Kevin S. Tenney had a string of successful genre films in the ’80s and ’90s. His first feature, Witchboard (1986), was a huge success and garnered a reputation due to its star, Tawny Kitaen, and her sex symbol status. He followed that up with 1988’s Night of the Demons which would essentially be Tenney’s masterpiece and calling card. He returned the following year with Witchtrap, a film that wasn’t nearly as successful as the previous two but has grown to have quite a cult following.
It confused some audiences since many thought it was a sequel to Witchboard. If you remember, on the original box art, it even included a notice which read: “This Motion Picture is not a sequel to Witchboard.” Even I remember thinking it was a sequel, and maybe unofficially, it was. Returning to Blu-ray, courtesy of the MVD Rewind Collection, it continues to amass a legion of fans the world over, and while I had my own issues with it, I can see why.
The Lauder house has been on the market for years, but no one seems to be able to last more than a few days there due to the supernatural happenings it’s known for. The home has been renovated and is ready to open as a bed and breakfast. However, the death of a famed magician has put those plans on hold until a group of paranormal investigators come in and ride the home of the evil that resides within. It’s easier said than done since the spirit is very real and far more powerful than any of them could imagine.
Kevin Tenney is an underrated genre filmmaker who made some incredibly memorable and beloved pictures that still connect with audiences today. He came from a time period when practical effects ruled the screens, and video stores were the lifeblood of fans around the world. Witchtrap is a product of its time and delivers all the tropes one would expect from an ’80s horror film. There’s gore, gratuitous nudity, and passable acting to classify this as essential viewing. Linnea Quigley, James Quinn, Kathleen Bailey, and the rest of the cast do their best, and you can’t ask for more. The movie drags a bit during the first act but eventually delivers. Witchtrap suffered for many years due to negative reviews, but this (and previous) release opens it up to a whole new audience who will appreciate it for what it is.
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Witchtrap is one of those titles to have been previously released through Vinegar Syndrome, and now MVD gives their release some special attention as well. They share the same transfer, audio commentary, and video interviews. The Vinegar Syndrome release has some exclusive audio interviews and a short film by Kevin Tenney. The MVD release exclusively has the Magnum Entertainment VHS version, which is a cool idea. They’ve done it before on other releases but always a welcome supplement. Despite my pacing issues, I still enjoy the film quite a bit, and both versions offer up extras worth owning, so double-dipping this title if you’re a fan is money well spent.
Check out the trailer here!
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