I've seen all of director Tony Marsiglia's films/videos as listed in IMDb, and WITCHES is the least known, as indicated by its zero response on the website. Supernatural/erotic tale of modern day witches using a beauty salon as a front probably needed some star names (even B-stars like Misty Mundae who Marsiglia has often cast) to get one's attention -perhaps Queen Latifah?
Well-photographed (on video) the feature's strong suit is atmosphere, in particular extended use of mirrors which always present suggestive layers of meaning, and are quite appropriate to the story. After a ritual killing/blood sacrifice (with lots of fake blood and full-frontal nudity), story picks up 30 years later at the title salon, where lesbian women work and are really witches.
They're searching for just the right sacrificial victim with a specified birth date, to give them another 30 years lease on life Janet (played by Elizabeth Grace) is their target and film's twist is fairly easy to predict early on (I have to suppress the plot issues here that would give it away and spoil the fun).
Other key role is Leon (played by J.C. Clifford), Janet's boy friend, who is erroneously credited on screen with the character name Jerry. Ellina Bellbrook is the sexy witch Bridget with beauty marks while the head witch is Tanith (Brigitte Eves), Cast has next to no other credits listed in IMDb, though star Grace later crewed on a Misty Mundae shoot for Marsiglia.
Much of the running time is devoted to sensual, slow-paced lesbian sex scenes, benefiting from the above-mentioned use of mirrors, and a genre which Marsiglia has much experience directing. Unfortunately, femme cast is not particularly attractive, a major drawback. Whoever said casting is 90% of filmmaking success was on to something.
Film's funniest moment comes when Leon wakes up from a castration nightmare (the lesbians going at him with shears), only to look down at his * and feeling mighty relieved. Whether scripted or improvised, Leon speaks all his thoughts for the viewer, a device I didn't like.
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