Two Reviews
Rewatched 18 October 2026, 5 stars
Nothing really to add to my original review - the circus of politics and theatrics of religious fervor never go out of style - so I'll just say two things:
So glad I got to catch this on the big screen. It looked the best it probably ever has, and the added/extended scenes were a delight.
What was I thinking only giving this a 4.5 the first time around? !
Go see it big and loud while you still can!
Tags: Jesse, Movies Just Right
Watched 27 October 2025, 4.5 stars
Father Grandier in sight, Sister Jeanne's delight. Nuns hysteric in morning, Father Grandier take warning.
A bombastic and bold presentation of a witchfinder story focusing on a flawed priest with a heart of gold that's taken to task for, among other things, preventing the total power-grab of his city by the French government and for having allegedly bedeviled a ruthless nun.
This past year, I've watched three takes on this tale, Witchhammer (1970) and Mark of the Devil (1970), and this. Each has its own story and style that goes with it - this being the most audacious - but regardless of how they present themselves, I'm always left with the same thoughts: How was this ever a thing that actually happened, and how has nothing changed in 400 years?
Anyway, a great spectacle of a movie!
Tags: Alone, Criterion Channel