Chilling Classics #5/50 - Witches Mountain (1972)

director: Raul Artigot
cast: Cihangir Gaffari, Patty Shepard

Synopsis: A young couple traveling through the Pyrenees stays overnight at an ancient Spanish castle, only to discover that it is the headquarters for a coven of witches.

Whoah! Beware, viewers, beware! This one wins so far for most unwatchable film in the collection, and you know that is saying something. Apparently this particular coven of witches is headed up by the Mother of Boredom, and their spellcasting ability is limited to putting an audience to sleep. Throw into the mix a couple most unwelcome love songs and a seemingly endless string of long car rides.

I can't believe the original film is this poorly edited, because every time something happens that involves actually seeing the witches, it is so badly cut that you cannot tell what is going on. Seems as though there may have originally been a sprinkling of violence and nudity, but these elements have been trimmed so harshly that you can only ponder what was intended. The witches don't do anything, they just appear and stand around a glare at you, or sometimes dance around in a slightly pagan way.

Getting to the end of this film is like hiking through quicksand after downing a bottle of Nyquil. I think this is the first time I've actually fallen asleep while FAST-FORWARDING through a movie.