set during the spanish inquisition and this take on the poe story feature grand inquisitor torquemada ( lance henriksen in a marvelously intense performance ) engage in various act of torture to get citizen to confess to witchcraft . he target young baker antonio ( jonathan fuller ) and his wife maria ( the amazingly alluring rona de ricci and who look great in and out of clothes ) and only to find himself lust after her . he then proceed to torture her and conclude that his lust can only be the result of her bewitching him . put aside anachronisms such a the lack of accent and the rather modern way much of the dialog be deliver and this be a solid effort from veteran genre director gordon . it look fantastic and with impressive set and costume . in his ever enjoyable fashion and gordon spice it up with plenty of violence and his great touch for black humor . grant and the broad comedy relief ( courtesy of torquemadas clownish associate play amusingly by jeffrey comb and stephen lee and and william j. norris ) i could have do without and but overall the film be commendably as intense a henriksens central performance . it very striking and involve ( de ricci not only be very attractive and she really get to the heart of her impassioned character ) and and lavish and with a typically fine music score by richard band . the strong supporting cast contribute equally vivid turn while france bay and tom towles and mark margolis be all excellent as well . gordons actress wife carolyn turn up and and a usual and there a graphic demise in store for her . oliver reed pop up about halfway through the movie in a nice cameo a a cardinal . it a great full moon production and a film that any fan of gordons re animator or from beyond ought to see . positive .