Fatma Suarez
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Rosie Searle
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
snobdok
It is a very odd 70's movie and I watched (parts of) it again recently after many years. What makes it unique is that it is the only movie that portrays the life of a magician in a realistic way. This is especially true for those who have been into the occult for a long time. Besides from that, it was also well acted and the story quite interesting in other ways. So it's highly recommended for those who wants to now what the life of a occultist is really like. How it becomes, the pitfalls, and the consequences that can follow from doing certain things. The name of the character is also a hint of what kind of magician he really is. Still one (at least I did) roots for him for most of the movie.
Woodyanders
Powerful and charismatic warlock Simon Sinestrari (superbly played with lip-smacking aplomb by Andrew Prine) resides in the Los Angeles storm drains and ekes out a living entertaining stuck-up hippies at posh parties. Simon uses black magic to get revenge on those folks who dare mock, scorn and persecute him. Director Bruce Kessler, working from a witty and intriguing script by real-life practicing warlock Robert Phippeny, delivers an offbeat and enjoyable slice of vintage early 70's horror exploitation weirdness. This film hits its fabulously freaky zenith during a gloriously lurid Satanic ceremony. The cast are all uniformly fine, with nice performances by Brenda Scott as the lovely, smitten Linda, George Paulsin as Simon's sweet, naive young best friend Turk, Angus Duncan as the arrogant Colin, Andy Warhol Factory superstar Ultra Violet as kooky devil cult leader Sarah, Norman Burton as stern, disapproving district attorney Rackum, and Richard Ford Grayling as pesky narc John Peter. Best of all, Prine really throws himself into his juicy lead role; he performs the spellcasting scenes in particular with tremendous flair and intensity. David L. Butler's slick, garish cinematography, the flavorsome period counterculture setting, a spooky'n'shuddery ooga-booga score by Stu Phillips, a pleasing surplus of tasty female nudity, and the gaudy low-fi special effects all further enhance the infectiously funky fun of this total trippy blast.
Scott_Mercer
This is barely a horror movie. There are only a few deaths on screen, and very little blood. What this movie lacks in gore, it makes up for it with the concentration of Prine's performance, the period psychedelic fashions, and the amusing dialog and situations. Saw this here in L.A. at a revival screening this week. Andrew Prine was on hand and talked about the film for a bit. Apparently, this film was written by a real warlock, and this was "his story." This probably accounts for the deadly serious tone of someone writing a memoir with earnest purposefulness. Prine took the film to make the jump from supporting roles to a lead, and he sank his teeth into the role, pouring all his intensity into a very stong performance. Even when he does something silly and laughable like talking to a huge tree ("Hello, my old friend, how are you?"), he remains utterly believable as that character, even though you laugh. Fans of high Hippie Couture and silly psychedelic effects (dig the trippy "walking into the mirror" effect) have some good stuff here to treat their eyes with. (If you liked the look of "Psych Out" or "The Trip" you'll have a ball.) There's a fairly linear plot with a few twists, but overall an enjoyable ride. Recommended, if you can find it. I believe it is not available on DVD and the print that was screened was purportedly "one of only three in existence." UPDATE 1/2008: Reports on the internet state that this film will becoming out on DVD, later this year, 2008. I will probably be picking up a copy when it comes out. It was quite an enjoyable viewing and I am looking forward to exposing it to my friends. Yeah boy!
halfadog
What IS going on in this film? I dunno, but I kinda liked it. Andrew Prine (BARN OF THE NAKED DEAD) is a storm drain-dwelling modern-day warlock who uses his powers to do bad things. He becomes involved with the district attorney's daughter and low-life drug dealers. In one scene, he faces the QUEEN of the Witches. If you like '70s pseudo-witchcraft nonsense served with a nice dose of psychedelic visuals, incoherent plotting and some nudity, SIMON KING OF THE WITCHES might be well worth your time.
