Secret Rites

Absolutely hilarious pseudo-documentary supposedly educating us about modern, well early 1970's, witchcraft and wicca.

Alex Sanders, real-life King of Witches, with his dreary sounding Lancashire accent and balding scalp, looks and sounds more like Alex Sanders, real-life King of Trainspotters. He exhibits about as much charisma as a brick, although he does also wear a very fetching polo-neck sweater at one point!!

The initiation and wedding ceremonies look like outtakes from a Carry On film and I kept expecting Sid James & Barbara Windsor to pop up with their signature laughs, while director Derek Ford spends most of the runtime focussing on naked breasts.

You have to love the 1970's.

Well I have to say that the wedding shown looks far more entertaining than any I have ever been to. However what seems slightly strange is that none of the guests seems to be older than30.The commentary seems to have come from one of Ra nks Look At Life series.So this really is a hoot.

Although I have seen this short British documentary before (on TV) I recently bought it on disc, a double feature along with "Legend of the Witches" (which I hope will be better). This is my second time viewing, and yes, I'll probably watch it again in the future.

It starts off by spoofing a Black Mass scene from any number of Euro horror films. We are then informed by High Priest Alex Sanders that real witchcraft is nothing like that. Sanders was the self proclaimed King of the Witches, despite his balding head and monotone Lancashire accent (he had about as much charisma as an old wet soak) he did attract a great deal of publicity and followers. Much of his claims have been debunked but the fact that he brought Wicca to public attention and expanded the movement cannot be denied.

I have been interested in the occult for many years, what lets this documentary down is that it was obviously staged. It was filmed mainly at a film studio and the coven is made up of actors as well as a few genuine members. Had it been filmed at genuine places of gathering and only featured coven members then it would have been far more authentic. Directed by exploitation director Derek Ford this film contains a lot of nudity (and bush!), mainly young attractive women and older men. I imagine that it appeals more to the dirty raincoat brigade than scholars of the occult. The ritual scenes are all very colourful and the soundtrack by The Spindle is groovy.

Included with the far superior Legend of the Witches on the BFI Blu-ray release, this is not without interest but not made with much enthusiasm. At least not going by the drearily delivered narration or the incredibly bored sounding Alex Saunders, who seems to drone on throughout the film in the same monotone. Derek Ford is aware of what the punters want, however, and despite all efforts to make this seem as dull as possible, he does ensure that we have plenty of bare flesh and colourful scenes.