(aka NIGHT OF THE EAGLE) This one is kind of a hidden little gem from back in the day, shot in glorious, crisp black and white film and featuring loads of supernatural charm. The story is pretty simple and straightforward: a professor of sociology at a small college campus discovers his wife is deep into witchcraft. She has been using all kinds of magic, charms, talismans, amulets, and Satan knows what else to protect him from evil and actually advance his career. When this scoffing, clear-minded "head of the house" hubby makes his wife destroy all of these "phony bologna" voodoo protector items, very bad things suddenly start to happen: A female student accuses him of sexing her up. Horny student's enraged boyfriend tries to kill him. Envious colleagues try to get him fired. The marriage he once cherished starts to disintegrate. Is it coincidence or has throwing all these witchcraft items away ruined his life---and destroyed his wife, who might have made some kind of supernatural pact with the Dark One in order for her family to remain protected. As the movie unwinds to its conclusion, there's some nice car chase action, plenty of spooky supernatural overtones, a house of fire, and a couple of twists to boot. I found myself thoroughly engaged in the story as it progressed. BURN, WITCH, BURN is based on a novella by Fritz Leiber (CONJURE WIFE) and the screenplay adaptation is by Richard Matheson, George Baxt, and Charles Beaumont. Highly recommended if you're looking for something a little different with firm footing in the classic AIP Film era. (This was a U.K. film that AIP acquired and distributed.)
(aka NIGHT OF THE EAGLE) This one is kind of a hidden little gem from back in the day, shot in glorious, crisp black and white film and featuring loads of supernatural charm. The story is pretty simple and straightforward: a professor of sociology at a small college campus discovers his wife is deep into witchcraft. She has been using all kinds of magic, charms, talismans, amulets, and Satan knows what else to protect him from evil and actually advance his career. When this scoffing, clear-minded "head of the house" hubby makes his wife destroy all of these "phony bologna" voodoo protector items, very bad things suddenly start to happen: A female student accuses him of sexing her up. Horny student's enraged boyfriend tries to kill him. Envious colleagues try to get him fired. The marriage he once cherished starts to disintegrate. Is it coincidence or has throwing all these witchcraft items away ruined his life---and destroyed his wife, who might have made some kind of supernatural pact with the Dark One in order for her family to remain protected. As the movie unwinds to its conclusion, there's some nice car chase action, plenty of spooky supernatural overtones, a house of fire, and a couple of twists to boot. I found myself thoroughly engaged in the story as it progressed. BURN, WITCH, BURN is based on a novella by Fritz Leiber (CONJURE WIFE) and the screenplay adaptation is by Richard Matheson, George Baxt, and Charles Beaumont. Highly recommended if you're looking for something a little different with firm footing in the classic AIP Film era. (This was a U.K. film that AIP acquired and distributed.)
