Customer Reviews

Drawing Down the Moon [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Some of you may have seen this movie when it was being test marketed a while back. Some of you may have seen it being discussed on newsgroups. Others may have heard it whispered about in groups.

For those who are familiar with Independent Films, they are not big budget events, there are no special effects budgets and for the most part, no big name actors. The appearance by Walter Koenig in this film surprised me because of this. However, this is not the first Blair Witch movie, the filming here is better than that. The plot is much better and, from my viewpoint, someone has done their homework regarding Witches and we don't look spooky or stupid.

The movie presents us with a fictional account of a Witch who arrives in a small town and proceeds to try to clear up the social ill and help all the turned out and hopeless causes. We are presented with a cast of characters who represent all the kinds of people you could encounter all rolled up into a few members of the cast.

It probably could be called a social docudrama, but the plot was written to fill the most space in the least amount of time. The characters are exaggerated but done in order to present us with best case or worst case scenarios. This again is typical of Independent film and what should be expected.

I really do have to comment on how the Witch, the main character, is portrayed. To say that I was skeptical about a film of this nature and who dared to use the name that has become synonymous with our movement is an understatement.

But as I watched, I was pleasantly surprised that Ms. Krepp played the roll with respect yet had a spark that made her believable.

The character too is exaggerated. She is a healer, a social worker, a community activist, environmentalist, a sincere person in all that she pursues. She may be portrayed as a "Super Woman" who is also a Witch, but then again, aren't we all involved in one way or another with one or more of those kinds of causes? I had to laugh, though, when she started the fight scenes with the staff... Martial Arts Witch. However, I know many witches who have studied the martial arts, so again, though exaggerated, it fits many of us. In an Independent film with a fictional plot this is acceptable and expected.

She does represent all the possible causes we dedicate ourselves to. And someone did their homework, because Witchcraft (and I found Wicca in some of this) is probably portrayed about as accurately as it can be in a general sense in this film.

I enjoyed the other characters as well, the doubting priest who sees his way to being open minded when he sees the good that could be done, Walter Koenig as one of the bad guys, a roll he seems to be playing alot these days and enjoying. His henchmen reminded me of the old Dead End Kids brought up to date. Yes, there is humor, there is a little action, and for the most part, it is an enjoyable fictional piece of work.

But of all the films recently that portray us, this film portrays us most accurately, showing that we are just regular people dedicated to causes to improve the human condition, either socially or environmentally. It isn't perfect, but it is a beginning. Thank you Mr. Paterson for giving us a good beginning and for being so tuned to our community.

Although this movie is not the glossy, high-tech production most of us are used to it is a very good story. It portrays a modern witch in a very realistic way and would be a good educational film to those who do not understand the nature of Wicca.

This is a fast paced drama/action movie about an idealistic offbeat young woman who goes up against social injustice and prejudice. An entertaining movie with a fresh original plot, and a true representation of current social issues. This is the first time I've seen Wicca truly represented. Someone was bold enough to take the bull by the horns. Thank you Steven Patterson.

The standard of the filmmaking is "competent undergraduate" rather than "professional Hollywood" and the story has too many stereotypes (of which Walter Koenig plays one) and too many unconvincing fight scenes between people who never quite click emotionally.

The protagonist (Karina Krepp) turns out to be a female Kwai Chang Caine - but doesn't win as many fights. She doesn't fall in love or demonstrate any vulnerabilities (apart from doubling-up when she gets hit) so there seems little need to empathise with her. So, from the story viewpoint then it's nothing to write home about and it lacks a great dramatisation.

BUT, if you're a Pagan, Wiccan or witch then you'll be overjoyed to see a film directed, no matter how, by someone who's done their homework. And that's really why the film is worth watching. It gives some hope that perhaps Pagans really could be understood by modern society if they only came out of the "broom closet".

In short, if you're interested in the subject matter then it's a definite YES!! If you're JUST looking for a good witch bashing film, then it's a resounding NO!

Lots of "witch" movies hit the screens that misrepresent modern-day practitioners of the Craft. Although this movie was filmed on a low budget, it does a much better job of portraying how witches approach the world. It does an interesting job of intermingling chaos theory, martial arts, and neo-paganism.

