DVD Release
Simon Sinistrari is a warlock determined to become a god but first he must make a little scratch, cast a few love spells, throw a few curses and perform the greatest working of his lifetime. Is Simon really what he claims to be or is he nothing more than a sewer dwelling loner with grand ideas and no possible hope of attaining them? The city, police and all those connected to him are about to discovery the very answer to this question but are they prepared for the truth of Simon, King of the Witches?
Lemme start off by saying that I generally enjoy everything and anything starring television and film actor Andrew Prine. Whether it’s “V,” Barn of the Dead or Eliminators, Prine is just a cut above many of the actors we see today that go back and forth between the big and small screen. Prine’s work in Simon, King of the Witches is no exception. He’s such a versatile, serious actor with a truly distinct style of acting. To say the man and his work are criminally underrated by genre fans would be an understatement.
While Simon, King of the Witches can’t quite be labeled as horror, it does feature horrific elements genre fans are sure to appreciate including human sacrifice and a sweet Coven orgy led by Warhol collaborator Ultra Violet. Instead of being all about violence and black magic, the film really focuses on Simon, the man, and his determination to “get it right” this lifetime around in order to reach the ultimate plateau of his existence. Unfortunately his path is constantly blocked by lusts of the flesh, unbelievers and local law enforcement.
Great film, very interesting stuff. Prine doesn’t just play Simon, he becomes him. He infuses Simon with the desperation of a man with nothing and the ambition of a man on the edge of the unimaginable. Without him it’s doubtful this film would have achieved even a fraction of the attention it’s receiving today.
Simon, King of the Witches was a pretty cool film and not just because it reminded me of those wonderful old made-for-TV horror films or because Andrew Prine starred in it. Nope, I enjoyed this because it was interesting and, for me, that equals entertainment. By the time the film’s final credits rolled I wanted to know more about Simon Sinistrari; his past life, current life, Master and how he got into magic. If this weren’t going on 40 years old I’d say bring on the sequel. This probably won’t appeal to fans of fast-paced, machine gun editing, multi-million dollar CG or ultra gore. It’s quiet, dated and interesting as hell.
