By: Mordicai

 

I’m a sucker for schlockumentaries - I’ll watch anything, but this film pushed even my undiscerning palette to its limits. English language version of Angeli bianchi, Angeli Neri, is just another one of the endless deluge of ‘Mondo’ movies that were belched out of Italy following the success of Mondo Cane in 1962. At this time, the genre was basically on its last legs, having exploited just about every topic imaginable. The obvious nadir of the Mondo film was 1971’s Mondo Supermarket, although Witchcraft ’70 gives it a run for its Lira.

 

This film assaults its apparently credulous audience with a tone of admonishment that rivals a junior high STD film. Through its depiction of rituals ranging from Brazilian Macumba to backwoods Louisiana voodoo and finally Anton LeVey’s trademark brand of corporate Satanism, it cautions all God-faring Christian folk that the youth of America are teetering on the brink of an epidemic of naked orgies and animal mutilations. Credible testimony from Officer David Este of Capitola, California exposes the growing threat that the Hippies (or Hips) will soon corrupt your children. Drugs, of course, lead to harder stuff – like human sacrifice.

 

These crazy kids today.

 

Now, I am no pagan (though I have run naked through the woods covered in animal blood), but I believe there might be quite a difference between that line of belief and full-blown Satanism. The film maintains that even tribal Indonesian rituals exist to service Lucifer. The Italian producers take a staunchly Christian position, and I understand it was a less-tolerant era, but it is obvious that the narration doesn’t ever fully describe what we are viewing.

 

To a card-carrying pagan, or anyone with more than a passing knowledge of Paganism, this film is probably along the lines of Life of Brian in its accurate depiction of that faith. I have the feeling that most of the scenes were staged. At one point, the producers even acknowledge that they “bought” 8mm film of some ceremonies; as to the goings-on, I’m sure the producers were wholly ignorant. That didn’t stop them from concocting a bunch of hooey to further their inflammatory propaganda.

 

The atmosphere is rather creepy at times, and a few scenes, specifically a Voodoo rite, were captured using a hidden camera (which doesn’t explain how several of those being secretly photographed look right into the lens.) Some of the reluctant Black Mass enactors have their face crudely scratched off the negative, producing an eerie effect. And yes, we are shown few satanic services, including a 15 minute Vegas-style LeVey “pay the lady on your way out” union that looks like your parent’s lame Halloween party. The film culminates in an unnatural group of Hippies naked in the woods drinking dog’s blood, or some such nonsense (conveniently down the road from the former Manson family residence.) Remember, these reefer-smoking, sandalwood-reeking youths are the same unholy hooligans that are going to seduce your children into worshiping the Devil.

 

Too bad Scientology won in the end.

 

The narrator, Edmund Purdom is barely acceptable. My biggest complaint lies in the fact that the film is dull and insulting to the intelligence. It is not impartial in any way, and any genuine interest in the scenes is ruined by the obvious inaccuracies and preachy tone. The director, Luigi Scattini delivers this documentary like Chef Boyardee might serve a five course meal. I am still stricken with disbelief that a movie with so much blatant nudity can hold my interest so little. I cannot recommend this, even for a laugh. However, if you have no other access to female nudity, than you may very well enjoy Witchcraft ’70… especially if you’re into hairy, elderly ladies.

 

 

Rating: 1.5/5 Voodoo Dolls

 

 

 

 

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