---take what you can get, eh?).
Albert Salmi plays his usual detective role with his usual effort. Larry Pennell portrays a drunken father, and I'm pretty certain he's been cast that way more than once, he of the Clark Gable lookalike conventions. Two useless teen daughters, a blonde and a brunette, remind me of the gals from the TV show, Too Close for Comfort. They're both whiny and you won't complain when the brunette gets the point.
Basically, you have a condemned witch(one who actually is in league with Satan and not some mere pagan) who is drowned in 1692, so she haunts the area surrounding the lake where she died. OK, not really a lake, more like a putrid pond(I felt bad the actors had to swim in there). So, she vows revenge before her death, kills some of the people in her own time period who were responsible(including using a massive press to crush a priest), then covertly kills people "through time" as people come and go living in homes in that area. Initially, you are led to believe you're dealing with a haunted house, as tools and other implements rip victims asunder, but then the witch finally does show up and, kudos to the director, her face is never shown. You always see a cloaked figure in shadows and any close-ups only show a blue-black demon hand with menacing claws that grab people by the face and throw them about like rag dolls. One part shows a lady grabbed by the head and dragged off camera, probably my favorite part. There is sort of a twist ending, but more seasoned horror veterans will spot it from almost the very beginning.
Recommended for haunting fans, but don't take it too seriously. It's short and has some cheese, but the gore and slightly spooky witch help things along.
Albert Salmi plays his usual detective role with his usual effort. Larry Pennell portrays a drunken father, and I'm pretty certain he's been cast that way more than once, he of the Clark Gable lookalike conventions. Two useless teen daughters, a blonde and a brunette, remind me of the gals from the TV show, Too Close for Comfort. They're both whiny and you won't complain when the brunette gets the point.
Basically, you have a condemned witch(one who actually is in league with Satan and not some mere pagan) who is drowned in 1692, so she haunts the area surrounding the lake where she died. OK, not really a lake, more like a putrid pond(I felt bad the actors had to swim in there). So, she vows revenge before her death, kills some of the people in her own time period who were responsible(including using a massive press to crush a priest), then covertly kills people "through time" as people come and go living in homes in that area. Initially, you are led to believe you're dealing with a haunted house, as tools and other implements rip victims asunder, but then the witch finally does show up and, kudos to the director, her face is never shown. You always see a cloaked figure in shadows and any close-ups only show a blue-black demon hand with menacing claws that grab people by the face and throw them about like rag dolls. One part shows a lady grabbed by the head and dragged off camera, probably my favorite part. There is sort of a twist ending, but more seasoned horror veterans will spot it from almost the very beginning.
Recommended for haunting fans, but don't take it too seriously. It's short and has some cheese, but the gore and slightly spooky witch help things along.
No budget horror movie
preppy-318 July 2010
Tired film about a witch who is executed in the 1600s or so and vows revenge. It is resurrected years later and takes its revenge.
This movie does seem to be made by people who had their hearts in the right place. It's dark, gloomy and has a few good moments here and there. No stupid humor either. But the low budget, primitive gore effects and lousy acting really hurt this one. The murders are gory but the "special" effects are so laughably obvious that is kills any horror or suspense. Also the film has that lousy "it's not over" ending that marred so many 1980s films. So, it looks like they set out to make a decent, gory horror film but their reach was destroyed by their budget.
This movie does seem to be made by people who had their hearts in the right place. It's dark, gloomy and has a few good moments here and there. No stupid humor either. But the low budget, primitive gore effects and lousy acting really hurt this one. The murders are gory but the "special" effects are so laughably obvious that is kills any horror or suspense. Also the film has that lousy "it's not over" ending that marred so many 1980s films. So, it looks like they set out to make a decent, gory horror film but their reach was destroyed by their budget.
Witchcraft in 20th century America
sol121825 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS** Nowhere as effective as it was back in 1982 when it was first released, in being banned in countries like the UK, "Supersition' still gives off a number of jolts to its audience in that almost everyone in the film ends up suffering a gruesome death by the time it's over.
