Written by: Michael Den Boer on July 26th, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: UK, 1972
Director: Ray Austin
Writer: Beryl Vertue
Cast: Ann Michelle, Vicki Michelle, Keith Buckley, Patricia Haines, James Chase, Paula Wright, Christopher Strain, Esme Smythe, Garth Watkins, Neil Hallett, Helen Downing
DVD released: July 29th, 2008
Approximate running time: 88 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Salvation Films/Redemption
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.95
Synopsis: Christine and Betty unable to cope with an overprotective father run away from home. They make their way to the London is hopes of finding the excitement they long for. Shortly after their arrival Christine answers an ad in a magazine looking for a model. Christine’s first modeling job requires her to travel to an estate in the country and stay there for the weekend while she works. Not wanting to go by herself Christine invites Betty to join her on her weekend in the country. While wandering around the estate Betty discovers a secret society that practices witchcraft.
Virgin Witch was directed by Ray Austin whose other notable credits include “Space: 1999″, “Magnum, P.I.” and “JAG”. Ray Austin only directed three feature films 1000 Convicts and a Woman, Virgin Witch and House of the Living Dead. The bulk of his career was spent directing television. Visually Virgin Witch features some wonderfully inventive camera work that fully exploits Ann Michelle and Vicki Michelle’s ample assets. There are many low angle shots of the girls wearing miniskirts. One of the best visual moments in the film is a scene where Christine is being photographed in various stages of undress in the woods and on a car.
In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s one of the latest crazes in cinema was films about the occult like George A. Romero’s Season of the Witch and Paul Wendkos The Mephisto Waltz. The plot Virgin Witch starts off strongly, the middle section of the film drags at times and the finale puts everything into perspective. The initiation coven scenes are the weakest moments in the film. The acting in Virgin Witch is surprisingly good all around. The two female leads Ann Michelle (House of Whipcord, The Marquis de Sade’s Justine) and Vicki Michelle (“Allo ‘Allo!”) provided plenty of eye candy. The best performance in the film is Patricia Haines in the role of Sybil Waite the high priestess of the coven. Ultimately Virgin Witch is an underrated British exploitation film that is waiting to be discovered.
The DVD:
Redemption Films presents Virgin Witch in an anamorphic widescreen that retains the film’s original aspect ratio. Colors look nicely saturated and details look sharp throughout. Overall the source material used for this transfer is in great shape.
This release comes with one audio option a Dolby Digital mono mix in English. The audio sounds clean and it is free of any hiss or background noise. There are a few instances when the audio lacking and volume adjustment may be needed. Overall the audio is more than serviceable despite these flaws.
Extras for this release include a trailer for Virgin Witch, a stills gallery (18 images) and artwork for the film (6 images). Also included with this release are trailers for Killers’ Moon and Nature Morte. Both of these films are currently available on DVD from Redemption Films. Virgin Witch gets an above average release from Redemption Films that comes with a superb looking transfer.