Witches' Brew

Film

Witches' Brew (United Artists 1980)

Release Date: Unknown

Credited Cast and Crew:

Terri Garr, Richard Benjamin, Lana Turner, James Winkler

Directed by: Richard Shorr and Herbert L. Strock

Writing Credits: Syd Dutton, Fritz Leiber Jr. and Richard Shorr

Produced by: Donna Ashbrook, Jack Bean and W.L. Zeltonoga

Original Music by: John Carl Parker

Cinematography by: Joao Fernandez and Norman Gerard

Synopsis: When suburban housewives start using witchcraft in order to further their spouse's careers, chaos ensues.

My Review: Maybe it's a comedy? Maybe it's a horror film? Honestly, it doesn't succeed much on either level. The fact that the characters just go about their business without much motivation or reasoning for why they do the things they do, makes this film a very hard one to follow. For example, Terri Garr's character uses different potions on her husband in the beginning of the film, but it is never explained fully WHY she is doing that. Are they having problems in bed? Trying to have a baby? The screenwriters just left way too much up to the imagination. The idea of suburbanites going to the head witch for advice is a good one, but it's not expanded on fully enough.

Lana has a very small part in the film as head witch, Viven Cross. Her character is probably the most interesting one of the bunch, with Viven plotting to trade souls with one of the other women, as she is very ill and probably won't live much longer. Interestingly enough, she makes sure that she leaves everything in her will to that woman, therefore herself! Pretty clever I would say...

Your Review: What are YOUR thoughts on this film? Contact me at Liza@lanaturneronline.com