The standard horror movie plot has to do with this creepy old house that was involved some 300 years ago in the execution-by drowning-of its owner accused witch and Satanist Elondra Sharack. Over the years anyone who lived in the Sharack house who wasn't a Sharack family member met a horrific death. Now with a new Reverend-Rev. Thompson-in town looking to disprove that the Sharack House is haunted by the Devil him or herself the horrors that were dormant there for so long came back! And came back with a vengeance.
Afer a few horrific deaths in and around the Sharack House were then brought back to olden times-the summer of 1692-to when the house got cursed by it's owner Elowdra Sharack who was declared a witch by the local priest Pike. After Elowdra's execution Pike and the townspeople who participated in it started to get second thoughts about what they did. That's because most of them ended up getting mysteriously killed with Pike's church being burned down moments after Elowdra's execution! As time went on anyone who lived in the Sharack House ended up meeting a terrifying death there with the exception of Elowdra's most recent descendant Elvira and her mute and brain damaged son Arien who were immune from her curse.
***SPOILERS*** Playing with fire Rev. Thompson had the Leahy family headed by Rev. John move into the Sharack House until he could find them a permanent place to stay in town. If Rev. Thompson didn't know it at the time he soon found out that by having the Leahys move into the cursed Sharack House he in fact condemned them to death!
One of the goriest and blood splattered horror flicks to come out in the 1980's "Superstition" also had one of the most effective exorcism scene in it, conducted by Rev. Pike on Elonda Sharack, that was far more convincing and believable, with the dubbing perfectly matching Elonda's lips, then even in the the movie " The Exorist" itself!
The standard horror movie plot has to do with this creepy old house that was involved some 300 years ago in the execution-by drowning-of its owner accused witch and Satanist Elondra Sharack. Over the years anyone who lived in the Sharack house who wasn't a Sharack family member met a horrific death. Now with a new Reverend-Rev. Thompson-in town looking to disprove that the Sharack House is haunted by the Devil him or herself the horrors that were dormant there for so long came back! And came back with a vengeance.
Afer a few horrific deaths in and around the Sharack House were then brought back to olden times-the summer of 1692-to when the house got cursed by it's owner Elowdra Sharack who was declared a witch by the local priest Pike. After Elowdra's execution Pike and the townspeople who participated in it started to get second thoughts about what they did. That's because most of them ended up getting mysteriously killed with Pike's church being burned down moments after Elowdra's execution! As time went on anyone who lived in the Sharack House ended up meeting a terrifying death there with the exception of Elowdra's most recent descendant Elvira and her mute and brain damaged son Arien who were immune from her curse.
***SPOILERS*** Playing with fire Rev. Thompson had the Leahy family headed by Rev. John move into the Sharack House until he could find them a permanent place to stay in town. If Rev. Thompson didn't know it at the time he soon found out that by having the Leahys move into the cursed Sharack House he in fact condemned them to death!
One of the goriest and blood splattered horror flicks to come out in the 1980's "Superstition" also had one of the most effective exorcism scene in it, conducted by Rev. Pike on Elonda Sharack, that was far more convincing and believable, with the dubbing perfectly matching Elonda's lips, then even in the the movie " The Exorist" itself!
Not as great as people say
Tikkin13 February 2007
A lot of people seem to think this is a great film, well it isn't as great as they say. I think the reason for the high ratings is simply because of the gore.
When I sat down to watch this I was expecting it to be a gore-fest. The first few deaths were quite good and made me really excited for what was to come. I was literally waiting just to see who would die next. Then, the priest dies with the saw in his chest. What a great death scene! I thought things could only get better. Sadly the film seemed to limp on at a very slow pace after that. The problem with Superstition is that other than the gore, there is little else of interest. The characters are very boring and you don't care one bit for any of them when they die. This would be fine if they were being killed off every 5 minutes, but the death scenes are spread out far too much. About halfway through I was getting very bored and frustrated as nothing much seemed to happen. By the time it got to the end, there were some quite good scenes, but by this time I was thoroughly annoyed with the film. The shots of the witch lit from behind were quite creepy, and the ending was quite good too.
