Witchfinder General - Opening

'Witchfinder General' is a 1968 British horror film. Unlike most period dramas, it was filmed on a low budget. The film is described as being gruesome and unpleasant to watch due to many scenes of onscreen torture and violence. After the death of the director a year after the film was released, it was developed into a cult film.

IThe film is set in 1645. During the English Civil War, Matthew Hopkins who was an opportunist and a witch hunter, took advantage of the breakdown in social order from the war to impose a reign of terror in East Anglia. He and his assistant John Stearne visited village after village where they tortured suspected witches to force them to confess to crimes they sometimes did not even commit. They charged the local magistrates for the work they carried out.

As seen in the opening scene of the film, they did not tolerate any wrongdoing from a suspected witch. Their punishment upon these witches was murder. Their methods of murder where brutal and in the above clip you can see a suspected witch being burnt to her death.

The film is based quite loosely on a historical figure who was also called Matthew Hopkins. Hopkins described himself as a "witch hunter" and he claimed that he was commissioned by Parliament to prosecute and execute witches. He was ided by his sadistic accomplice John Stearne. Together they travelled from city to city to wrench confessions from so-called "witches" in order to line his pockets and gain sexual favours.

This scene does not have any music in it but at the end you can hear church bells ringing. This emphasises how witches were believed to be works of the devil and went against the people's religion. It may also represent funeral bells as the "witch" has now died. It is in-keeping with the time as people would have been extremely religious hence why people went to such extreme measures to avoid anything "evil" influencing the people to convert to following the devil.

Other sounds heard are the screams of the woman, the sound of the flames, the characters talking and a man who is struggling to get to the woman in an attempt to save her. All of these things help create the scene. The woman is screaming for most of the scene until her death. This emphasises her sheer terror as she tries all she can to stop the men from tying her. It is incredibly disturbing to watch the she is slowly moved closer and closer to the flames, screaming louder and louder until she stops breathing. The sound of the flames creates tension. The audience can tell what is going to happen and the tension builds with each passing second. As she gets closer and closer to the fire and goes further and further into the fire, the sound of the flames becomes even more uncomfortable to listen to. The characters speaking help make the scene calmer. However, it may also be seen as horrific to watch these people be so calm about brutally murdering someone, as if this is completely normal to them. Hopkins' voice has the biggest impact as he tells the men to proceed with the execution. The audience can see that he will play a significant and dominant role in the film. The sound of the man struggling at first gives hope but then brings sadness as it is clear that he is unable to save her no matter how hard he tries. It is comforting however to know that at least one character is showing some sort of humane response and emotion to the horrific and terrifying scene that is going on.

Shot types are also extremely important in this scene. It opens with a shot of the flames shown that they will play a crucial role. it then goes on to show a long shot of the set. A young woman is shown looking out from a window showing that what is happening is of interest to the people. A mid-shot of two men walking closer to the scene creates a sinister image. The "witches" are shown being abused by towns people as a young man struggles who is clearly concerned for the safety of one of them. There is a close-up shot of the woman being tied up. It is clear that she is going to be executed.There is a mid-shot of people watching. It appears disturbing as young children are seen watching what is happening without any signs of fear. This seems to be normal to the people. A long shot shows the woman being put into position before the flames. We then see the flames just in front of her. It is horrific to watch. A close-up shot of what appears to be a maid or perhaps a nun blessing herself is shown. These people believed that the woman (Elizabeth) was possessed by the devil and was therefore a witch. The man is shown again in a close -up shot crying with sweat on his face probably as a result of the fire. There are shots of the men lowering her into the flames. This creates a build up of tension. We then see her being lowered as she screams in pain and terror. It is a long shot and a close-up shot. It is extremely difficult to watch but captures her fear as she is lowered to her extremely brutal death. A shot much like the opening shot is shown as her body burns in the flames and then again there is a close-up of the woman turning away from her window appalled by what she has just witnessed. A number of long and mid shots are used to show the flames and people's reaction. There is then a two-shot of Hopkins and Stearne as they discuss how there are still two "witches"to be burnt. It ends in a close-up shot of a man who has just entered the scene on a horse. He seems extremely suspicious about what is going on.

Mise En Scene is very useful. The set shows buildings that were typical of the time. The place looks typical  of the 1600's. The section of ground fenced off where animals and the witches" are being kept is very realistic. It does not seem to be a place of great wealth but rather an average town. It is shocking that something so disturbing would occur in what seems like such a regular place.

The costumes help to make it clear what time the film is set in. They also reflect the social status of the characters. They seem to be either at the bottom of the middle-class or the lower-class. The "Witchfinder General" and his assistant however , seem to be of a higher class than the others which would make sense as they are not from this town but are simply travelling around to execute the "witches" of the country.