Robert Elston

Barbara Brownell

Gary Brockette

Anitra Walsh

Darryl Wells

Jack Gardner

Marie Santell

Sande Drewes

Lawrence DuPont

John Figlmiller

Sylvia Rundell

Lori Taylor

Mary Davis

Martha Peters

Tom Moore

Ken Harrison

Manel De Aumente

Jim Carver

R.B. McGowen Jr.

Sharyn Suckle

Whitey Thomas

Robert E. Bethard

Ken Richardson

Rosemarie Powell

Lynne Brooks

Horror

Mark of the Witch

Lone Star Productions

Presidio Productions

United States of America

***Low-budget, melodramatic witch flick shot in Dallas in 1969***

A witch that is hanged in the 1600s is inadvertently resurrected 321 years later at a Dallas area college by some nice students playing around with an old book of spells. The witch possesses a student and seems intent on getting revenge on the descendant of the man who executed her.

“Mark of the Witch” (1970) is a low-budget horror flick that’s rather generic, but also effective in several ways. The overt satanic rituals were nothing new at the time as they were featured in earlier slicker films like “Masque of the Red Death” (1964) and “Devils of Darkness” (1965). While the movie was shot in 1969, the protagonists aren’t hippies, but rather groovy-but-agreeable college students & their hip professor (Robert Elston). 

The actress who plays the witch at the beginning of the film lays it on too thick and is exasperating. But the actress who plays Jill (Anitra Walsh) is impressive for a no-name. Actually winsome Anitra is one of the main reasons this movie is worth catching. She looks great in her blue mini-dress, etc. Unfortunately she died prematurely in 1980 at the age of 32.

The tame special effects are surprisingly proficient and the music is effectively creepy. Regrettably, the final act needed more oomph. But “Mark of the Witch” is a must to observe college culture in 1969 (styles, décor, vehicles, social customs, etc.).  

The film runs 1 hour and 24 minutes and was shot in the Dallas area, including Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.

GRADE: B-

English

MARK OF THE WITCH Trailer [1970]

Mark of the Witch (1970) Video Classics Australia Trailer