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Once again I must thank Elite Laser Discs and Anchor Bay Video.
These guys give special treatment to films that most companies
wouldn’t touch with a pooper scooper. First it was bonafide
classics like "Dawn of the Dead," and "Re-Animator" - logical
choices for special edition treatment in my opinion. Then the
more obscure stuff: "Tombs" and "Return of the Blind Dead" and
this week’s pick: "Mark of the Devil."
Udo Kier is the assistant to the Witchfinder General (Herbert Lom)
in a nondescript medieval European district. He has been sent
to investigate allegations that the current witch finder’s
(Reggie Nalder in a standout sleaze performance) tactics are
barbaric and unjust. The idealistic Kier falls in love with the
town hussy who has been accused of witchery. The scarred witch
finder, Albino, wants to rape the evil out of her. Lom wants
aristocrat wealth for himself. Albino’s assistant wants to stop
being treated like a toady. All of the men use the convenient ploy
of witch hunting to further their personal desires and eventually
they all fall prey to their own devices. In essence, it’s
"The Crucible" minus the subtext and Ken Russel’s "The Devils"
without the psychedelics.
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