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Superstition

  • 1982
  • Unrated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
Superstition (1982)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer1:52
1 Video
89 Photos
Folk HorrorSlasher HorrorSupernatural HorrorWitch HorrorHorror

A witch put to death in 1692 swears vengeance on her persecutors and returns to the present day to punish their descendants.A witch put to death in 1692 swears vengeance on her persecutors and returns to the present day to punish their descendants.A witch put to death in 1692 swears vengeance on her persecutors and returns to the present day to punish their descendants.

  • Director
    • James W. Roberson
  • Writers
    • Galen Thompson
    • Michael O. Sajbel
    • Bret Thompson Plate
  • Stars
    • James Houghton
    • Albert Salmi
    • Lynn Carlin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    3.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James W. Roberson
    • Writers
      • Galen Thompson
      • Michael O. Sajbel
      • Bret Thompson Plate
    • Stars
      • James Houghton
      • Albert Salmi
      • Lynn Carlin
    • 85User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Superstition
    Trailer 1:52
    Superstition

    Photos89

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    James Houghton
    James Houghton
    • Rev. David Thompson
    Albert Salmi
    Albert Salmi
    • Inspector Sturgess
    Lynn Carlin
    Lynn Carlin
    • Melinda Leahy
    Larry Pennell
    Larry Pennell
    • Reverend George Leahy
    Jacquelyn Hyde
    Jacquelyn Hyde
    • Elvira Sharack
    Robert Symonds
    Robert Symonds
    • Reverend Andrew Pike
    Heidi Bohay
    • Ann Leahy
    Maylo McCaslin
    Maylo McCaslin
    • Sheryl Leahy
    Carole Goldman
    Carole Goldman
    • Elondra Sharack
    Stacy Keach Sr.
    Stacy Keach Sr.
    • Rev. Henry Maier
    Kim Marie
    • Mary Shire
    Billy Jayne
    Billy Jayne
    • Justin Leahy
    • (as Billy Jacoby)
    Johnny Doran
    • Charlie
    Bennett James
    Bennett James
    • Arty
    • (as Bennett Liss)
    Joshua Cadman
    Joshua Cadman
    • Arlen
    • (as Josh Cadman)
    John Alderman
    John Alderman
    • Romberg
    Nova Ball
    • Nancy
    Morgan Strickland
    • Director
      • James W. Roberson
    • Writers
      • Galen Thompson
      • Michael O. Sajbel
      • Bret Thompson Plate
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews85

    5.73.5K
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    Featured reviews

    6acidburn-10

    A fun gore filled ride, nothing more nothing less

    'Superstition' is a 1982 supernatural slasher movie that may not have any sort of originality, but makes up for some of its short comings by having some inventive death scenes, cool gore and a creepy atmosphere. The movie is rather entertaining and does deliver on the carnage.

    The plot = In the 1600's where a witch is sentenced to death by crucifixion in the black pond as she swears vengeance on her persecutors. Then we flash forward to the present day of 1982 a series of bizarre murders plague the house near the lake as the witch is haunting the property from beyond the grave.

    The direction by James W. Roberson is quite decent as he doesn't shy away from the shock factor, the film feels very much in the vein of the 80's slashers due to the sheer over the top murders that occur throughout which thankfully helps distract you from the utter haphazard pacing, uneven acting performances & a fairly by the numbers story. This is by no means a plot driven flick but the mystery element is sustained long enough to keep you interested.

    Overall this is a fun ride dripped in pure cheese with sheer enthusiasm for its gruesome set pieces, but doesn't really offer much more than that with no characters to really root for mainly because they're just cannon fodder & none of the performances really stand out to be honest, but if you're looking for nothing more than a fun ride, then 'Superstition' is the movie for you.
    6Tweetienator

    Burning the Witch May Be of Help

    A witch of old times on the road of revenge and a "haunted" house/property - the good thing: the death toll is not a small one!

