The Witches (1966): A Hammer Horror production which begins with missionary Gwen Mayfield (Joan Fontaine) being driven out of Africa by Witch Doctors. After recovering from a breakdown she is offered the post of Headmistress of the village school in Heddaby by Reverend Alan Bax (Alec McCowen). Upon travelling to this remote rural area she meets Alan's sister and finds out that Alan isn't actually a Vicar, hewears the dog collar out a need for security. Nevertheless this wealthy eccentric pair endow the village school. This is literally a village of the squinting windows. The inhabitants are outwardly friendly but a an air of menace and suspicion abounds. A relationship between young teens Linda (Ingrid Boulting/Brett) and Ronnie (Martin Stephens) is actively discouraged, Gwen encounters incidents of witchcraft or at least sympathetic magic. This escalates to the point where Gwen is gaslighted. An interesting Folk Horror gem which I hadn't encountered before. The villagers though are mostly little better than yokels and an elaborate ritual though well choreographed isn't particularly convincing. Still the elements of psychological horror combined with a community beholden to the Old Religion is gripping to some extent. The central plot of the The Witches is dastardly indeed and may have influenced The Wicker Man. A quintessentially English folk Horror film. Directed by Cyril Frankel, adapted for the screen by Nigel Kneale from the 1960 novel The Devil's Own by Norah Lofts (as Peter Curtis). 7/10.
Review of The Witches
