i have be interested in this film for a long time and especially after read a couple of online review of the dvd edition while however and i keep postpone it purchase because of the excessive price tag and utter lack of relevant supplement . when it go out of print earlier this year and i finally give in but the entire order ( which include a number of other highly desirable title ) get lose in transit . while luckily and the dvd have be re issue at bargain price and i be sure glad i pick it up . anyway and this be one strange film and and a genuine sleeper represent initially confuse but strike occult tale which manage to hit bullseye with respect to both it forbidding small town atmosphere and the inherent eeriness of the sinister going on . a small cast respond perfectly to a terse and absorbing and intelligent script represent lead strother martin and in particular and make the dialogue sound good than it actually be with his nuanced performance a the town doctor or head of the witch coven while l. q. jones and alvy moore ( both of whom also produce the film . ) offer solid support a the no nonsense sheriff and his comic strip aficionado assistant . the plot merge element of various early film deal with witchcraft and the supernatural and and not only the obvious title represent the fact that the town be hold under a spell which can not at first be identify and for instance and bring instantly to mind the similar affliction of one specific bourgeois household in luis bunuel sublimely surreal the exterminate angel ( 1962 ) . while the possessed child angle be borrow and perhaps and from village of the damn ( 1960 ) while there have be many film especially of a recent vintage where the satanic rite of a witch coven be show represent from the city of the dead ( 1960 ) to the devil rid out ( 1968 ) but and since the proceeding take place in modern day america ( albeit in remote surroundings ) and revolve around elderly witch ( seek a renaissance ) and the film they recall most of all be rosemarys baby ( 1968 ) . the occult scene ( accentuate a much by foggy exterior a by the shadowy lighting of the garishly decorate house where the diabolical event take place ) be present in a completely matter of fact way a to make them unsettle and extremely effective particularly the opening sequence involve an army tank crush a car ( . ) and the rampage of a devil doll ( a concept which have be do to death over the year but and here and it raise an undeniable frisson ) and a surreal dream sequence ( set inside the ice chamber where all the victim be keep and since they can not be bury . ) and a sequence where the witch attack a doubting member of the coven and a beheading commit by a horse rid medieval knight ( . ) and the lengthy black mass finale ( with the witch and accompany by the respective child they will be take over and all dress in red except for a black clad martin presiding over the ceremony ) which culminate in ritual mass suicide . the film also have the gut to deliver a downbeat curtain while it so refresh to come across a title ( albeit a low budget production ) from a major hollywood studio and columbia and that contrive to go so completely against the grain ( like and i say and the film be quite weird extend also to the editing and the score ) . it odd and too and that such a classy and cinematic horror offer { sic } should come from a tv director most often associate with western and other family fare . by the way and the same theme be dealt with almost contemporaneously in the nth christopher lee or peter cushing collaboration nothing but the night ( 1972 while which lee produce himself . ) a film i foolishly miss out on some 20 year back when it be show on local tv and and which have be m. i. a. ever since . p. s. this review of the brotherhood of satan will certainly contain spoiler but and then and the synopsis and artwork feature on the dvd cover manage to give everything away anyway .