119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

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antnield
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:59 pm
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119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#1 Post by antnield » Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:35 pm

Blu-ray and DVD coming soon.

Otakar Vávra's Witchhammer, co-written by Ester Krumbachová (Daisies, Fruit of Paradise) chronicles the series of notorious 17th Century Czech witch trials, undertaken using the infamous ‘Malleus Maleficarum’ (the ‘Witchhammer’ of the title), the Catholic treatise on witchcraft which endorsed the extermination of witches and developed a detailed legal and theological theory for this purpose. Using genuine court transcripts from the forced confessions of those accused of sorcery and collusion with the Devil, it is a powerful and often shocking allegory of life under totalitarian rule.

With echoes of Bergman and František Vláčil, and with literary antecedents in Arthur’s Miller’s The Crucible and Aldous Huxley’s The Devils of Loudon, it is a disturbing political fable; and like Ken Russell's controversial, expressionistic adaptation of Huxley’s text, The Devils (1971) and other films of the period such as Michael Reeves' Witchfinder General (1968) and Michael Armstrong's Mark of the Devil (1970), it serves as both grim genre film and compelling historical drama.

"Made with relentless precision, rhythm and logic… beautifully staged in CinemaScope with stylish photography by Josef Illík and a compelling score by Jiří Srnka" Peter Hames

"A humanist horror film and an indisputable work of art" Senses of Cinema

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What A Disgrace
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#2 Post by What A Disgrace » Thu Sep 21, 2017 9:35 am

Looks like four consecutive Blu-ray releases in a row, assuming we still get Silence and Cry before the year's out. And what a great four they are.

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L.A.
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#3 Post by L.A. » Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:59 pm

Oh yeah! The title that got me into Czech films in the first place. I remember the decade old Czech DVD looking really nice.

Hopefully you’ll consider Gustav Machatý’s Erotikon and Ecstasy as well on Blu.

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Finch
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#4 Post by Finch » Thu Sep 21, 2017 1:57 pm

Never heard of this film before but it sounds right up my alley. I'm in.

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swo17
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#5 Post by swo17 » Thu Sep 21, 2017 2:06 pm

I also love Vávra's Krakatit, which just barely received a Czech Blu-ray release.

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L.A.
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#6 Post by L.A. » Thu Sep 21, 2017 2:24 pm

Here is DVDFreak’s review for the Czech disc.

Werewolf by Night

Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#7 Post by Werewolf by Night » Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:01 pm

Finch wrote:Never heard of this film before but it sounds right up my alley. I'm in.
Same. Name-check Bergman, František Vláčil, Ken Russell and Witchfinder General/The Conqueror Worm, tell me it's a black-and-white 'scope film, and I'll buy whatever you're selling. And the clips on YouTube are very intriguing.

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Cremildo
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#8 Post by Cremildo » Thu Sep 21, 2017 7:47 pm

Finch wrote:Never heard of this film before but it sounds right up my alley. I'm in.
Same here.

The subject matter and the description of the film appealed to me instantly.

I'm very grateful for labels like this. It's great to discover hidden gems.

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Bumstead
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#9 Post by Bumstead » Fri Sep 22, 2017 1:47 pm

Cremildo wrote:
Finch wrote:Never heard of this film before but it sounds right up my alley. I'm in.
Same here.

The subject matter and the description of the film appealed to me instantly.

I'm very grateful for labels like this. It's great to discover hidden gems.
Add me to the list of those giving gratitude. I usually don't do blind-buys, but happy to make an exception.

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L.A.
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#10 Post by L.A. » Fri Sep 22, 2017 2:59 pm

I would say Witchhammer, Witchfinder General and Mark of the Devil are probably the best witchcraft films. So glad all three have gotten the BD treatment now. :D

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MichaelB
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#11 Post by MichaelB » Fri Sep 22, 2017 3:32 pm

And how interesting that they were all made at almost the same time.

charal
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Re: Forthcoming: Witchhammer

#12 Post by charal » Sat Sep 30, 2017 4:20 pm

Coming out on October 30 according to Arrow's site.

That's the second time SILENCE AND CRY has been passed over for a newer release. Is it also coming out before the year's end Bikey?

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MichaelB
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#13 Post by MichaelB » Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:29 am

There's a fairly obvious reason why they're keen to get this one out by Halloween...

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Cremildo
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#14 Post by Cremildo » Thu Oct 05, 2017 1:52 pm

Image

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Bikey
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#15 Post by Bikey » Fri Oct 13, 2017 6:15 am


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Bikey
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#16 Post by Bikey » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:59 am


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Bikey
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#17 Post by Bikey » Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:30 am

Full details now at our website
IN STOCK AND SHIPPING NOW!


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Bikey
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#19 Post by Bikey » Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:54 am

"Would play well as a sobering double feature with Ken Russell's The Devils... Beautifully lensed in 'scope and highly provocative... [The Blu-ray] really looks gorgeous with far more depth and detail than past video versions even began to convey. The LPCM Czech mono track (with optional English subtitles) also sounds excellent."
Nathaniel Thompson reviews WITCHHAMMER at Mondo Digital

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Ribs
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#20 Post by Ribs » Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:16 pm


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swo17
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#21 Post by swo17 » Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:28 pm

Glad he managed to fit in two framegrabs from the bathhouse scene. And that part of his closing argument is that the lead actress "really has a Mila Kunis thing go'in on."

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domino harvey
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#22 Post by domino harvey » Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:30 pm

go'in
Is that supposed to be short for "goblin"?

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swo17
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#23 Post by swo17 » Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:15 pm

That was my assumption.

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Bikey
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Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#24 Post by Bikey » Sun Nov 12, 2017 6:43 am

"an absolute visual treat and the 1080P supports the 2.35:1 film with consistent contrast exhibiting a detailed, rich, textured image...We congratulate Second Run on this Region FREE Blu-ray release - this is brilliant and may be my favorite package from them yet! - which is saying a lot! Our highest recommendation"
I think fair to say that DVD Beaver are quite keen on WITCHHAMMER

nitin
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2014 6:49 am

Re: 119 / BD 8 Witchhammer

#25 Post by nitin » Mon Nov 13, 2017 6:25 am

Ordered it, but Bikey do you have any info as to the provenance of the restoration source?

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