The Sorcerers

For other films with similar name, see Sorcerer.
The Sorcerers
Directed by Michael Reeves
Produced by Patrick Curtis
Tony Tenser
Written by John Burke
Michael Reeves
Tom Baker
Starring Boris Karloff
Ian Ogilvy
Elizabeth Ercy
Victor Henry
Catherine Lacey
Susan George
Music by Paul Ferris
Cinematography Stanley A. Long
Distributed by Tigon British Film Productions
Release dates
  • 1967 (1967)
Running time
 82 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Budget £50,000[1]

The Sorcerers is a 1967 British science fiction/horror film directed by Michael Reeves, starring Boris Karloff, Catherine Lacey, Ian Ogilvy, and Susan George.[2] The original story and screenplay was conceived and written by John Burke. Reeves and his childhood friend Tom Baker re-wrote sections of the screenplay, including the ending at Karloff's insistence, wanting his character to appear more sympathetic.[3] Burke was then removed from the main screenwriting credit and was relegated to an 'idea by'.

Plot

Dr. Marcus Monserrat (Boris Karloff) is an elderly practitioner of medical hypnosis. He lives with his wife Estelle Monserrat (Catherine Lacey). He has invented a device which would allow him to control and feel other person's experience using the power of hypnosis. They decide to use any youngster as their test subject. Dr. Marcus Monserrat selects and invites Mike Roscoe (Ian Ogilvy) to his house, with an offer of a 'new experience'. Dr. Marcus Monserrat uses the device on Mike Roscoe and the procedure is successful. They can feel everything Mike feels and can also control Mike.

After the procedure, they decide to send Mike away to conduct the experiment over distance. Mike returns to the club where his girl friend, Nicole (Elizabeth Ercy) is waiting for him. Mike takes Nicole to his apartment and they swim in the pool. Marcus and Estelle are able to experience everything Mike feels. While Marcus wants to publish his work, Estelle wants to make up for lost time and wants to experience new things. She convinces a reluctant Marcus continue on with their arrangement with Mike.

Next day Estelle sees a fur jacket in a store and she convinces Marcus to use Mike to steal the jacket. Marcus reluctantly agrees on the condition that they will not do it again. While Mike is at Nicole's apartment Estelle and Marcus make Mike steal the jacket. Mike leaves without informing Nicole, while Mike is stealing the jacket Nicole decides to go a night club with Alan (Victor Henry). Mike successfully steals the jacket despite a cop getting involved.

Estelle realizes that they could do anything they want without any consequences. Estelle wants to experience the thrill of fast riding. So Estelle and Marcus make Mike burrow Alan's bike and ride very fast with Nicole on the pillion seat. When Alan confronts Mike, Estelle makes Mike assault Alan and Alan's boss, Ron(Alf Joint). Estelle enjoys the experience but Marcus is shocked. He tries to prevent the fight but Estelle's mind turns out to be stronger. When Marcus confronts Estelle, Estelle assaults Marcus and destroys the experimental device. There by preventing Marcus from reversing the experiment.

Mike blanks out every time Estelle and Marcus control him, confused Mike visits his friend Audrey (Susan George), but Estelle make Mike kill Audrey. Mike goes to the night club and hooks up with a pop-singer Laura (Sally Sheridan). Alan and Nicole see Mike taking Laura out of the night club. Mike takes a taxi to a deserted street and after leaving the taxi orders Laura to sing and when she fails to follow his instruction, he kills her too.

Next day Alan meets up with Nicole, he believes Mike might have killed the girls. Alan wants to inform the Police but Nicole convinces him to talk to Mike first. Police track Mike with help of the taxi driver. Alan and Nicole confront Mike about Laura but Mike does not remember anything. Under influence of Estelle, Mike attacks Alan again and escapes in a car. Police investigators track Mike down and in the ensuing chase, Mike meets with an accident after Marcus interferes with Estelle. Mike dies in the accident and his car catches fire. Back at the apartment Estelle and Marcus are dead due to burn injuries.

Cast

Reception

The reviews for the film were positive. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes has not certified the film yet, but as of 23 February 2016, the audience score stands at 65%.[4] At Internet Movie Database, the film received an average score of 6.4 out of 10.[5]

For her role Catherine Lacey won a 'Silver Asteroid' award as Best Actress at the Trieste Science Fiction Film Festival in 1968.[6]

The Sorcerers: The Original Screenplay

After John Burke’s death in 2011, his estate sent two boxes of effects to John’s friend, editor Johnny Mains. Looking through the material he discovered that it contained the original screenplay which was markedly different from the finished film. Burke had already told Mains about Michael Reeves denying him a screenwriting credit, but included in the boxes were several lawyers letters pertaining to the fact that this was the case. Mains then approached PS Publishing who agreed to publish the original screenplay, treatment, letters and other ephemera. The finished book, with an introduction by Matthew Sweet and additional material from Kim Newman, Benjamin Halligan and Tony Earnshaw, was published in October 2013.

References

  1. ↑ John Hamilton, Beasts in the Cellar: The Exploitation Film Career of Tony Tenser, Fab Press, 2005 p 94
  2. ↑ "The Sorcerers | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  3. ↑ Stephen Jacobs, Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster, Tomohawk Press 2011 p 482-484
  4. ↑ "The Sorcerers". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Jonathan Rigby, 'British Horror Classics – The Sorcerers', Hammer Horror no 4, June 1995
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