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The Bargain Nexus - Conqueror Worm
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List Price: $9.94
Our Price: $13.98
Your Save: $ ( % )
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Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Starring: Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Rupert Davies, Hilary Heath, Robert Russell
Directed By: Michael Reeves
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780792845553
Format: Closed-captioned
ISBN: 0792845552
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: 2000-06-06
Running Time: 86
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: 1968
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Witch Finding Crookedness
Comment: I found Vincent Prices performance in this movie delightful as with most his work. For some reason his role felt perfect for him and his presence onscreen is fantastic to see. This is the type of movie that I could of seen really happening during witch trials given the time period. The craziness of people were getting the best of them and would surely go along with these men or be cut down themselves. I had never heard of Witchfinder till a couple days ago and found certain parts to make me say "ouch". The movie really didn't have much to do with actual witch hunting as so much as the time period. I felt so much more could of been done to create a feeling of dread amongst mass so called witch killing. I guess most people have an idea of what did occur at the time but there just wasn't enough witch hunting to go along with the title. It did show corruption that could go along with such a power position. Though given the brutality it kind of made up for the lack of hunting. I did feel the movie came apart close to the end when it turned more into a revenge flick instead of a cleaver departure of the villain. Vincent was a very dark figure along with his goons in this film and you hope for revenge but I necessarily didn't want it. I was hoping for more story and less revenge but I guess that is how this story goes. Vincent Price is the biggest reason to watch this flick since he always shines in his roles even if a film stinks. Witchfinder is one of Vincent Prices more violent and darker flicks than what I have seen so far though I haven't seen absolutely all of his films but I have seen a lot.
The video and audio quality is very nice on the dvd with nice color. The special features include a interview and I think a trailer but that's basically it. Overall fans of Vincent Price should not miss even though this movie is kind of hit or miss.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not worth 4+ stars
Comment: Seriously, this movie is not worth the more than 3 stars many people give it. Yes, give credit to Price for playing a vile character sans the usual "camp" factor, but that praise on its own makes neither his acting nor the whole of this film great. I found myself fast forwarding through several sections that would have offered nothing more if I let them play at normal speed. This type of "self-editing" we do on occasion with movies at home just goes to show some professional editing should have been done in the first place. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it should have been edited to the degree of a whole new film, that would better serve Price's resume and our viewing pleasure.
Some complain they don't know how this is categorized as "horror" -- I don't know where or if it is, but I don't think it was intended to be. Although the Witchmaker General does inspire TERROR amongst those he chooses to target for torture and the stake. That being said, I did miss the usual lavish, rich, and gothic sets from Price's Poe-inspired movies.
This movie is a one-timer for viewing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Classic. Chilling. A worthy re-issue of a stand out horror classic.
Comment: This British horror film from 1968 is definitely worth a look. Price gives a career best performance as the evil, self-serving Matthew Hopkins, who abuses his position as Witchfinder General in order to satisfy his own vices - all the while condemning vice in others. It's an adult, disturbing movie, which captures the raw quality of seventeenth century English life, while reflecting back some of the sexual preoccupations of the late 1960s. It also speaks to our own era, in that it deals with corruption and depravity at the top. The ending is bleak, and terrifying, and will stay with you a long time after you have put the DVD safely back in its box.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Vinny the P gets Medieval on us
Comment: Everybody loved Vincent Price. In the 60s and 70s, he was crowned the King of Horror but no matter how many horror movies he appeared in, people still loved the guy. He could do horror classics like MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM or THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM or show up as the villain Egghead on TV's "Batman" or even pop up in a cameo in a Frankie & Annette Beach movie...and everyone still liked him, no matter what he did.
Then he did THE WITCHFINDER GENERAL.
When I saw it as a kid, it was called THE CONQUEROR WORM and, years later, Vincent would show up on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson to do a dramatic reading of that Poe poem about a maggot. I wonder if this is on youtube. I'll always remember his delivery: "...for the play is the tragedy, Man...and its hero...the conqueror worm."
As a lot of other reviews here state, THE WITCHFINDER GENERAL is probably Vincent Price's greatest performance. He is diabolical here but with none of the campy fun of his other films. He is sinister, corrupt, evil. That he tears through the countryside as a gov't/church-sanctioned official only makes him more repellent and horrible.
I remember reading an interview with Vincent and he said making this movie was an unpleasant experience for him. He didn't get along with the director or, if I remember right, the director's personality was darker than Vincent wanted to deal with! The director died of a drug overdose but--again, if I remember this correctly--Vincent was turned off by his dark side and his interest in Satanism (does anyone else remember that? The director was into Satan worship or something).
I'm glad to see the extras so I will be adding this to my horror DVD collection.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Classic horror still chills the blood
Comment: This is a story of persecution and revenge filled with Vincent Price's manic leering, which has never been better. This is great entertainment, dark brutal fun.
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Editorial Reviews:
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A bewigged Vincent Price goes full-on evil in The Conqueror Worm, based on the life of England's self-proclaimed "Witchfinder General" Matthew Hopkins. Hopkins and his assistant, John Stern, ride through spectacular location shots around England, looking for disciples of the devil to torture and burn. (Indeed, the devil must be at work, for the skies are bright blue even though people keep saying it's nighttime.) Nevertheless, Hopkins and Stern seem to have a knack for picking on the innocent, notably the fiancée of young soldier Richard Marshall. Price turns in another top performance, delicately mixing false piety and sadism with a dash of lecherousness. Can Hopkins be stopped? Will Marshall risk desertion to save his love? Why are those women just sitting around the inn topless? The answers to these questions and more await you in The Conqueror Worm. --Ali Davis
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