the audience applauded

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

After moving to a new house, a man finds that the local stories involving a witch drowned in a nearby lake are true and tries to stop the freed being of rampaging through the local townspeople in revenge for its death.This was quite an enjoyable and entertaining effort that really has a lot going for it. One of the best here is the rather impressive body count throughout here which is mostly responsible for several other factors as well. The relentless pace this creates with all of the different encounters to produce such as the opening prank that results in the suspense of searching around the house before getting to the shock kills, as well as the big scenes such as the old-time trial of the witch in the dungeon along with the resolution in the different eras that amounts to even more fun here. Other big action scenes from the attack on the priest during the initial blessing or the cable repairman are quite fun with some great kills thrown in. that's where the vast majority of this works as the pace requires some rather bloody moments put into some incredibly fun action scenes, as the main attack scene here concerns the resurrected witch stalking and attacking the family in the house. The Gothic sensibilities attached to the house's appearance throughout the twisted hallways all the while the witch being back-lit for an even creepier look, the slowly approaching shadows give off a touch of suspense while the brawling manages a strong sense of action and the kills provide the gruesome, gory topping. Likewise, the final confrontation with the witch at the lake makes for some really enjoyable times as well, and the whole sense of the curse in here does manage to come across quite nicely in this one really building a cogent series of scenes throughout history to really showcase that to its' fullest. The original inquisition sequence is a highlight as well as the early accounts to the stories told about the previous inhabitants all the way up to the random attacks featured all along the course of the film. What really helps this factor is the cool blood and gore to accentuate what's happening to drive it home quite well and make for some rather fun times. There's not a whole lot here that doesn't work, and the biggest factor here is really the matter of why the events of the past don't seem to affect anyone, as if the growing body count doesn't serve as any potential warning about what's going on. On the whole, this makes the first half a little to tough to follow along and get into which is what keep this from really going all out like it should.Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

Near an abandoned old house, a young couple parked for sex is interrupted by pranksters. The pair gets spooked off, and then the area is visited by a real monster. This turns out to be a witch drowned in a swampy pool of water on the property, probably. The angry 300-year-old creature intends to grab the entire cast, one-by-one, and murder them in ways which show the greatest amount of gore permitted for the cameras, apparently. This is all happening for reasons which will likely leave your brain immediately after they are explained, in forgettable flashback...Our star is handsome wavy-haired reverend James Houghton (as David Thompson). He helps get the house ready for the family of alcoholic fellow reverend Larry Pennell (as George Leahy) and his wife Lynn Carlin (as Melinda). Police investigator Albert Salmi (as Sturgess) and Mr. Houghton stick around for the murders. They admire Mr. Pennell's nubile daughters Heidi Bohay (as Ann) and Maylo McCaslin (as Sheryl). They are admirable. Other than that and the gore, it's nice to see little brother Billy Jayne-Jacoby (as Justin) shares my glass-dusting finger check.***** Superstition (8/26/82) James W. Roberson ~ James Houghton, Albert Salmi, Larry Pennell, Lynn Carlin

"Superstition" is a solid little shocker from a decade that certainly didn't lack for quality horror. Fans of the genre are sure to find it enjoyable, as it possesses an extremely potent atmosphere and very high body count. It was an early credit for producers Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna, head honchos of the Carolco company which churned out its fair share of entertaining genre pictures in the 1980s. The story deals with a hideous, vengeance crazed disciple of Satan who was supposedly executed in the 17th century but who now lives on to terrorize all who come to a particular country house and rural area. It begins with a bang; its opening set piece ends with the ingenious chopping in half of one poor schmuck and the decapitated head of another exploding in a microwave. There's also an ingenious kill later on involving a runaway saw blade. Hardcore horror lovers will be pleased with the relish director James W. Roberson brings to these sequences, as well as the unrelenting sense of doom and gloom. The film is very much wholesale slaughter and there is absolutely no guarantee of any characters' survival. Things start out grim and just keep getting grimmer. Of course, there are still some moments that lighten the mood a *little*, such as one sexy young woman snapping at another, "Shut your bitchy mouth!" when the latter complains about their father. One great thing that the film has is a European sort of flavour, especially in its extended flashback sequences showing the fate of the witch, and the curse she would place on all. Gore effects, cinematography, and production design are all excellent. And the music score, reminiscent of the work that rock band Goblin did for Dario Argento and others, is impressive. As one might expect, the acting, while not bad, ultimately takes a back seat to everything else. James Houghton is bland but likable enough in the role of the heroic young priest, Albert Salmi is in fine grumpy form as a local detective, Larry Pennell and Lynn Carlin are good as a drunken minister and his wife, Jacquelyn Hyde (wonderful name) and Carole Goldman are both memorable as a doomsayer and the witch, respectively, and Billy Jayne of other genre fare like "Cujo" and "Bloody Birthday" can be seen as the ministers' son. This is genuinely spooky and nasty stuff and definitely fun. It's very well paced and has one of the more entertaining wrap-ups this viewer has seen. Well worth watching. Eight out of 10.

I just found this after TCM ran it, I have to say for low budget they did a great job, watching it at night i did get some goose bumps. of course its low budget, but I think it was done well and the story has lots of twist and a surprise murder, thats not done often on screen. I was pleased with the story and didn't get bored with where it was going like some older film. The only annoying thing was the constant screaming from the characters as the action happened, gets on the nerves after a bit. plus the hands of the witch look really fake. The film ended on a interesting note, not the typical horror ending which I just love. This film is worth checking out.