A couple from Los Angeles (played by Pamela Franklin and Michael Ontkean) accepts an offer they can’t refuse and relocates to a town some distance north. The question arises, though: why does the wealthy and influential figure of this exclusive community (Orson Welles) want them so badly? Something unsettling is clearly happening. "Necromancy" was filmed in 1970 but wasn't released until 1972, although it’s copyrighted as 1971. It draws from elements found in films like “Carnival of Souls” (1962), “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968) and “The Devil Rides Out” (1968); furthermore, it would later have an impact on a film such as "Satan's School for Girls" (1973). In certain respects, this movie surpasses those films; in others, it falls short. One noticeable issue is the editing, which feels disjointed or uneven at times, particularly during the first half—it’s unclear whether this was an intentional artistic choice or simply a result of careless filmmaking. A telling example is the woman's cheerful attitude while riding in a car after she has just been involved in an accident and witnessed someone burning alive. Because Orson Welles was involved, the film received a re-release in 1983 under the title “The Witching,” which included new scenes featuring full frontal nudity during a ritual with Brinke Stevens, along with other alterations and a newly added conclusion. I’ve seen Pamela Franklin in around six films, and she looks particularly good here with her long dark hair. She was 20 years old when the film was shot, and she met her future husband on set—the young doctor portrayed by Harvey Jason. They are still married after more than fifty years. Franklin didn’t have positive things to say about working with Welles, who seemed to be taking the job for an easy paycheck (and attempted unsuccessfully to conceal himself behind a fake nose and beard). She described him as being disrespectful toward other performers, summarizing her experience by saying: “He was not a nice person.” In contrast, she had worked alongside Marlon Brando two years earlier on "The Night of the Following Day" and noted that he treated everyone with equal consideration. Director Bert I. Gordon (known for 1965’s enjoyable “Village of the Giants”) worried about potential problems with Welles when his secretary informed him that the actor wouldn't work before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM. To keep Welles happy, Gordon provided a personal chef to prepare all of his preferred foods and drinks; consequently, the imposing performer was quite agreeable, though this didn’t change Franklin’s criticisms. The film does well in terms of female talent. Besides Franklin looking her best, there's Lee Purcell, who was 23 during filming, and petite redhead Sue Bernard, most recognized for her role as the charming bikini girl in “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” (1965). The movie’s running time is 1 hour, 23 minutes. Filming took place in Los Gatos, California, approximately 35 miles southeast of San Francisco; and also at Samuel Goldwyn Studios in Hollywood. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB