MovieChat Forums > Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General (1968) Discussion > Do you prefer the Witchfinder General or...

Do you prefer the Witchfinder General or the Wicker Man?

posted 21 years ago by Chunky-Monkey
51 replies | jump to latest

OK, I think both films are similar in many ways: in their intelligent treatment of horror as something human; in the way a society can embrace evil as its moral code; and in their psychedelic, fatalistic outlooks. I remember an Empire journo writing that these two films are the ONLY intelligent British horror films. That's perhaps a little hyperbolic, but I would say they are two of my favourites. If I had to choose, I would pick the Wicker Man- the music, acting, and inclusion of humour elevate it for me. So which one does everyone else prefer?

[–] vancleef1980 19 years ago

Christopher Lee is my fav actor but i have to say although i love The Wicker Man i really don't think its the great classic its now made out to be, its plodding script dare i say makes the first half of the film boring and to be quite honest risible score make a strictly aquired taste. Although it stands out as truly an original film and nothing has been made like it before or since, with Christopher Lee giving his all as Summerisle, thats really the main reason i have such a soft spot for it, but unlike most people on these boards i can see fault with it.
Witchfinder General is a much more accomplished production, the sweeping landscapes and the realistic brutality make it a true classic. VP is excellent as Hopkins,the photography is far superior to the wicker man, and the story flows much better. Michael Reeves would have gone on to greater things for sure if he had lived. Thats more that can be said for Robin Hardy who has sunk into obscurity since the Wicker Man.

[–] TORSO! 19 years ago

Witchfinder General is a much better movie, imo. Wicker Man is a good, clever horror film featuring a wonderful performance by Christopher Lee. I can certainly understand why there is a cult around it. But Witchfinder is a masterpiece, not just a great horror movie but a great movie, period. The shame of the matter is that at the moment there is no pristine uncut version of the movie available. The UK "special edition" DVD contains such horribly degraded, murky footage inserted throughout that its completely unwatchable, as far as I'm concerned. Anyone watching Witchfinder for the first time using that DVD as a source is likely to find the movie less than brilliant, simply because of the substandard quality. And of course the U.S. VHS is uncut but contains that annoying thumping synthesizer score, which almost completely ruins the movie.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 18 years ago

Witchfinder is OK, but Hopkins real life was less interesting. Wicker Man is fine, but Lee's wig is a larf; the remake of Wicker is absolute slop. I'd rather see "The Anus that Ate Paris Hilton", but it hasn't been released yet.

Nothing exists more beautifully than nothing.

[–] dmackie5 18 years ago

As Christopher Lee and Vincent Price are two of my favourite actors, it's not a very difficult choice: I love both the films. The excellent Lee exudes the aura of sinister gentleman perfectly and his performance in 'Wicker Man' is one of if not his BEST. (An excellent line- Sergeant Howie: "They are naked!" Lord Summerisle: "Well naturally! It's much too dangerous to jump through the fire with their clothes ON" -as i'm sure all of you fans know). But for sheer sadistic glee ("She was innocent"- you know what I mean!) you can't really beat good old Vincent Price in 'Witchfinder General'. His performance is one of his BEST and you hate his guts in the film, though Price plays it in a way that makes you go "We love you Vincent, even though you're a sadistic madman in this film!" Two wonderful films with two wonderful actors in them.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] carlin4737 18 years ago

Witchfinder General is based around historical events and the Wicker Man is a fictitious story, for that reason i find Witchfinder General more thought provoking. In away i think its kind of important as depicts historical events, there might be some kind of educational element to it, i know that doesn't matter to some people but personally its something i always pick up on from a film.
Wether or not that makes it better than the Wicker Man its hard to say, its certainly more shocking in my opinion, the end of the Wicker Man might be shocking and its certainly a good twist but that theme is present right throughout the Witchfinder General

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When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] sborges 18 years ago

Witchfinder general is alright, decent - but pales by comparison to The Wicker Man, which is a masterpiece!

[–] mmrfilm 18 years ago

These are wonderful british films the likes of which will never be seen again. The way in which films are produced has changed dramaticly! The whole PC and censeorship shroud has changed things forever. Enjoy these gems made out of the system from a time far far away. Mark Hough

[–] lewismiller1078 18 years ago

Witchfinder General-ofcourse! While The Wicker Man was a more intellegent film (it was penned by Anthony Shaeffer)...to experience The Conqueror Worm back in 1972 was like being held captive by something quite terrible and real...man's inhumanity to man and the ignorance thereof.

