Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Freeman This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

James Harris This is a favorite of mine having already owned the bleak DVD, and also having had the pleasure to enjoy it on VHS and 35mm. I didn't love The Witch Who Came From the Sea on my first viewing. I was examining this movie as part of a larger project during a discovery of the Video Nasties. Curious that the AHP focuses in on a movie that helped to create such controversy in the UK, the homeland of Arrow Video. What struck me upon my first watch was that it really didn't deserve the censors mean spirited axe. This was a movie that focused on a disturbed woman who killed based on some strange goings on in her childhood. Her mind seemed to create an alternate persona to handle this trauma and in turn, a killing machine. My understanding of the Video Recording Act of 1984 is that any time you see blood and nudity in the same scene, you're getting some kind of ban.Though the violence in The Witch Who Came From the Sea isn't exactly overboard there is plenty of it with that bright red, Crayola blood. It seems to always come in conjunction with debauched sexual moments further stimulating the viewer and creating some rather uncomfortable moments. Even in its lack of gratuity it has the power to disturb, and that's what I came to love about it upon my subsequent viewing especially with a large crowd of unsuspecting theater goers.This release is a handsome transfer especially in comparison to the previous DVD release. I've always thought that this particular movie looked washed out. The print is solid with minimal damage and the black look uncrushed, colors (especially that blood red) appear vibrant. It's definitely an uptick from all other formats, even the rather marred print I saw projected.The release comes with an interview/making of featurette that has Dean Cundey, director Michael Cimber and star Millie Perkins among others. Perkins goes through the aftermath of making a film with such objectionable material and is very candid. It's lovely to see Cundey discuss anything (perhaps you remember him as the DOP on John Carpenter's films among other classics?). Michael Cimber walks you through some of the back story behind the production including the origins of the story and the evolution of the picture.Don't forget to get your mermaid tattoos on your abdomens!

Boba_Fett1138 This movie is a real oddity! It's original but please don't mistake it for a good movie as well.I like '70's exploitation movies but you can't really call this movie a typical exploitation flick at all. Even though it basically features all of the ingredients of an exploitation flick in it, it has a totally different style, which makes this movie less of an exploitation flick and more of an oddity to watch.The movie has some real serious pacing issues. It's far too long and scenes are often needlessly stretched out. It's not like it makes the movie boring but it does make it a very little exciting or involving one. I do admit though that it slows pace works out well for some of the sequences, that have some form of tension in them. But really, that's about the only thing this movie did right, in my opinion.I seriously do believe that this movie could had been a decent one, had it been done in a more traditional way. It had a pretty good concept and some good ideas and characters in it. Besides, Millie Perkins played a pretty deranged character, that at the same time was also still being likable enough to care for.And no, the movie is really not all that graphic too watch. It actually is being more graphic with its nudity and with some sexual implications, that also involve incest, which really is the foremost reason why this movie is still somewhat notorious for and also the reason why it became one of the video nasty's, that were banned in the UK, for a long time.It's odd and original but I wish that I could also say it was good and recommendable.4/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

BA_Harrison The enigmatically titled The Witch Who Came From The Sea is a bold movie both in theme and style, dealing with the sensitive issues of child abuse and incest in a surreal, dreamlike manner; but although director Matt Cimber's film will be admired by many simply for tackling its daring subject in such a unique way, I found the film to be a less than satisfying experience. A shame, since it all started off so well....The film begins with pretty Aunt Molly (Millie Perkins) and her nephews enjoying a day out at the beach. As the kids play in the sand, Molly focuses on the musclemen working out nearby, her gaze wandering over their rippling torsos and bulging trunks. At first she seems to be admiring their physiques, but in her mind, Molly imagines the men dead, their twisted, broken forms hanging lifeless from their exercise equipment. This nightmarish opening scene is extremely well handled, letting the audience know in no uncertain terms that something ain't quite right inside Molly's head.Sadly, such effective moments are few and far between: much of the running time is devoted to awkward character development; the bizarre narrative meanders all over the place; no-one in the film behaves or speaks like a normal human being; and nearly every scene is saddled with a whacked-out art-house vibe that might appeal to the more pretentious fans of cult oddities, but which left this particular viewer distinctly unimpressed.If, like me, you seek out this film because it is one of the legendary UK Video Nasties, be prepared to be disappointed by the lack of shocking imagery: although the film deals with a sexually abused young girl who grows up to become a razor wielding nutjob who castrates 'beautiful' men, there is actually very little in the way of gore, with the actual castrations occurring off-screen. What probably got the censors in a tizzy were the non-explicit-yet-still-disturbing incest scenes and a shot of Molly with blood over her breasts (believed to be a visual 'rape trigger' for some men). Personally, I was more upset by the godawful tattoo Molly has done on her stomach by a goggle-eyed old man with inks all over his face!

merklekranz This is a strange one, that just misses the mark because the script is somewhat scatter shot. If things regarding the delusional and irrational behavior of incest victim Millie Perkins had been more focused, the film would have benefited. As it is, the acting by Ms Perkins is convincing, and for a horror / psychological drama most of the acting is above average. The horror crowd will be disappointed, but those looking for the offbeat, will have found gold, with this twisted tale of hallucinations and mutilations. Special mention must be made of the poster art, which is outstanding. "The Witch Who Came From the Sea" is a bizarre oddity that has a limited, but devoted cult following. - MERK