Witchfinder General (1968) Horror Movie Poster

Witchfinder General (1968)

MovieFolk Horror Thriller Drama

Released: May 19, 1968

Runtime: 86 min

Not Rated

United Kingdom

English

In 1645, during the English Civil War, law and order have broken down in East Anglia. Matthew Hopkins, a self-appointed witch hunter, travels from village to village, torturing confessions out of suspected witches and charging the local authorities for his work. When he targets the family of a young soldier's fiancée, he makes a deadly enemy. Directed by Michael Reeves and starring Vincent Price, Witchfinder General is based on Ronald Bassett's novel about the real Matthew Hopkins. In the US, it was released as The Conqueror Worm. Along with The Blood on Satan's Claw and The Wicker Man, it is seen as one of the defining works of folk horror.

7.8/10

Horror Jungle Rating

IMDb

6.7/10

IMDb Rating

94%

Rotten Tomatoes

Watch Trailer Where to Watch

QUICK HORROR SNAPSHOT

Creepiness & Uncanny

6/10

Monster / Killer Threat

9/10

Atmosphere & Dread

8/10

Re-watch Value

6/10

Gore & Violence

7/10

Jump Scares

2/10

Psychological Terror

8/10

Overall Scare Factor

6/10

Tension & Suspense

7/10

Official Trailer

Where to watch

Updated November 12, 2026

Tubi

TubiCA

Free

AMC+

AMC+AU

Available

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime VideoCA · US

Available

Shudder

ShudderAU · UK

Available

SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?

Worth Watching?A landmark of British folk horror.

Yes

Watch Alone?It is grim, not frightening.

Yes

Watch in the Dark?Much of it takes place in daylight.

Maybe

Good for Date Night?Very bleak and cruel.

No

Watch With Parents?Torture and sexual violence.

No

Beginner Friendly?Little gore by modern standards, but disturbing.

Maybe

Family Friendly?Torture, rape and executions.

No

Slow Burn?It builds steadily towards a violent ending.

Maybe

Headphones Recommended?Paul Ferris's score is beautiful.

Maybe

18+

Age RecommendationContains strong horror content, violence, and disturbing themes.

16+

Spoiler Free Review

Richard Marshall (Ian Ogilvy), a young Roundhead soldier, plans to marry Sara (Hilary Dwyer), the niece of the village priest. But witch hunter Matthew Hopkins (Vincent Price) and his brutal assistant, John Stearne (Robert Russell), arrive in their village, and Sara's family becomes their target.

Vincent Price gives one of his most restrained and chilling performances. Instead of the theatrical villains he was famous for, Hopkins is cold, calm and greedy, using religion as an excuse for cruelty.

Michael Reeves films the English countryside beautifully, which makes the violence even more shocking. The torture scenes are hard to watch, and the film shows how ordinary people go along with terrible acts.

The pacing is uneven, and some of the acting is stiff. But Witchfinder General is a powerful, angry film about cruelty and revenge, and its ending is unforgettable.

What Works

Vincent Price's restrained, chilling performance.

Beautiful English countryside settings.

A shocking, nightmarish ending.

A sharp portrayal of mob cruelty.

What Doesn't Work

Uneven pacing.

Some stiff supporting performances.

Very bleak and cruel.

FINAL VERDICT:

Witchfinder General is a brutal, haunting folk horror classic about the evil men do in God's name. Watch it for Vincent Price at his most chilling.

Be Careful, Spoilers Ahead

Plot Summary (Spoilers)

In 1645, during the English Civil War, Matthew Hopkins and his assistant John Stearne travel through East Anglia, torturing confessions out of suspected witches and charging magistrates for their work.

Richard Marshall, a young Roundhead soldier, visits his fiancée Sara in the village of Brandeston. Her uncle, the priest John Lowes, gives them permission to marry but warns that trouble is coming. On his way back to the army, Marshall unknowingly gives Hopkins directions to the village.

In Brandeston, Hopkins accuses Lowes of witchcraft and tortures him, sticking needles into his back. Sara offers herself to Hopkins to save her uncle. While Hopkins is away, Stearne rapes her. Hopkins then rejects Sara, and Lowes and two women are executed.

