The Coven

This is one of the better B movies that Ive rented in a while. I didn't expect much, but my friend and I really got into it. The production is decent and most of the movie is filmed on a real college campus.

This girl named Autumn goes off to college and discovers that there is something different about her...she is a witch. She meets this cute guy, but he has a crucifix around his neck. It turns out that he is one of the Campus Christians, and Autumn must find a way to break the news about her secret. The filmakers use religion as a theme throughout the movie. Autumn is able to meet other witches at school and together they decide to form a coven. Vallie, the wickedest witch, tries to mis-use the powers of the coven. Autumn is visited by the spirit of her dead grandmother, verbally attacked by a priest, and ultimately has to save her boyfriend, and the world! This movie is ambitious and low-budget, but it had me going from start to finish.

I rented this movie because I really like movies about witches, but this movie was ultimate drivel. The acting was horrible, the production was terrible, and the story was as much of a rip off of "The Craft" as they could make it. There is a girl with a scar that gets healed and there is one shot with the four main characters walking down the road that was taken directly from "The Craft". There was gratuitous nudity, bashing of Christians and the bloopers played at the end of the video were profane and unpleasant. A complete waste of time, resources and money. Rent "The Craft", "Little Witches","Bell, Book and Candle" or "Practical Magic" if you want to see a better witch movie.

Well, to just go off and say this is a total rip-off of the film The Craft, would be poor judgement on my part. To say that The Coven "borrowed" a few elements from that film would be accurate.

This shot on video, witchcraft based movie is flawed! Not so much in weak script, decent enough cinematography, okay directing ( I mean from the same guy that made Camp Blood 1 & 2), but instead of trying to put a good spin on witchcraft, it instead makes it look even worse. Well, atleast to the untrained eye. I am not going to get into the elements and philosophies of Wicca, but explore the film instead.

The Burning at the stake scene was refreshing to see in a B-movie. It brought back the old taboo people have of witchcraft, and actually chartered new territory in these types of movies. However, the character of Vallie in no way can compare to Fariuza Balk as Nancy in the The Craft.

Given its low budget, the film still maintains a constant flow. It doesn't let itself get cluttered with cliche after cliche. It really doesn't try to break new ground, and does at certain points!

Overall a decent rental, and worth a watch or two. Don't expect oscar worthy...anything, but much better than some other films out there, attempting to explore the same topic.

5.5 out of 10