How sad is this?

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Illustrious thespian David Hasselhoff co-stars with Linda Blair and assorted other American actors in this Massachusetts-filmed 4th entry into the "La Casa" series of Italian horror films. The plot centers around an old resort hotel on an off shore island that Freddy (Robert Champagne) and Rose Brooks (jazz singer / occasional actress Annie Ross) want to turn into a fixer-upper opportunity. Taking the journey with them to the island are his pregnant daughter Jane (Blair), his very young son Tommy (Michael Manchester), an immensely sexy blonde architect (Catherine Hickland), and a real estate agent (Rick Farnsworth). Already at the location are a would-be writer (Leslie Cumming), who's researching the history of the area, and her photographer boyfriend Gary (The Hoff). In ones and twos they get knocked off by a German film star / witch (the striking Hildegard Knef).You know you can't say much about the cast when The Hoff delivers one of the better performances. Some of these portrayals are pretty abysmal, especially from Cumming, who's very attractive but whose personality is utterly drab, and child actor Manchester. But director Fabrizio Laurenti and company make up for that with some general weirdness and atmosphere. 80s horror fans will be delighted to note that the horror is extremely sadistic, with some gruesome fates in store for some of our characters. One unfortunate has their lips sewn shut, and is tied up and hung upside down inside a chimney where, you guessed it, a fire eventually gets lit. Among the other highlights: The Hoff getting hit in the face with a splatter of fake blood, Linda getting possessed - again - and an ingenious cut around the 71 minute mark. The makeup effects by Maurizio Trani are pretty good, overall.Decent viewing for lovers of Italian horror.Seven out of 10.

At least there are some big names in this campy horror film to keep us occupied. Double billed on a new blue ray with "Ghost House", Witchery has David Hasselhoff (post Knight Rider, but before Baywatch) and Linda Blair (waaaaaaay after Exorcist). Another Italian horror film, filmed in Massachusetts, this one is directed by Fabrizio Laurenti. Like the Lenzi horror films, this one is so campy, so bad, that its kind of fun to watch. And who IS that Lady in Black? She and her magic gemstone pop up now and then, adding to the mystery. A real estate agent tries to sell a house on a private island, but Gary (Hasselhoff) and his assistant entered the house (without permission) to take photos. Jane (L. Blair) has her own secrets, as you will see. More cheesy special effects, and of course, the usual blood and gore. I'm surprised that Linda Blair still wanted to do films like this, since she was so well known for The Exorcist. It's pretty creepy. And as of today, only 3 out of 10 stars on IMDb.The "story" starts out pretty solid, unlike most oldie horror films. The acting and directing are a bit lame, but everyone does a pretty good job with the lines they are given. For a lot of of the cast, this is the only film they ever made. About two thirds of the way through, the plot gets weird and goes down these left turns. Lots of screaming, organ music, and smoke. Similar plot to Ten Little Indians, where the guests get knocked off, one by one. Interesting, if just for the historical value.

An Italian horror movie with so many juicy AKA titles and starring both Linda Blair and David Hasselhoff... I mean, that has got to be worth it, right? "Witchery" is not even as inept as Umberto Lenzi's "Ghosthouse" - or maybe it is - and it's about as much fun. Hassle Da Hoff is always worth a few chuckles, if you ask me. Linda Blair gets to play her possessed self again, with an exploded hairdo this time. "Witchery" also features a handful of pretty memorable killings (lips sewn tight and burned in the fireplace, pulsating veins popping & squirting and bleeding to death, nailed to the cross and burned like a witch upside down, etc). This movie really ain't wrapped too tight, and there lies the beauty of it all: Italian genre movies from the 80's are usually a pretty bonkers affair altogether (that ghostly rape of a virgin was a winner! - yes, there's boobies). Safe to say I enjoyed "Witchery", more than I thought I would . Both Lenzi's first one (Italian title: "La Casa 3") and this unrelated, unofficial second film are recommended viewings if you like your haunted house stuff trashy, gory and Italian-style. Much like a big, greasy pizza, these movies aren't exactly nutritious, but they're tasty as hell.

Witchery (1988) * (out of 4)If you remember the whole saga of George Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD being released in Italy under the title ZOMBI only to then have Lucio Fulci come along with ZOMBI 2 then you get the same type of thing here. THE EVIL DEAD was released in Italy as LA CASA and its sequel was LA CASA 2. Then Umberto Lenzi made a film called GHOSTHOUSE, which was released in Italy as LA CASA 3 even though it was in no way, shape or form connected to the Raimi series. Then, this film, was released as LA CASA 4 but again, no Raimi connection. Outside of Italy it was known as WITCHCRAFT, GHOSTHOUSE 2 and the current title listed above.The typical group of people arrive at your typical old hotel where there's the typical legends surrounding its curse. Apparently, many years ago, a pregnant woman committed suicide to keep from being burned alive as a witch. Years later a strange silent actress moved into the house and was apparently the last owner but soon our new guests start to fall victim to the curse. You have to hand it to the Italians when it comes to the horror genre but by 1988 their magic was running out and that's certainly true here even though they did manage to get Linda Blair and David Hasselhoff to appear in the film. This is your typical cult mess that features a little bit of gore but not enough to keep people interested. The story isn't any better or worse than a dozen other "witchcraft" tales we've seen from any country but the major problem here is the direction by Laurenti, which really shouldn't be called direction at all. The movie moves at a snails pace, none of the build ups are any good, there's no suspense and the worst sin is that the thing is just downright boring. It was rumored that Joe D'Amato did some of the direction as he and Laurenti would co-direct a movie a couple years later. Having seen dozens of D'Amato's work, I'd say he did have a hand in this as it has the same slow pace of many of his films. The one main reason to see the film is a creative death scene where a woman gets her lips sewn together before being hung upside down in a chimney to be burned alive. Blair actually gives a pretty good performance with ol' David getting to act as the boyfriend of a witchcraft specialist who refuses to put out for him or anyone.