When twins come to stay with their uncle, Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing), the hard and fanatical leader of a group aimed at stamping out evil in the form of witches in the area, a group with reckless disregard for the facts of particular cases, one of the pair is drawn to the local noble, Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas), whose willingness to stand up to Weil derives not solely from his status. Though Weil and his comrades themselves work evil in an uncomprehending attempt to do good, there is in fact a Satanic threat as well. Can Weil find redemption in battling the minions of the Devil? Cushing is unsympathetic in this role but nonetheless provides his usual professional performance, but overall the movie is a weaker Hammer effort.

  Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 117 for 2021.