Overall I feel this film might have worked better as a short story or as part of a trilogy. I've given this a rating of 5 because I did like the death scenes early on, and there are a few creepy moments here and there. Unfortunately these are almost cancelled out by the boring moments and wooden characters.
When I sat down to watch this I was expecting it to be a gore-fest. The first few deaths were quite good and made me really excited for what was to come. I was literally waiting just to see who would die next. Then, the priest dies with the saw in his chest. What a great death scene! I thought things could only get better. Sadly the film seemed to limp on at a very slow pace after that. The problem with Superstition is that other than the gore, there is little else of interest. The characters are very boring and you don't care one bit for any of them when they die. This would be fine if they were being killed off every 5 minutes, but the death scenes are spread out far too much. About halfway through I was getting very bored and frustrated as nothing much seemed to happen. By the time it got to the end, there were some quite good scenes, but by this time I was thoroughly annoyed with the film. The shots of the witch lit from behind were quite creepy, and the ending was quite good too.
Overall I feel this film might have worked better as a short story or as part of a trilogy. I've given this a rating of 5 because I did like the death scenes early on, and there are a few creepy moments here and there. Unfortunately these are almost cancelled out by the boring moments and wooden characters.
The witch has her revenge
ruimichael-5378419 November 2018
My father saw this one in a theather in the 80 s, and told me to see it, i never found it, later on i bought the dvd in spain, and he was right, this is now my favorite horror movie of all time, i now have it on blu ray, bought in germany, fully uncut, its really intense, gorier, i recomend it 10/10.
You Know It's Time To Move When ...
Steve_Nyland8 August 2007
James W. Roberson's SUPERSTITION is amongst the finest teen oriented horror movies of the early-mid 1980s, boasting a fine ensemble cast, some great shock effects sequences, and an actual story rather than just a series of incidents where people die horribly. Borrowing equal parts from THE AMITYVILLE HORROR and SUSPIRIA, this is one of several haunted house & witchcraft type movies that went against the grain of typical cartoonish 80s hackers -- the low budget might throw some, but once you get down to brass tacks is a very watchable little movie that just happens to involve things like exploding heads, guys getting chopped in half, and pretty teenage chicks being spiked through the forehead & nailed to the floor.
But you know, just once I'd like to see one of these movies where a typical, slightly dysfunctional all-American family moves into some crumbling, Gothic, obviously haunted house and decides to get the hell OUT of there at the first sign of trouble. The warning signs are more than obvious;
1) A series of grisly killings in the house that were never solved and have the local police worried enough to basically assign Albert Salmi and his deputies to live on the premises armed with shotguns.
2) Creepy formally dressed young girls who come bobbing out of nowhere & ask if people want to play, who then die horribly, have visions of people dying horribly, or travel back in time to witness ancient witch drownings in the estate pond.
3) Speaking of the pond, as someone quite correctly noted, why on god's earth would ANYONE decide to go for a swim in that muck pool? Let along get a really close look at the dark, opaque, scummy surface while bent over in a position that compromises their center of gravity.
4) Random handymen end up getting hung by the neck until dead, DEAD DEAD! in the old dumbwaiter shaft.
5) A weird old woman who is obviously in league with Satan lives on the premises, with her son shacking up in a room hidden by a false wall down in the basement.
6) Fully armed policemen are pulled to their doom beneath the murky surface of said pond while various members of the clergy find themselves ground up by runaway buzz saw blades.
7) You move into a house already furnished with an old microwave oven that has brain tissue and clumps of hair caked to it's inside.
8) Creepy young handsome local clergymen who strangely don't have any friends their own age take an interest to your teenage daughters who skip around day & night dressed like a couple of the Fly Girls.
