Review of The Sorcerers (1967) by Sylvester H — 23 Apr 2012
Written and directed by Michael Reeves, whose only other credit before his untimely death in 1969 was Witchfinder General (1968), this is a very surreal and bleak horror thriller that has a brilliant lead performance as well as some odd visuals and a splash of Swinging London about it.
The film proves to be quite effective and it get's under your skin as well. Pioneering hypnotist Professor Marcus Montserrat (Boris Karloff) is wanting to try out a new psychic invention he's worked on with his wife Estelle (Catherine Lacey).
He finds a naive but willing volunteer in Mike Roscoe (Ian Ogilvy), who is looking for something different, and he finds it in this technique. Marcus and Estelle are able to control him telepathically, and they feel what Mike feels the sensations and thrills he goes through.
But Estelle selfishly decides to use Mike for her own personal gain, including stealing a mink scarf and going off joyriding on a motorbike. This erratic behaviour worries Mike's girlfriend Nicole (Elizabeth Ercy) and friend Alan (Victor Henry), but things take a darker turn when Estelle ties Marcus up and takes control of Mike, leading to murders.
It's almost like the Scanners of it's day, but it does have some surreal sights, like Karloff in a Wimpy Bar, but he and Lacey give brilliant performances, as does Ogilvy, who is always reliable.
It's a good cult horror film, and it's a good timepiece of the 1960's.
This review of The Sorcerers (1967) was written by Sylvester H on 23 Apr 2012.
The Sorcerers has generally received mixed reviews.
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