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Trailer

Witchfinder General

1968Movie1 h 27 minNR

DramaHistory
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb6.7Rotten Tomatoes94%67%

A nerve-racking, brutally violent drama movie about history and the mind, with standout world-building.

Good for thought-provoking · adults · partner watch

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, uplift or comfort.

Movies with

Story

He'll hang, burn, and mutilate you. He's the… Witchfinder General

England, 1645. The cruel civil war between Royalists and Parliamentarians that is ravaging the country causes an era of chaos and legal arbitrariness that allows unscrupulous men to profit by exploiting the absurd superstitions of the peasants; like Matthew Hopkins, a monster disguised as a man who wanders from town to town offering his services as a witch hunter.

Feels like

  • Historical Horror
  • Folk Horror
  • Revenge Thriller
  • Brutal Period Piece
  • Psychological Torture
  • Bleak & Violent
  • Cult Classic
  • Social Critique
  • Unsettling Atmosphere

Cast

19 of 19

Crew

Directed by
Michael Reeves
Written by
Michael Reeves, Ronald Bassett, Tom Baker
Produced by
Louis M. Heyward, Arnold L. Miller, Philip Waddilove
Music by
Paul Ferris

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

May 17, 1968 · 1 h 27 min · NR

Released
May 17, 1968
Runtime
1 h 27 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, History, Horror
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Budget
$83,000
Box office
$2 million
Available in
44 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Fictionalized Death Account, Mercy Kill, Historical Domain Character +9

  • Fictionalized Death Account
  • Mercy Kill
  • Historical Domain Character
  • Sinister Minister
  • The Only One Allowed to Defeat You
  • Age Lift
  • Campbell Country
  • Burn the Witch!
  • Lack of Empathy
  • The Film of the Book
  • Madness Mantra
  • Christianity Is Catholic

12 of 54 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Witchfinder General?"

Questions about Witchfinder General

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Witchfinder General worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 6.7 and Rotten Tomatoes 94%). Critics rate it higher (94 out of 100) than audiences (67).

Will Witchfinder General scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

At times: scares are rated 7 of 10, and some images are gruesome (grotesque 7 of 10).

Will I feel good after watching Witchfinder General?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

What tropes does Witchfinder General use?

Fictionalized Death AccountMercy KillHistorical Domain CharacterSinister MinisterThe Only One Allowed to Defeat YouAge LiftCampbell CountryBurn the Witch!Lack of EmpathyThe Film of the BookMadness MantraChristianity Is Catholicand 42 more

TV Tropes lists 54 tropes for it, including Fictionalized Death Account, Mercy Kill, and Historical Domain Character.