Every era of Horror cinema is unique to the next. Some more compelling than others, there is no denying the early 1960s had its share of worthy entries to the genre. A time dominated by the Gothic atmosphere of many Hammer Films, there were other psychological entries like 1961’s The Innocents or 1962’s Burn, Witch, Burn.
Lesser known to the masses, Burn, Witch, Burn (originally titled Night of the Eagle) is a British film that focuses on a topic seen regularly at the time, the occult. Often a term connected with witchcraft, in Burn, Witch, Burn you have a seemingly nondescript housewife who has practiced black magic for years. Unbeknownst to her husband, while easy to dismiss, he soon discovers her secretive rituals are more than superstition, but could be playing a part in his successes.
A rather straightforward, yet intelligently plotted story, the characters of Mr. Norman Taylor and his spell-bounding wife Mrs. Tansy Taylor are played perfectly by Peter Wyngarde (a famed actor known for films such as 1961’s The Innocents, plus series like Department S and Jason King) and Janet Blair (an accomplished American band singer and star of many films). Together these two characters bring the story to life as tension builds and a genuinely eerie atmosphere is developed.
Speaking of Burn, Witch, Burn’s vibe, if you have seen it and could not help but feel a classic Twilight Zone episode… you would not be wrong. This is because Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson wrote the screenplay; two regular writers for the original Twilight Zone series which ran between 1959 and 1964. Assuring a particular quality, the premise of Burn, Witch, Burn is adapted from the 1943 Fritz Leiber novel Conjure Wife; considered by many one of the best Fantasy based books ever. A worthwhile to read, some may argue the film does not dive nearly as far into the psychology of its characters as the book, but no one can deny there is a very first-grade effort.
Adding more intrigue, Burn, Witch, Burn was even nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Unsure what that is, well it still exists today, and some past winners included 1965’s Dr. Strangelove, 1972’s A Clockwork Orange, with the most recent being 2023’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. As mentioned, a bit more obscure to the mainstream as time has passed, it must be reiterated that Burn, Witch, Burn is certainly not a film to overlook. That is why it is exciting to learn that Kino Lorber has opted to re-release Burn, Witch, Burn as a Special Edition Blu-ray.
Available for purchase since October 1, 2024, it marks the second time in the last decade Kino Lorber has offered the film in Blu-ray format. The first was 2015’s now-out-of-print 1.85:1 1080p Blu-ray transfer, whereas this new edition is a brand new 4K scan. Offered for the first time, this fresh HD Master by StudioCanal gives you a stunning 4K scan from the original camera negative. Furthermore, the new Special Edition release offers both the US and UK versions of the film; which are comparable, despite a couple of minutes. Beyond this, you get a few bonus features, such as an interview with Peter Wynfarde, a nice cardboard slipcover, but also a reservable artwork with the Burn, Witch, Burn art on one side, and Night of the Eagle on the other.
Overall, Kino Lorber does a fine job of giving you the highest quality transfer of Burn, Witch, Burn to date. Capturing the effectiness of one of the early ‘60s most overlooked Horror films, Cryptic Rock gives this Special Edition Blu-ray release of Burn, Witch, Burn 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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