just watch it!

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

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Very much regarded as a minor classic of the genre, NIGHT OF THE EAGLE is a well-shot black and white chiller with plenty of spooky moments to enjoy. Made in an era when the best horror moments still came from subtlety and a brooding atmosphere, the film conjures up a nightmarish world of spells and powerful forces beyond our comprehension. Some fine acting from the distinguished cast help to make us care for the characters and believe the events that play out.The film kicks off happily enough, with teacher Norman Taylor, a resolute non-believer in the supernatural, lecturing his students on superstition and the like. Soon, however, he discovers that something is amiss at home and his house is filled with dead spiders, locks of hair, dirt from cemeteries and all sorts. He destroys all of these, much to his wife's horror, and then the real nightmare begins. Taylor's life begins to fall apart. He is accused of raping a female student at the school, and his wife suffers a nervous breakdown. Eventually he is forced to re-evaluate his opinion on the black arts when he realises that the misfortune he is suffering is the work of an emery masquerading as a close friend.Strong on atmosphere, NIGHT OF THE EAGLE is packed with suspense and tension as the horror of the situation escalates up until the finale. The trappings of a good score and nice photography make this easy on the eye and ear, and Wyngarde himself is very good as the lead who ends up being absolutely terrified and a broken man. Janet Blair, on the other hand, is a little irritating but mainly fine, unfortunately at this particular period in the cinema actresses who had to display fright had a tendency to overact (widening their eyes, screaming, etc.) which can look a little dated to me and can be embarrassing. The supporting cast are fine, with Margaret Johnston as a creepy, limping fellow teacher who has a few secrets to hide.Probably the best-remembered part of this film is the ending, which sees Wyngarde trying to save his wife from their burning home. Along the way, one of the stone eagles on the roof of the school comes to life and chases him through the corridors, until he is saved at the last moment. A simple effect, this, but a clever and memorable one. During this chase, Wyngarde rubs up against his blackboard and a phrase previously written on there - "I do not believe" becomes simply "I do believe". A lovely little touch in what is a very nice film indeed, not totally brilliant but providing enough thrills and chills to be an above average entry in the genre.

This movie is really worth a view for the witch sequences even though as a whole I thought it was rather silly. For most of the movie I was wondering what the title meant but it became clear towards the ending. That eagle statue coming to life I thought was the worst part. The ending is rather predictable. I knew the "good" would survive and the "bad" would get their punishment. The movie might learn you a few things about witchcraft and superstitions. I thought the angle of female student being manipulated in seducing her professor interesting but that plot line was soon killed of and replaced by his wife having to destroy all the stuff that protected her husband from evil happening to her. Of course things were going wrong.

Sidney Hayers directed this British adaptation of the Fritz Leiber novel(previously filmed as "Weird Woman" with Lon Chaney Jr.) that stars Peter Wyngarde as a skeptical college professor who is disdainful of anything supernatural or magic, who is shocked to learn that his wife Tansy(played by Janet Blair) is a practicing witch! She insists that it is because of her good magic that he has proved so successful, but he scoffs and destroys her protective charms; strangely, his luck takes a distinct turn for the worse as a result, as it is also obvious that someone else is targeting them with bad magic as well... Good cast in this moderately interesting thriller that does become somewhat too talky, but still mostly works, with exciting ending.

A skeptical college professor (Peter Wyngarde) discovers that his wife (Janet Blair) has been practicing magic for years. Like the learned, rational fellow he is, he forces her to destroy all her magical charms and protective devices, and stop that foolishness.Prom producer Sam Arkoff (American International Pictures) and writers Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson (Matheson a frequent AIP contributor and both veterans of "Twilight Zone") comes this tale that I had never heard of before catching it in October 2011 in Chicago. How has a horror fan like myself missed such a well-acted, well-crafted and well-executed classic? I suspect the reason this film is not well known is the lack of a "star" (such as Vincent Price). But Wyngarde is incredible -- smart, strong, handsome... the ideal leading man. And you have some provocative material, too -- rape accusations, witchcraft (done very realistically) and more...I strongly recommend checking out this film. I first saw it as "Night of the Eagle" on the big screen, and then later as "Burn Witch Burn" on Netflix. Both versions are excellent and should be seen by anyone who likes a good story. (The only difference between versions that I noticed was that BWB has a 2-minute voice-over starting it off.)