Some of the acting is stilted, the lines awkward. Its David vs. Goliath plot has been done before. Nevertheless, the creative amalgamation of Wicca, aikido, and chaos theory works well. If you don't really care about neo-paganism, this movie will may not hold your attention. As a Wiccan priest, I found it well worth it.

The acting was worthy of community theatre, the script had innovative ideas, but didn't quite pull everything together. Averages out to three stars although my wife said I'm overly generous.

(If you'd like to comment about this review, click on the "about me" link above to send me email. Thanks!)

Finally, a movie that is believable; no wands turning little Johnny into a toad here! Could you view this movie with even the most closed minded person? You bet! "Drawing Down the Moon" {book with same title, by Margot Adler, is no connection} is the first reality-based movie to show how a witch really practices. There is no hocus-pocus, only the spiritual, working here with harmony to create a better place, letting each character live their own lives while helping each other out and respecting each other's right to worship. This alone makes "Drawing Down the Moon" a movie for all to see!

With all of us still reeling over The Blair Witch Project and Book of Shadows, this is a more than welcome depiction of what a witch really is. This independent film has managed to do what all the big budget movies have failed to do - to keep the practices of a witch as true in nature as possible. Although there is some overacting and at times, not enough acting involved {normal with low budget films}, I am very pleased with the portrayal of the witch in this film.

"Drawing Down the Moon" begins with the main character Gwynyth {Karina Krepp} on a bus, drawing on her pendulum to see where she needs to go. She is being watched by a curious on-looker Faith Shields {Linda Merritt}, who narrates the film. Gwynyth later befriends and takes Faith, a cancer patient, under her wing. They both end up in a town called Steadfast.

The town of Steadfast has all the elements of adversity. This includes the homeless and no funds for medical or community needs. But they do have a crooked police chief and an impotent Drug lord, Joe Merchant {Walter Koenig, of Babylon Five and Star Trek fame}. Only a few minutes off the bus, Gwynyth runs into Eddie {Bruce Bearman} and his thugs, who are harassing a mother Angela {Maura Clifford} and her daughter Ripley {Ingrid Boedker}. So, the first thing she has to do is protect the mother and child. She does this not with her wand but with her mind and her body. After she gets Angela and Ripley away, she conveys the message that she doesn't want any trouble... But Trouble seems to be just what Gwynyth gets!

Realizing this town doesn't have a homeless shelter, this becomes the next item on Gwynyth's agenda. She makes a deal with a building owner to open a shelter called, "Haven", and this is when trouble and adversity become an understatement. Soon, Gwynyth comes under attack from the police chief, the local minister, upright citizens, and of course, Merchant, who is in bed with The Corporation to make a huge profit on a deal, but only if they get Gwynyth's building.

Can Gwynyth single-handedly win the war on this whole town? Well, it will be worth your money and your time to see for yourself! Personally, after viewing "Drawing Down the Moon", I hope to see more films by Steve Patterson in the near future.

M.L. Benton Publisher, Echoed Voices
Copyright © 2002

Lots of "witch" movies hit the screens that misrepresent modern-day practitioners of the Craft. Although this movie was filmed on a low budget, it does a much better job of portraying how witches approach the world. It does an interesting job of intermingling chaos theory, martial arts, and neo-paganism. Some of the acting is stilted, the lines awkward. Its David vs. Goliath plot has been done before. Nevertheless, the creative amalgamation of Wicca, aikido, and chaos theory works well. If you don't really care about neo-paganism, this movie may not hold your attention. As a Wiccan priest, I found it well worth the $20 I spent for it.

The acting was worthy of community theatre, the script had innovative ideas, but didn't quite pull everything together. Averages out to three stars although my wife said I'm overly generous.

There are some movies that are so bad you pull them out after fifteen or twenty minutes. Then there are a few that reach such a plateau of awfulness you have to keep watching just to see how bad it can get. This movie is in the later category. I can't believe anyone would give this movie five stars, no matter how much they appreciate the sentiment...Horrible acting, horrible script, horrible film. If this is a "true" depiction of the craft, I now know why I've never joined Wicca. I would have become a "bad" witch within a week and ripped the silly hearts out of the rest of the coven :-)