I heard about Devon Mikolas’ film House of the Witchdoctor last year, while attending Crypticon in Kansas City, spotting promotional material for it, meeting Allan Kayser and Bill Moseley, and becoming great friends with one of the film’s executive producers, Chazz Demoss. A full year had passed and I still had not seen the film. Crypticon came again, I got to meet another star of the film, Leslie Easterbrook, and chat it up with Chazz and Allan one more time. They held a special screening of House, but sadly I missed it. There was a buzz around the convention about it… and dammit, I had to see it.
When it got its official release date, I ordered it from Amazon and waited patiently for it to arrive. When it came, I was so eager to watch it I almost wanted to skip work, lock myself in my room, and pretend I was a kid staying up late for Monstervision.
This movie kind of takes you by storm; I was not expecting what I got at all. Allan Kayser is known for his frat boy role in Night of the Creeps or his fantastically silly role on Mama’s Family, but take what you know about him and throw it out the window because he kills it in this film with his portrayal of Cliff Rifton, who is sort of the worst of the worst — a rapist, murderer, drug-abusing satan-worshipper. I think it’s safe to say he got to have the most fun in this film showing a range in his character from predator to prey and it is too much fun to watch.
When Cliff is released from prison, he is far from rehabilitated and immediately seeks out his old partner in crime, Buzz, played maniacally by David Willis. Together, the two get right back into the swing of things, taking drugs, raping, and murdering. They happen to set their sights on a group of friends heading out to an isolated house for a weekend of fun.
This film is pure carnage, rough and violent like the video nasties of the 80’s with enough humor to keep you separated from the depravity. I thought this film was fantastic, it gives you what you want and maybe even a little more than you bargained for. We get Bill Moseley and Leslie Easterbrook bringing their A game, as well, trust me.
If you’re a fan of films like The Devil’s Rejects, I Spit on Your Grave, or House of the Devil, this one is for you! I personally give it 4 lines of coke out of 5.
