Hollingsworth Morse (1910–1988)

This is a fairly tame and cheesy slice of Filipino-based horror starring Magum P.I. Tom Selleck as James Robertson an art-buyer, who purchases a painting of three witches being burned at the stake. One of the witches looks like a dead-ringer for his wife Chris (Barra Grant) and before too long the picture of the witch in the picture is fading, while simultaneously Chris is being possessed by the spirit of the long-departed witch. Chris and two other reincarnated witches (and their demon dog) set about hunting down and killing the descendant of the man who sentenced them to die at the stake. Unfortunately for Robertson he may be that very descendant. The film is a simplistic tale, which is directed by Hollingsworth Morse with a cheap, made-for-TV sensibility. The story moves from scene-to-scene with little logic and a perfunctory uninspired air, with no attempt to build any atmosphere or horror. Tom Selleck is efficient in his first starring role, while Barra Grant looks confused and surprised throughout. Vic Diaz puts in a small turn sporting the weirdest hairstyle I’ve seen for a long time. Although there is little to recommend in the film, it is always bright and breezy and there is the occasional dash of gratuitous nudity thrown into the mix, which alongside the always high cheese factor, makes for some reasonable fun and the plenty of unintended laughs.… (mehr)