The Witchmaker

In THE WITCHMAKER, eight women have been killed in the same bizarre, ritualistic fashion. All in the same bayou. Psychic researcher, Dr. Hayes (Alvy Moore) and his team, along with a reporter, have arrived to investigate the phenomenon

This is a fantastic drive-in movie of the period, full of occult horror, suspense, and a general atmosphere of impending doom. Moore plays his role straight, without a hint of his TV persona from Green Acres. Nor does he smirk with ironic self-awareness. He's serious, and it works!

Thordis Brandt's character, Tasha, is what is known in the film as a "sensitive", what might be called an "empath" today. Tasha becomes the central character, mixed up with the wicked practitioners of the dark arts, including the insane, aptly named "Luther The Berserk" (John Lodge), and an ancient witch known as Jessie (Helene Winston).

Aside from the odd moment of clunkiness, this is a solid offering of paranoia and dread...