[–] mfmonk 18 years ago

Both excellent films but I found Witchfinder General's "realism" gives it the edge over Wickerman. But both are must sees.

[–] Squonkamatic 18 years ago

Sorry but the comparison is meaningless. They were different films made at different times by different studios with different objectives behind the kinds of movies they made. 1968 was kind of a bad year too, if your school taught history you will understand what I mean, and each generation gets exactly the movie it deserves.

[–] 35541m 18 years ago

Although WFG is based on real events the story is basically 100% fiction.

Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne died peaceably in their beds rather than in the manner in this film. Witches were properly tried and convicted not just tortured and executed at whim as implied here (the fact that they went through due legal process is actually more frightening than what occurs here - even Jess Franco's The Bloody Judge shows witches at least being given some form of trial). The other major change is to the character of Stearne who is here presented as an uncouth ruffian - to contrast him better with Price's middle class character. In reality Stearne was middle class gentry as well (slightly lower in the scale than Hopkins but gentry none the less), quite capable of doing witchfinding on his own and he, like Hopkins, even wrote a book justifying his activities after the event.

It's still a great movie though.

[–] raphael65 18 years ago

They're really very different -- one a period picture, the other contemporary. In one, there are 2 villains and a complacent mob, along with a few people who value money over human lives, whereas in the other ("The Wicker Man"), the whole community is evil, although one could make a warped argument that the inhabitants of Summer Isle were sacrificing one man for the good of the community.

Still, I can say that I prefer any one film over another, even if they don't belong to the same genre, and I suppose these two do, or rather they fit into two sub-genres, since both films contain "horror" elements. Having said that, I prefer "Conqueror Worm/Witchfinder General" -- not because it is superior to "The Wicker Man" (which I DO like) but because: a. I like period films; b. I am a huge fan of Vincent Price; and c. I saw the film at an impressionable age (one day after my 9th birthday), and so I have a sentimental fondness for it, even though I guess it's somewhat perverse to link the adjective "sentimental" to "Witchfinder General"!

[–] Hernal03 18 years ago

As mentioned by 'Brian Say' earlier, "BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW" is a much better film to compare to "WITCHFINDER GENERAL" --- personally, I prefer the former, which in my opinion is much more atmospheric, has better music and has an eerie "supernatural" story-line going for it - Witchfinder's horror comes from the sadism and evil of humanity, which is truer to life, but much less fascinating. Also, Witchfinder does little to make you feel for the characters, BOSC does this admirably.

As for "THE WICKER MAN", what can be said -- it is a truly great film and one of the great all time British "Horror" classics, though, as in Witchfinder, it is the horror of man that is depicted, making it quite unnerving.

As for the comment by another poster that WITCHFINDER and WICKER MAN were the 2 most 'intelligent' British Horror films, well let us not forget about such great films as Nicholas Roeg's "DON'T LOOK NOW", Jacques Tourneur's "NIGHT OF THE DEMON" and it's lesser known, but in my opinion more engrossing cousin, Sidney Hayer's "NIGHT OF THE EAGLE" --- aka "BURN WITCH BURN". All worth seeking out, if you are into atmospheric, intelligent, British horror.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] tigerboy-4 18 years ago

I have always thought Witchfinder General a bit overrated, by the cult community, (although underrated by the mainstream). Price is brilliant, but a lot of the other performances are pretty basic and clumsy. It was a very cheap but stylish and creepy movie and deserves to be remembered. The Wicker Man is in another league altogether- one of the greatest films ever made.

"You've seen these films, haven't you, my man."

[–] wmjahn 18 years ago

DEFINITLY : THE WITCHFINDER GENERAL ! Seen both movies, easy decision !

[–] davidch-2 15 years ago

To me its like choosing between diamonds and gold! Witchfinder General and The Wicker Man are two of my all time favourites.

But, if you were to apply the thumbscrews and ask me to choose, I would say Witchfinder General for it realistic brutality and the fact it was (loosely)based on historical events. The axe scene at the end made me shiver.

If yu can't hear, YU WILL FEEL! [Jamaican proverb]

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Ms_Belladonna 15 years ago

The Wicker Man by a million miles.....but TWM is not a horror film so it is hardly comparible with Witchfinder General.

[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

They are similar in some respects, but I'd also go with "The Wicker Man," which is mindblowingly weird while this one is a bit cheesy at times.