Witchouse 3: Demon Fire

OK: I haven't seen 1 or 2, so diving straight in with Witchouse 3 maybe isn't the best approach.

The downside:

The plot doesn't make a lot of sense - it isn't REALLY horror, or suspense

* Brinke Stevens has nothing to do apart from trying to look menacing * Debbie Rochon's character is far too "guarded", you don't really get under her skin and find out what she's about until very late in the film, making most of her appearance seem a bit wooden * Tanya Dempsey's character is not well defined, so again the acting seems lacklustre * Paul Darrigo's character is also poorly defined

So as such, I honestly can't recommend the film at all, except that I feel honour bound to say that Tina Krause demonstrates moments of genuinely good acting abilities, (given the character she has to portray), and what she really lacks most is some decent direction.

(No, I'm not a long standing fan of Krause, in fact I'd never heard of her before watching this film).

I'd honestly like to see her work on a major budget horror film, with someone like Stephen King, to see the extent of her acting ability.

You probably won't suffer by avoiding this film, but watch out for Ms Krause in case she makes the move into big league films!

Three attractive drunken girlfriends perform a magical ritual and inadvertently summon Lilith, a female witch played by scream queen Brinke Stevens. A Charles Band Full Moon production on the Film 2000 video label is not usually a good omen, so I certainly didn't have high hopes for Demon Fire. The film obviously is low budget, the plot flimsy and the acting is on the wooden side. However it wasn't actually too bad. Good use is made of it's Californian coastal location, the film has a modest running time so it doesn't drag and although there is very little in the way of gore we do have a gratuitous topless shower scene. Ignore these ridiculous 8+/10 scores, 4/10 from me.

Two girlfriends are interested in witchcraft, so one night after their third girlfriend shows up with a bruised eye courtesy of her boyfriend, they hold a mock satanic ritual. Something goes wrong and they wind up conjuring up a 300 year dead witch named Lillith (played by scream queen Brinke Stevens). I've not seen the previous two Witchcraft films so I can't vouche if this one is a step-up or a let down (I really hope its the latter and not the former) compared to those, but I can still judge the film on it's own merits. Nothing really happens until the last half hour or so and when it does it relies on a ridiculous plot twist that took me out of the movie. It DID make me want to see some of the better films that Tina has been in, but not much else.

Eye Candy: Tina Krause gets topless in a shower scene

My Grade: D+

Let me start by saying I am a huge J.R. Bookwalter fan! I have long admired His filmmaking skills. He has, in my opinion, always excelled over the other B movie directors he is often compared to. Proving from OZONE on, He could hold his own with the A movie directors. And with WITCHHOUSE: BLOOD COVEN, I thought he was well on his way to doing so.

That being said, I wish to say I am extremely disappointed with WITCHHOUSE: DEMON FIRE. This movie is a complete step down from what I would expect as a follow-up to his first 35mm film. I would be lying if I didn't say a lot of it had to with the absence of Ariauna Albright.

As much as I admired J.R.'s directing skills, his actors always left a lot to be desired. That was until POLYMORPH. All the acting was good, especially Ariauna. Not only is she easy on the eyes...she can really act! So why is not reprising her role as "Lillith"? I can't say I blame her. "Lillith" was reduced to a cameo. Why would she come back? What I don't understand is, J.R. has a co-writing credit. Why would he write out the villain? What is a Horror movie without a villain? Not to mention I think Ariauna is the best actress he has worked with. It just doesn't make good business sense.

Instead he has chosen to fill his movie with a bunch of "Scream Queens." Could J.R. Bookwalter really be selling out? The one director who has always made movies, not pathetic excuses to show half-naked women (who can't act) sell their goods? If this is so, what future does the Indie world have? Debbie Rachon and whoever the other two actresses are, Are not even sufficient eye candy let alone actresses. I thought J.R. was the one director who was adding substance to the low budget genre.

I can only hope this is a marketing ploy of Full Moon. (T&A sells) and is not J.R.'s decision. Either way, I hope J.R. does not continue to make exploitation films, and goes back to putting actors in his movies.

One final note: I almost hate to mention this (since I love the movie BLOODLETTING) I would suggest Matt Walsh stick to directing instead of writing. I have also noticed a substantial increase in J.R.'s scripts (which I did not make the connection, until this last movie) when someone else writes them. Please come to your senses J.R., do not betray your fans, Talent will always prevail...it just takes longer to prove. Don't sell out. Other aspiring directors look up to you. Please don't resort to sticking nude women in your movies just to make a buck. You are better than this.

No pun intended - actually this may be the third one, but it has even less in common with the original than the first sequel (or second movie). That being said, they all have more or less only the title connecting them to each other.

I like the actors in this, they really do their best with as little story as they are getting. Quite cliche, quite predictable .. and completely insane. But it is what it, take it or leave it.