The Bloody Judge(1970)Movie Review

Trailer here.

The Bloody Judge is a 1970 horror movie directed by Jesus Franco and starring Christopher Lee, Maria Schell, Leo Genn and Maria Rohm.

The movie begins in England in the seventeenth century. Judge Jeffries(Lee) is a tough judge. He is called the Bloody Judge. Awful things are happening at this time. He has his men kill people and torture women. A woman is being arrested for being a witch.Her name is Alicia(Margaret Lee). She is accused of witchcraft. She is brought before Jeffries.He states that she will be examined thoroughly. She is tortured. Her sister is called Mary(Rohm) and she visits the judge seeking leniency. It is a waste as her sister is burned at the stake.

Mary is angry and she goes to see a local woman,Mother Rosa(Schell), who seems to be a witch of some sort. Jeffries is suspicious of a man called Barnaby(Peter Martell), who he thinks is plotting against the King. A man called Harry is friends with Barnaby. He is also with Mary. He wants to marry her.He wants Barnaby to help him. His father warns him about Jeffries. Harry doesn't listen. He discovers that Mary has been taken to Jeffries. Mary is taken prisoner by a creepy guy called Satchel, who works for Jeffries. He tries to rape her. She tries to escape but he catches her. She manages to push his face into the fire. Harry arrives to save her.

Harry and his pal Barnaby end up fighting the judges men. Barnaby gets hurt. Harry brings him to his hideout while he goes for help. He leaves Mary with Barnaby. Satchel demands money from Harry's father in exchange for his silence. He also wants Mary. Harry arrives back to the hideout and finds Barnaby hanged and Mary gone. Satchel brings a group of women to Jeffries. Mother Rosa gets a visit from Harry. He tells her about Satchel and the women he has taken. She warns him about Jeffries. Harry and some guys are going to rescue them.

The rebels break into Jeffries castle and try to save the girls. Jeffries finds out and declares Harry an outlaw. He hauls in Mother Rosa and interrogates her. Harry and Mary get caught. There are executions aplenty. Harry's father visits Jeffries and seeks a pardon for his son. The King has written a letter to Jeffries seeking clemency but Jeffries ignores it. Mary finds herself allowed out of prison. A maid gives her a dagger to take with her as she is going to see Jeffries. He offers to save Harry's life in exchange for herself. He is going to exile Harry. Mary tries to kill him but it fails and she is taken away. Harry and his pals break out of their prison and free all the prisoners too. They tie Satchel up and he gets killed. Harry's father meets him outside and says that he is free. The King has been defeated. Jeffries won't leave his castle. Harry's father has a warrant for him. Jeffries is arrested for his crimes. Mary is rescued and Jeffries is thrown into prison where he dies.

This film was entertaining. The cast were good of course. It kind of reminded me of Witchfinder General in some ways. It was a little slow in parts but it is certainly worth watching.  Christopher Lee is always great so I am giving it a 6/10.