Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: September 9, 1997
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303179835
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,567 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Witchcraft first cast its dark spell in America over Salem, Massachusetts, 300 years ago, igniting hysteria, sensational trials and executions. In 19th century New Orleans a notorious voodoo queen presided over bloody rituals and bestial orgies. In 1928 Pennsylvania, three men murdered an alleged witchdoctor to break a hex. In this searching program, these and other chilling events from America's supernatural past are examined. Meet descendants of some of the Salem "witches," and modern-day women who claim to be practitioners of witchcraft who insist that their art is a force for both good and evil. And see incredible live footage of a recent Wiccan ceremony haunting evidence of the ongoing power of WITCHCRAFT IN AMERICA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been so much better, February 4, 2000

By 

A. Lagousakos (Everywhere) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Mysteries: Witchcraft in America [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Although the satanist in the video clearly says that he is not a wiccan/witch, just the presence of a satanist in the video gives the impression that witchcraft involves devils and/or demons (it does not). Excluding the satanist part, the video was just O.K. It didn't really give much useful information and anyone looking to buy this video to learn about modern witchcraft or wicca, in my opinion, will be disappointed.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Witchcraft-past & present. Had conflicting reactions, March 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ancient Mysteries: Witchcraft in America [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Thank the Goddess the producers of this video found Gerry O'Sullivan, Professor of Religious Studies at University of Pennsylvania. This dear man gave much non-biased information on Witchcraft and Wicca, accurately calling The Burning Times and Witchhunts a Women's Holocaust because those tortured and murdered in the name of Christianity were innocent mothers, daughters, herbalists, midwives, landowners and basically, independent & assertive women, not all of whom were even pagan. The video traces the historical persecutions of so-called witches and the reasons why they were labeled witches and therefore something evil. Although a small amount of information on the video is incorrect or slightly skewed, it is still something I wish every school would show to teach young children and adults alike that Witchcraft/Wicca is, in fact, a true religion and has nothing but peace, love and good will to it. I was VERY uncomfortable with the producers' grouping of Wicca with Satanism (which IS NOT even remotely related to Witchcraft - and a Satanist priest even says so very clearly on the video!) and Voodoo. I think their point was to say that these religions survived by various means of adaptation. I was also embarassed to hear Archdruid Isaac Bonewits call Satanists "jerks and psychopaths." Let us not digress, Isaac. Clips of a Wiccan ritual are also shown - intelligent, normal people; children present; very peaceful. The theme "Dispelling Witches" does not apply. I had conflicting reactions after watching this. It doesn't dispell as well as it could have, and doesn't seem like they put very much time and energy into researching it adaquately enough. But it doesn't go Hollywood with Witchcraft either. I think a better theme title would have been: "A BRIEF Look at Witchcraft: Past and Present."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It was an ok VHS..but,, May 13, 2003

By 

Larry M. Smith (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ancient Mysteries: Witchcraft in America [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Not really much was there to be honest. This was something to teach high schoolers with. It really doesnt dawn on "withcraft" on a whole, because it really doesnt talk about certain kind of traditions or go into into the history such as Gardner and other well know wiccan authors to explain what witchcraft is.
Anyways, it does tell about the Salem trials however i didnt think it went deeper within the history. Also, it was too much into voodoo, eventhough it is part of it; its not all of it. All i say to those that want to buy this, is to look somewhere better than this VHS about witchcraft...its good and watchable, but, not that great.