SIMON: KING OF THE WITCHES(1971).
© Dark Sky Films

Mania Grade: C+
DVD: Simon: King of the Witches
Rating: R
Starring: Andrew Prine, Brenda Scott, George Paulsin, Norman Burton, Gerald York, Ultra Violet
Written By: Robert Phippeny
Directed By: Bruce Kessler
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Original Year of Release: Film(1971), DVD(2008)
Extras: Two never-before-seen featurettes featuring Andrew Prine and Bruce Kessler. Trailer.
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SIMON: KING OF THE WITCHES

Simon (Andrew Prine) emerges from a storm drain and, looking directly into the camera, addresses the audience with, “Hello, my name is Simon and I am a Warlock”. The opening moments of the film set a strange tone for the entire film Simon: King of the Witches. This is not the Craft (1996) nor is it Hocus Pocus (1993) this is an underground film that treats the subject of witchcraft and spells with a dark respect and understanding. Fitting, because the the writer of the film, Robert Phippeny, was a practicing Warlock.

Simon is homeless but he is not poor. Living between the worlds of the rich and poor, nature and technology, Simon makes his home in a storm drain. In the opening of the film Simon emerges during a heavy down pour and is picked up by the police department for vagrancy. In his holding cell he meets Turk (George Paulsin), a young man with connections. Back on the streets the next day Turk takes Simon to meet a wealthy aging hipster named Hercules (Gerald York). Simon agrees to perform sorcery at Hercules’ parties under two conditions. The first, that the effort behind the spell reflects his compensation and more importantly that the guests realize that each spell will bare a weight that one day must be reciprocated.

Simon has plans of his own and doing parlor tricks, delivering curses and love potions is only a means to get what he really wants. Simon takes his money and finds himself a proper place to live and begins to prepare for his greatest spell, a spell that will enable him to obtain the power that no mortal man has possessed in over a millennium. The problem for Simon is that all these people who have engrained themselves into his life want more favors and spells. Linda (Brenda Scott), Simon’s love interest and daughter of the District Attorney, gets Simon into even more trouble as recent drug raids put her into a position to reveal where all the local “hip” parties are. Hercules and friends want the cops out of their hair so they ask Simon to deliver a curse. Simon agrees to cast the curse and bares his warning again. In doing so he fails to realize that his bill will soon be collected as well.

The film has a low budget and a documentary type style. Both director Bruce Kessler and writer Robert Phippeny go through time consuming scenes that show the practicality and incantations of actual spells. In the beginning this is fascinating but as the film draws on it consumes the story.

Andrew Prine is what really holds the film together together. Simon is neither hero nor villain in this story. He is simply a man who has his own plans which keep getting thwarted by the greediness of others. Simon becomes like sage to Turk and many of their moments bring a lighter side to the film. It is just a shame that outside of Turk and Simon no one else in the film seems into their parts or the film that they are making.

Simon: King of the Witches may be one of the most unique films to come out of the seventies. It is a counter culture film who’s protagonist does not take either side or feel bound to any kind of laws or rules set by either culture. Simon has his own agenda outside of what anyone else wants or expects. It is only Simon’s blind faith that becomes his downfall. The film will not appeal to everyone. If you are tired of counter culture films that involve cars, motorcycles and rock ‘n’ roll soundtracks then Simon: King of the Witches will deliver a strange trip and an interesting look at a self centered anti-hero.