Marshall returns, discovers what has happened, and swears to kill both men. He "marries" Sara in a church and sends her to Lavenham. He fights Stearne, who escapes and warns Hopkins. Hopkins sets a trap in Lavenham and accuses Marshall and Sara of witchcraft.

In the castle dungeon, Marshall is forced to watch Sara being tortured. He breaks free, stamps on Stearne's face and attacks Hopkins with an axe. His soldier friends arrive, and one of them, Swallow, shoots the mutilated Hopkins dead. Marshall, driven mad, screams, "You took him from me!" while Sara screams endlessly.

Ending Explained

What happens to Hopkins? Marshall hacks at him with an axe. Trooper Swallow shoots him to end his suffering.

Why does Marshall scream "You took him from me"? He wanted to kill Hopkins himself. His revenge was taken from him, showing how violence has consumed him.

Why is Sara screaming? She has been driven to the edge of madness by everything she has suffered.

Is the ending a victory? No. Hopkins is dead, but Marshall and Sara are destroyed. Violence has no winners.

Was Matthew Hopkins real? Yes. He was a real witch hunter in 1640s England, although the film's story is fictional.

Hidden Meaning & Symbolism

Religious hypocrisy: Hopkins uses God to justify greed and cruelty.
Revenge: Marshall becomes as violent as the man he hunts.
Lawlessness: The civil war allows cruel men to thrive.
1960s violence: Many critics saw it as a comment on violence in its own time.

Scariest Moments

1

The Needles: Lowes is pricked with needles in search of the Devil's Mark.

2

The Drowning: Suspected witches are tested in the moat.

3

The Burning: A woman is lowered into a fire.

4

The Dungeon: Marshall attacks Hopkins with an axe.

Parents Guide / Trigger Warnings

Sexual Content

Severe

Sexual coercion and a rape.

Graphic Gore

Moderate

Torture and a bloody axe attack.

Substance Abuse

Mild

Drinking in taverns.

Nudity

Mild

Brief female nudity.

Jump Scares

None

No real jump scares.

Flashing Lights

None

No notable flashing lights.

Animal Death

None

No animal deaths.

Child Death / Peril

None

No children are in danger.

Suicide / Self Harm

None

No suicide or self-harm.

Trigger Warning Notes:

Contains torture, rape, executions by hanging and burning, and a brutal axe attack.

Trivia

It is based on Ronald Bassett's 1966 novel Witchfinder General.
In the US, AIP retitled it The Conqueror Worm to link it with its Edgar Allan Poe films.
It was made for just £83,000.
The climax was filmed at Orford Castle, and the moat scenes at Kentwell Hall in Long Melford.
It is often grouped with The Blood on Satan's Claw and The Wicker Man as a defining folk horror film.
Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne were real witch hunters in 1640s England.

FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

Was Matthew Hopkins a real person?

Yes. He was a real witch hunter in East Anglia in the 1640s.

What happens at the end of Witchfinder General?

Marshall attacks Hopkins with an axe, and his friend shoots Hopkins. Marshall and Sara are left screaming.

Why is it called The Conqueror Worm?

The US distributor gave it that title to link it with its series of Edgar Allan Poe films.

Is Witchfinder General a horror film?

Yes. It is a classic of folk horror, focused on human cruelty rather than the supernatural.

Is Witchfinder General violent?

Yes. It includes torture, executions and rape.

Who directed Witchfinder General?

Michael Reeves.

Is there any real witchcraft in the film?

No. All the accused are innocent.

Who plays Matthew Hopkins?

Vincent Price.

Where can I watch Witchfinder General?

It streams on Shudder in the UK and Australia, and on Amazon Prime Video in the US and Canada.

Movie Information

Original Title

Witchfinder General

Release Date

May 19, 1968

Runtime

86 min

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Status

Released

Director

Michael Reeves

Writer

Michael Reeves, Tom Baker

Main Cast

Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Hilary Dwyer, Rupert Davies, Robert Russell, Patrick Wymark, Nicky Henson

Production Company

Tigon British Film Productions

Distributor

American International Pictures

IMDb Page

Also Known As

The Conqueror Worm, Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General