''Witchcraft'' (also known as ''Witch and Warlock'') is a 1988 American

supernatural horror film Supernatural horror film is a film genre that combines aspects of horror film and supernatural film. Supernatural occurrences in such films often include ghosts and demons, and many supernatural horror films have elements of religion. Common them ...

directed by Rob Spera and starring Anat Topol, Gary Sloan, Mary Shelley, Elizabeth Stocton, Deborah Scott, Alexander Kirkwood, Lee Kissman and

Ross Newton Ross Newton (born 20 February 1967) is an Australian actor born in Melbourne, Victoria, he graduated from NIDA in 1989, and is best known for playing Greg Marshall in the television soap opera '' Home and Away''. Career Newton grew up in the ...

. The screenplay was written by Jody Savin. It is the first film in the ''Witchcraft'' series, followed by '' Witchcraft II: The Temptress''.

Plot

As Grace Churchill is having her baby, disturbing visions flash in her mind that show two witches being burned at the stake. It is later learned that these two people are John and Elizabeth Stockwell, who were burned in the year 1687. The visions seem to stop once her baby, whom she names William, is born. Things get worse when she, her husband, and the baby temporarily move into her mother-in-law’s creepy old house. It’s here that the visions start returning, and all sorts of spooky events start happening around her, including a priest hanging himself in their backyard. Grace discovers that the two witches she saw burned at the stake are her husband and mother-in-law, and they claim William as theirs. As the two try to kill Grace in a Satanic ritual, they are killed by their mute butler, leaving Grace to save William.

Cast

* Anat Topol as Grace Churchill * Gary Sloan as John Stockton / John Stockwell * Mary Shelley as Elizabeth Stockton / Elizabeth Stockwell * Deborah Scott as Linda * Lee Kissman as Ellsworth *

as William

Reception

Although ''Witchcraft'' was unsuccessful in theaters, it became the first in the successful ''Witchcraft'' series of

direct-to-video Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...

films. In reviewing the entire series,

The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...

called the film a ripoff of '' Rosemary's Baby'', but also called it the best film in the entire series. John Stanley in his Creature Feature book gave the movie two out of five stars.Stanley, John. 2000. 2nd Edition. "Creature Feature. Berkley Boulevard

Home media

The film was released on video in 1988, and re-released October 15, 1997, on DVD.

References

External links

* * 1988 films 1988 horror films Films about witchcraft Direct-to-video horror films American supernatural horror films 1980s English-language films Films directed by Rob Spera 1980s American films {{1980s-horror-film-stub