Three hundred years ago a witch named Margery of Jourdemain (Marie Santell) is hung. The witch was turned into the witch hunters by a member of her own coven, Macintyre Stuart (Robert Elston). Margery vows to return and destroy the relatives of the one who turned her in.
Professor Mac Stuart (Robert Elston) is a college professor who is teaching his students the psychology of superstition. His namesake was the Macintyre Stuart who was responsible for turning in the old witch centuries ago. His students are putting together a book sale to earn some money for the college. Jill (Anitra Walsh) is one of the professor’s students helping to organize the books. One of the books she picks up is an old red spell book. Intrigued by it, Jill buys the book and brings it to a gathering being hosted by Professor Stuart.
As a lark, the students decide to have a séance and, using one of the spells in the book, call up a witch. It appears that nothing happened. Unknown by anyone at the party, Jill has indeed summoned a witch, the same witch that was hanged 300 years ago. Jill convinces Professor Stuart that she is indeed being possessed by the spirit of Margery. Jill’s boyfriend, Alan (Darryl Wells) finds out about the possession and, afraid that something may happen to hurt Jill, is talked into going along with whatever Margery wants.
However, when Jill starts killing people and initiating their souls into the coven, Stuart and Alan need to team up to find a way to stop the witch, without killing Jill in the process.
“Mark of the Witch” was released in 1970 and was directed by Tom Moore. It is an American low budget “B” horror movie. It is one of those regional independent movies that were shown in various Texas drive-ins.
The movie ended up being very talkie and very bland. The monotonous acting didn’t help any. Jill comes off more like a whining teenager than a three-hundred-year-old witch. There isn’t much in the way of blood to distract you from the nonexistent plot. There is also no sex and not much in the way of nudity. As a matter of fact, there is absolutely nothing remarkable about the film at all.
On the bright side, I’ve heard that the witchcraft references were historically accurate although not chronologically accurate. It is average for the most part but unfortunately, rather nondescript.