SECRET RITES / LEGEND OF THE WITCHES - BLU-RAY

Legend of the Witches & Secret Rites (DVD + Blu-ray)

Legend of the Witches - A film by Malcolm Leigh.
X-rated upon its original release Legend of the Witches (1970) is a documentary which looks in detail at previously hidden magic rites and rituals. Sharing the secrets of initiation into a coven, divination through animal sacrifice, ritual scrying, the casting of a 'death spell', and the chilling intimacy of a Black Mass. It also explores Britain's hidden pagan heritage and its continued influence on our lives today.

Secret Rites - A film by Derek Ford
Part Mondo movie, part countercultural artefact Secret Rites (1971) this strange mid-length 'documentary' by exploitation director Derek Ford lifts the lid on witchcraft in 1970s Notting Hill. Mystery band The Spindle provide the groovy, psychedelic sounds while tentative occult enthusiast Penny and a serious-sounding narrator introduce the viewer to three ritual acts

Special features

• Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
• Newly recorded audio commentary on Secret Rites by BFI Flipside founders Vic Pratt and William Fowler
• The Witch's Fiddle (1924, 7 mins): a silent film version of the eerie folk tale
• Out of Step: Witchcraft (1957, 14 mins): investigative journalist Dan Farson interviews the 'father of Wicca' Gerald Gardner in this rare TV documentary
• Judgement of Albion (1968, 26 mins): bold, Blakeeian imagery populates this ode to resistance by the writer of Blood on Satan's Claw
• Getting It Straight in Notting Hill Gate (1970, 25 mins): spaced-out sitars, Blue Beat 45s and the prog-rock grooves of Quintessence soundtrack this up-close flashback to Notting Hill Gate in 1970
• Image gallery: rare memorabilia and newspaper cutings relating to the films, salvaged from the spooky '70s
• Newly commissioned sleeve artwork by renowned illustrator Graham Humphreys

UK | 1970 + 1971 | black and white, colour | 85 minutes + 47 minutes | English language, with optional English hard-of-hearing subtitles | original aspect ratio 1.33:1 | cert 18 (Contains sexualised nudity and references to torture) | BD50: 1080p, 24fps, LPCM 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit), region B | DVD9: PAL, 25fps, Dolby Digital mono audio (192kbps), region 2