Witchcraft IX: Bitter Flesh

Witchcraft IX: Bitter Flesh (1997)

* (out of 4)

Detectives Lutz and Garner are investigating some strange murders, which seem to be influenced by Satan worshipers from Egypt (?). Meanwhile, the spirit of Will Spanner (David Byrnes) finds a hooker (Landon Hall) who has the ability to hear him and they team up for a good cause. WITCHCRAFT IX isn't going to be mistaken for the work of John Ford but then again it's not going to be mistaken for the work of Al Adamson so take that as you will. I'm really not sure why so many people kept renting these movies back in the day but I'm going to guess that it was 99% males just looking for some fast and cheap nudity while they drank beer with their buddies. Going through this series today I can't help but somewhat admire that the producers were ripping off Hollywood pictures more than a decade before The Asylum. This film here is basically PRETTY WOMAN meets GHOST, which in itself is pretty funny. The GHOST elements are oh-so-obvious but having the spirit team up with a hooker was just a good call. It's really too bad the film wasn't either better made or just played for laughs because this could have been something much better. Sadly, the entire thing is just downright boring, unerotic and quite confusing as well. There's so much dialogue that the characters are always talking about something new yet I must admit that I started tuning them out after a while. The plot never really makes much sense but then again it doesn't make much sense that this series was still going on at this point.

If the first Witchcraft turned you off, because it was repetitive, boring and plotless, then join the club. In fact every Witchcraft movie is like that, but (with the exception of the first) each title has lots'a hot chicks doin' it for the sake of entertainment. In my opinion the fifth installment of the series illustrated this point best, but when you want a close second place, think Witchcraft IX: Bitter Flesh.

I don't know why I actually like some of the WITCHCRAFT entries, but I do. Anyway, this is probably the 3rd best of the low budget(And I mean low.)direct-to-video series behind 1 and 5. This time Will Spanner(From 1-7.)comes back to Earth as a ghost after the aftermath of part 7(Part 8 had nothing to do with the rest.)to find his killer. He seeks the help of a prostitute who is sick of her occupation, and his girlfriend Kelly. Plus there is a ritualistic killer who just happens to notice Spanner's friends and stalks them. Good story, and o.k acting, except for one of the bad guys who rapes the prostitute, what a terrible actor. *** out of *****.

This is by far, in my opinion, the best Witchcraft movie. This one actually has a story! The others are soft-core porn thinly disguised as horror movies. I'm not saying that this one didn't have any sex scenes. It did. Alot of them to. But it still had more of a story line. There were only a couple of downsides to it. One of them was the guy who played the pimp. Jesus! I wanted to smack this guy around more then anything! His acting was that bad! Also, they didn't show Stephanie Beaton that much! But I think that was because this was her first Witchcraft appearance. Other than that, this is the best Witchcraft entry!!

It took one movie, one single movie then the franchise returned to it's old formula. For a second I saw hope, but hope is thoroughly lost now.

This ninth addition to the series see's the return of longtime lead Willy Spanner the warlock. Trouble is as per part sevens finale he's dead, and it'll take a hooker with a heart to help his ghost.

Also returning is the ridiculous levels of t&a which here is beyond gratuitous! Sex scenes are fine but when they take up quarter of the film it becomes an issue.

With no consistency with the previous film this is yet another mindless Witchcraft movie with a bad plot, ropey sfx and lots and lots of boobage.

The Good:

Nope

The Bad:

Back to making all the same mistakes

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Death causes immediate excessive hair growth

The creators should seriously consider a career shift to porn