The Witches (1966)

Also known as The Devils Own, the title of the Norah Lofts novel on which it was based, The Witches has the distinction of being the last theatrically released film of its star, Joan Fontaine (though Fontaine would continue to work in television and on the stage into the 1990's). This is one of those idealic small towns hides a terrible secret movies, in this case the small English village where Fontaine's Gwen Mayfield has relocated to take a teaching position after a not adequately explained confrontation with witchcraft at a missionary school in Africa, is it self full of Witches, or more accurately the acolytes of a Witch, who is the sister of the timed head of the local school. The evil Stephanie Bax (Kay Walsh) is set on sacrificing a very well developed "14 year old" (Ingrid Boulting), and is interested in getting Ms. Mayfield's aid in this if she can. There is nothing here that hasn't been done better (The Wicker Man) or funnier (Hot Fuzz) later on, but I still liked it, Fontaine managed to carry to whole the picture, though Kay Walsh is quite good as the elderly writer/witch. **1/2..