    Nice little horror flick from the beginning of the 80s. No masterpiece or classic, also no Oscar material, but a good watch - if you want some horror with a good slice of nostalgia and some blood spilled on the floor. Yummy.
    7rocknrelics

    Above average

    I found this to be a very enjoyable film, and quite unique.

    The supernatural /slasher/gore mix works really well, and the pacing of the film is excellent, not a minute is wasted, there's no padding, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.

    Obviously not the biggest budget, but the sequence set in 1692 looks great and really adds to the atmosphere.

    I definitely recommend a viewing. I watched the Scream Factory blu ray, and when the film is well lit, it looks great, in the darker scenes, not so much. There are also a lot of speckles/flecks evident in the darker scenes, but overall the picture is good.
    9barrynewblood

    Splattery Fun

    What at first feels like a creatively impaired Amityville Horror rip off quickly spirals into a balls-out, splatter fest that's a lot more fun than you'd think. The story is that a house has been cured ever since a witch was executed in the lake that surrounds the property and anyone who enters has come to a bad end. A priest and his family move in and begin to experience creepy things until the vengeful witch returns to kill them all one by one.

    Superstition doesn't waste any time in getting to the good stuff. The opening of the film alone features a body being torn in half by a shattered window and a teenager's head exploding in a microwave. Once the main victims move in, the witch doesn't spend her time making chairs move or opening doors - she just goes right for the jugular and starts killing people in creatively bloody ways.

    In some ways, Superstition feels more like a slasher movie than a ghost story, but it's not a bad thing. It certainly makes the film stand out from similar films from the time and it mixes subgenres quite well. If you're looking for a spooky good time, Superstition will hook you up.
    7Stevieboy666

    80's horror gem that is sadly neglected

    A 17th century executed witch kills anybody who enters a house that was built on the site of her execution. Supernatural horror that plays out like a slasher movie with many inventive deaths every 10 minutes or so. This is well paced and there is plenty of good gore, including an exploding head in a microwave, death by an escaped circular saw, spike through forehead, and so on. This was made during the Golden Age of the slasher movie and certainly gives good value for money. Give me 1980's effects and vibe any day over 21st century CGI and remakes! Original title in 1982 was Superstition. It did appear on the seizure list during the Video Nasties farce but was given a rerelease as The Witch in 1985. Sadly this film appears to be something of a forgotten one, I can't even reference in it in my collection of horror movie books. It really does deserve a DVD/BR release so that a new audience can see it.

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    Related interests

    Florence Pugh in Midsommar (2019)
    Folk Horror
    Roger Jackson in Scream (1996)
    Slasher Horror
    Daveigh Chase in The Ring (2002)
    Supernatural Horror
    Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch (2015)
    Witch Horror
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Superstition was extremely popular on pre-cert video in the UK on the VTC label in the early 1980s. It was so popular that it actually got a subsequent cinema release in 1984, under the title "The Witch", courtesy of Bordeaux Films International. This is one of the few times a video release was followed up by a theatrical release, rather than the other way around. It was then re-released by Stablecane under the title "The Witch", again on video shortly afterward.
    • Goofs
      During the flashback to 1692, as Father Andrew is getting murdered, they show his feet are shown flailing about. Problem is the materials (e.g. neoprene) used in his sandals would not be invented for another 250 years.
    • Quotes

      Ann Leahy: [slapping Cheryl] Shut your bitchy mouth!

    • Alternate versions
      German version was cut for violence by 65 seconds to secure a FSK-18 rating, despite that, the BPjM still indexed the film from 1989-2012. The FSK-16 rated version was cut a bit further by additional 35 seconds. Only in 2013 the uncut version was granted a FSK-18 rating.
    • Connections
      Featured in Video Nasties: Draconian Days (2014)

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    FAQ14

    • How long is Superstition?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 2, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Witch
    • Filming locations
      • Garbutt House, 1809 Apex Ave. Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Penaria
      • Carolco Entertainment
      • Carolco Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 25m(85 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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