The Sorcerers

UK 1967
produced by
Tony Tenser, Patrick Curtis, Arnold L. Miller (executive) for Tigon, Curtwel Productions, Global
directed by Michael Reeves
starring Boris Karloff, Catherine Lacey, Ian Ogilvy, Elizabeth Ercy, Victor Henry, Sally Sheridan (as Dani Sheridan), Alf Joint, Meier Tzelniker, Gerald Campion, Susan George, Ivor Dean, Peter Fraser, Martin Terry, Bill Barnsley, Maureen Booth, Toni Daly, Arnold L. Miller
idea by John Burke, screenplay by Tom Baker (II), Michael Reeves, music by Paul Ferris

review by
Mike Haberfelner

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For decades, doctor and hypnotist Montserrat (Boris Karloff) has been ridiculed by the whole medical profession, but now he has invented a machine to mindcontrol others and to feel what others feel - but despite all the wrongs done to him, he plans to use his machine for good. But before he can present his machine to the public, he and his wife Estelle (Catherine Lacey) have to test it one an unwitting person, young and self-centered Michael (Ian Ogilvy) ... and they find out the machine works even better than expected. But then, Montserrat's wife figures she can use mind-controlled Michael for her own ends, and she has him steal a furcoat for her. But when Michael, robbing the furshop, is almost caught by the police, Estelle really gets into it because the adrenaline has given her a boost, and she uses Michael for doing more and more risky stuff like speeding on her motorbike or beating up his best friend Alan (Victor Henry) - and Montserrat can do nothing to stop her because her mind is much stronger than his.

Then though Estelle gets really into it and has Michael brutally murder two girls (Sally Sheridan, Susan George) - and now Montserrat knows he has to stop her at any price. Meanwhile Michael's girlfriend Nicole (Elizabeth Ercy) and above-mentioned Alan get increasingly worried about his bizarre behaviour and even guess that he is involved in all two murders, but when they confront him with this, Michael, under Estelle's influence again, tries to murder Alan, who is only saved by the approaching police.

Michael gets away in a car, with the police in hot pursuit, but since Estelle is by now rather drunk, Montserrat manages to take over the boy again, and figures the only way out would be to kill him - even if that would mean his and Estelle's death as well, and he has Michael crash his car ... and while Michael burns in the wreck, so do Montserrat and Alan in the safety of their home.

Of course, the synopsis of this film must seem pretty silly, the film itself though is rather intelligent (if you can accept its rather nonsensical premise) and furthermore full of tension and suspense. Add to this a great cast of actors who are uniformly up to their roles - especially of course Boris Karloff, who does everything to not upstage his co-stars though - and you are left with a pretty good film. And furthermore, The Sorcerers is an able demonstration as to why Michael Reeves is still considered one of the best British horror directors, despite the fact that he finished no more than three films.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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