Review #1,339: 'Virgin Witch' (1972)

Tigon was a small British production company active between the late 1960s and late 1970s, responsible for such gems as Witchfinder General, The Blood on Satan's Claw and The Creeping Flesh. Tigon only lasted a few years, struggling to compete with the likes of Hammer and Amicus in a time when both the domestic and overseas markets were saturated with low-budget British horror flicks. They left their mark nonetheless, and there are some gems to be uncovered in their not-so-extensive back catalogue. Sadly, Virgin Witch isn't one of them, although there is a time-capsule charm to this silly and bloodless tale of virgins, witches and 70's fashion.

After a long hitch-hike, sisters Christine and Betty (played by real-life siblings Ann and Vicki Michelle) arrive in the big city hoping to make it in the modelling world. Betty is busy being courted by Johnny (Keith Buckley), but Christine responds to a magazine ad, leading to her to a photo shoot operated by predatory lesbian Sybil Waite (Patricia Haines). Impressed by the young girl's perfect measurements and pretty face, Sybil invites Christine to a remote house in the country for a weekend shoot. Taking her sister along, Christine quickly proves a hit with handsome photographer Peter (James Chase), as well as owner of the house Gerald Amberley (Neil Hallett). But the modelling job is simply a ploy to bring Christine into a coven of 'white wizards', of which the increasingly jealous Sybil is high priestess.

The early 70's is well known to have been free-spirited, but I struggle to remember a film so eager to cram as much naked flesh into the frame as possible. Starting with the image of bare breasts over the very title, Virgin Witch, as a slice of erotica, blows its wad far too early. There's full-frontal nudity at every turn, and even when the characters are fully clothed their shirts are unbuttoned to the navel. It starts out humorous but gets old very quickly, and if boobs are what you came for, you'll struggle to remain titillated for long. What we're left with is a plodding series of melodramatics and oiled-up initiation ceremonies, held together by a supporting cast a yokel stereotypes. When Christine quickly figures out the coven's plot and insists on becoming a member, it appears that the film is heading in an interesting direction, before falling back into dreary, more predictable territory. Worst of all, Virgin Witch is plain boring, and I'm a sucker for low-budget occult nonsense.


Directed by: Ray Austin
Starring: Ann Michelle, Vicki Michelle, Patricia Haines, Keith Buckley, Neil Hallett
Country: UK

Rating: **

Tom Gillespie