9) It turns out that your descendants had executed a witch centuries before using an elaborate cross structure designed to dunk her into the scummy, scary looking pond that only a fool would go swimming in.
10) Dad starts hiding bottles of really cheap Scotch up in the attic.
I could continue but such might create the impression that I am not fond of SUPERSTITION, when nothing could be further from the fact: This is a fun, hyperbolic and gory little supernatural shocker, though some may find the sleaze quotient a bit low; There's no nudity in the film. At all. Besides that it's almost a perfect little B grade horror movie complete with an absolutely nihilistic little conclusion, clocking it at 86 minutes uncut & helping to update the haunted house genre for the 1980s. Bravo!
7/10
But you know, just once I'd like to see one of these movies where a typical, slightly dysfunctional all-American family moves into some crumbling, Gothic, obviously haunted house and decides to get the hell OUT of there at the first sign of trouble. The warning signs are more than obvious;
1) A series of grisly killings in the house that were never solved and have the local police worried enough to basically assign Albert Salmi and his deputies to live on the premises armed with shotguns.
2) Creepy formally dressed young girls who come bobbing out of nowhere & ask if people want to play, who then die horribly, have visions of people dying horribly, or travel back in time to witness ancient witch drownings in the estate pond.
3) Speaking of the pond, as someone quite correctly noted, why on god's earth would ANYONE decide to go for a swim in that muck pool? Let along get a really close look at the dark, opaque, scummy surface while bent over in a position that compromises their center of gravity.
4) Random handymen end up getting hung by the neck until dead, DEAD DEAD! in the old dumbwaiter shaft.
5) A weird old woman who is obviously in league with Satan lives on the premises, with her son shacking up in a room hidden by a false wall down in the basement.
6) Fully armed policemen are pulled to their doom beneath the murky surface of said pond while various members of the clergy find themselves ground up by runaway buzz saw blades.
7) You move into a house already furnished with an old microwave oven that has brain tissue and clumps of hair caked to it's inside.
8) Creepy young handsome local clergymen who strangely don't have any friends their own age take an interest to your teenage daughters who skip around day & night dressed like a couple of the Fly Girls.
9) It turns out that your descendants had executed a witch centuries before using an elaborate cross structure designed to dunk her into the scummy, scary looking pond that only a fool would go swimming in.
10) Dad starts hiding bottles of really cheap Scotch up in the attic.
I could continue but such might create the impression that I am not fond of SUPERSTITION, when nothing could be further from the fact: This is a fun, hyperbolic and gory little supernatural shocker, though some may find the sleaze quotient a bit low; There's no nudity in the film. At all. Besides that it's almost a perfect little B grade horror movie complete with an absolutely nihilistic little conclusion, clocking it at 86 minutes uncut & helping to update the haunted house genre for the 1980s. Bravo!
7/10
I can say for sure that it's loud.
Otkon20 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Lots of shrieking. And very prominent musical cues.
Plus the whole thing is bit bland. I do suppose it is interesting that it has no problem dispensing with younger annoying characters. Especially that rotten kid from Parker Lewis Can't Lose. Oh, and the stupid brat that you totally didn't suspect was an evil apparition right from her very first appearance.
It meanders. It's strident. It's predictable. And forgettable. I am a horror junkie who lived through the 80s and never heard of it until 2019. There's a reason.
And main guy is distractingly reminiscent of Guy Pearce.
Plus the whole thing is bit bland. I do suppose it is interesting that it has no problem dispensing with younger annoying characters. Especially that rotten kid from Parker Lewis Can't Lose. Oh, and the stupid brat that you totally didn't suspect was an evil apparition right from her very first appearance.
It meanders. It's strident. It's predictable. And forgettable. I am a horror junkie who lived through the 80s and never heard of it until 2019. There's a reason.
And main guy is distractingly reminiscent of Guy Pearce.
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