Streghe (1989)

User Rating:

3.9/10   

Director:

Alessandro Capone

Writers:

Alessandro Capone (screenplay)
Alessandro Capone (story)

Genre:

Horror

Plot Keywords:

Young Girl | Bathtub Scene | House | Child Suicide | Splatter

Cast

Jon Freda	...	The Father
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amy Adams
Jeff Bankert
Ian Bannen	...	Padre Matthew
Bob Bouchard
John Boyd
Charon Butler
Todd Conner	...	Virgil (as Todd Conatser)
Peter Gold
Kirk Green
Cecil Hawkins
Elise Hirby
Gary Kerr	...	Ed Hayes
Kevin Kirton	...	Villain
Suzanne Law
Jason M. Lefkowitz	...	Paul
Deanna Lund
Mario Millo
Christopher Peacock	...	Ken
Stewart Penn
Richard Powell
Fred Price
Nancie Sanderson
Michelle Vannucchi	...	Carol Hayes

Also Known As:

Superstition 2 (USA)
Witch Story

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Spain:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Company:

United Entertainment Corporation

Who has the last laugh?

Here we go again. The epilogue begins in the past with an accused witch being tortured and burned alive by the locals, and before it happens she curses the townsfolk. Now moving to the present a group of college kids (the descendants of the townsfolk) decide to take their holidays at a rundown mansion, which the witch had occupied. Not knowing anything about the house's past. Soon enough strange things begin to happen, and a young girl in a white gown suddenly appears with something to do with the witch's revenge.

Uninspired, but ludicrously cheesy and gruesome low-budget Italian horror schlock none the same. Obviously it has been influenced by such prominent 80s efforts like 'The Evil Dead (1981)', 'Demons (1985)' and I guess mainly 'Night of the Demons (1988)'. The supernatural elements are hysterically merged with demonic possession, haunted house happenings and slasher traits. It's quite a delusional mixture that writer / director Alessandro Capone lays on thick. Material-wise it doesn't make sense, and is downright uneven. They do stretch out a number of endings. The insane nature works in its favour though, because there's no atmosphere and the jolts are telegraphed. The violence is brutally tacky with constant use of tomato sauce leaving some hard to clean stains and with college kids abound… the hot topic of sex and sleaze and don't forget the booze. Good times… well until the slaughter begin. One scene involving a half dressed girl, pool and a swinging chainsaw was a seductive blast! The performances are forgettable and bland from the young cast (with Michelle Vanucchi as a likable heroine), but they do serve their purposes with their clichéd characters. It's a clear-cut stereotypical bunch too. Production is cheap, and make-up effects go on to cement it, but it's sharply photographed and effectively lit visuals.