Coven of Evil

Alright, well I sat down to watch the 2018 movie "Coven of Evil" solely because it was listed as being a horror movie. Well, and also because the movie's cover was sort of alluring.

Granted, I hadn't even heard about this movie from writer and director Matthew J. Lawrence prior to getting to watch it in 2020. So I had no real expectations for the movie, for better or worse.

Well, it turns out that "Coven of Evil" was boring, so very, very boring. Yet, I managed to sit through the entire movie. Sure, I wasn't entertained, and I hardly cared about what happened on the screen, but I was hoping that the movie would pick up, change its pacing and direction and become better. That just never happened.

It should be said that the acting in the movie was actually adequate, taking into consideration the severe limitations imposed on the actors and actresses from a lack of proper script, plot and storyline.

Very precious little of any interest actually transpired on the screen from the moment the movie started to the end. It was off to an interesting start though, but then it just fell to pieces when the coven itself was brought into the picture.

I am rating "Coven of Evil" a mere two out of ten stars. This movie was hardly worth the time, money or effort. And it is definitely not a movie that I will be sitting down to watch for a second time.

From hearing some of these reviews, you'd think this was Birdemic or something. Ignore the ignorant and/or lying trolls, this is a pretty good movie. It's not exactly "Night of the Demon/Curse of the Demon", but it has some very good performances, a good plot that has a good few twists and turns, a reasonable pace and plenty of flesh (both being exposed and slashed).

Without giving too much away, it's a modern take on the sort of themes you'd find in films like "The Devil Rides Out", "The Virgin Witch" and "The Dunwich Horror", but not "modern" as in "feminist tosh". Modern as in shot on modern cameras with modern effects. Give it a chance.

This is another amateur film that would never see the inside of a movie theater. It's very cheaply made and has no story to follow.

Coven of Evil: Low budget English horror film, mostly filmed o the Yorkshire Moors. Opens in 1798 with a Occult sacrifice during a total eclipse of the Sun, a Gateway is opened. Flash forward to the present day and a young journalist who has written an article about a local (supposedly) Wiccan Coven is mocked by their High Priestess but is invited to observe an actual ritual. His journey to their house is itself a bit of a ritual as he has to seek directions from a Benny (Crossroads) type character. Things get complicated when he reaches the Coven's farmhouse as ends up participating in the Ritual and gets involved with Priestess's sister. An interesting story but the pace is a bit uneven and not all of the acting is great. The horror is there though with sacrifices, throats cut, cannibalism and the bleakness of the Moors. Especially the sacrifice site, a natural outcrop but it resembles Standing Stones. It could easily have lost 10 minutes from it's 100 minute running time. Written & Directed by Matthew Lawrence. On YouTube pay to view. 6/10.

Don't let the other negative comments fool you, this popped on my amazon and turned out to be decent flick. Yes, it is not a big budget high-fi Hollywood horror, however the movie has a decent story line, it does offer some creepy moments, in terms of editing, It could have been shorter at some places. The mystery element is presented well, it kinda reminded me of the wicker man. The acting and special effects are OK. Overall a decent mystery thriller that might be too much for some people.