A disturbing film; the historical context and details add greatly to the dread. Vincent Price is amazing as the ruthless, remorseless killer Matthew Hopkins, and Robert Russell is impressive as his sadistic lackey. The sweeping, beautiful, Westernesque landscape was inspired, and the music selection terrific. The violence is brutal, straightforward, and portrayed as a mere fact of life in that era. I also love the misanthropic message of the film, as villagers gladly watch their neighbors die.

A solid British genre film with a surprising amount of brutality and nihilism for its time. If the director Michael Reeves sadly did not die at an early age, he could have eventually become a really interesting director.

Bad acting, corny dialogue, ropey production values and a paper-thin plot. All of the male characters are horribly one-dimensional and all of the female characters exist solely to get tortured or show their tits. If it's supposed to be a historical drama it fails on every level. As a horror, it's not scary, it's just unpleasantly and gratuitously violent. Horrible film.

73.875

This is Reeves' masterpiece and, sadly, his last film. Price is brilliantly restrained. Splendidly evocative photography and an intelligent script that perfectly contrasts the lush green countryside with the grisly violence of Hopkins' reign make this one of the finest horror films of the '60s. Beware of prints that miss Paul Ferris' beautiful original score due to copyright problems.

creepy and bleak, one of the best vincent price flicks i've seen

Unbearable

The film was cheap emotionless and the characters were flimsy. I found this on a list of the best horrors or all time and it wasn't even a horror, so if you see that list: discount it!

Classic grindhouse. "Jailer, take them to the tree!"

Equal parts drama and horror, Vincent Price plays one of cinema's most evil fuckers ever. Extremely satisfying ending.

There's actually comparatively little violence or gore here, but so grim and unrelenting that it's a thoroughly unpleasant experience. I felt like I needed a shower afterwards

Chilling film that you know can only end badly.

Quite possibly Prices best, maybe even topping Masque. Cruel, unrelenting and harsh movie that kicks much ass.

An excellent performance by Vincent Price in this weird little genre bender.

Classic.

Went into this expecting just another cheesy Vincent Price horror flick. This is one of the best performances I've ever seen Price give. Chilling film with a great ending.

Vincent Price burns people with elaborate contraptions. Cool.

Classic Price performance in this bleak and harsh witch hunt.

Both Reeves and his cast are in good form here. A solid, flawlessly performed blend of period action, horror, and suspense -- with a moral message tossed in -- this makes one wonder about the films that might have been made had Reeves managed to survive his reportedly crushing bouts of acute depression.

A fantastic piece of work full of outstanding setpieces. It is masterfully directed and Price gives an imperious performance as Matthew Hopkins so cruel and righteous yet cowardly and cynical. The picture used here on Criticker is of one of my favourite closeups in the movie - watch it and you'll see!

Price gives a sterling performance as Matthew Hopkins. The production values are very good considering the small budget.

A decent movie that is kind of hard to watch knowing the torture that is bestowed upon innocent people by the government.

An entertainingly stark period piece.

"...as much an historical drama as a horror film."