Watch Night of the Eagle

Night of the Eagle, also known as Burn, Witch, Burn!, is a 1962 supernatural horror film directed by Sidney Hayers and starring Peter Wyngarde, Janet Blair, and Margaret Johnston. The movie follows the story of a newly appointed professor of anthropology, Norman Taylor, who discovers that his wife Tansy is practicing witchcraft, prompting a series of supernatural occurrences that threaten his career and his life.

The movie opens with Norman Taylor (Peter Wyngarde) arriving at his new university post with his wife Tansy (Janet Blair), who is also an accomplished teacher of witchcraft. Though Norman is skeptical of Tansy's seemingly superstitious beliefs, she is convinced that her spells and charms are essential to her success in academics and life in general.

Despite her warnings, Norman and his colleagues begin to experience strange occurrences that seem to be linked to witchcraft. When Norman tries to intervene, Tansy reveals that she has been using her magic to protect him from jealous colleagues who seek to undermine his authority. But her practices soon draw the ire of another group of witches who seek to punish her for defying their dark magic.

As the supernatural activity continues to escalate, Norman becomes more and more desperate to rid himself of Tansy's dangerous obsession with witchcraft. But when he tries to destroy her magical implements, he finds that he is in a constant struggle with powerful forces that seem determined to keep Tansy's magic alive.

The tension and suspense of Night of the Eagle are expertly crafted, with a slow burn through the early scenes that keep the audience on edge until the supernatural occurrences begin to ramp up. As he discovers the strange world of witches and their dark magic, Norman begins to fall apart under the weight of his own beliefs and convictions, desperately trying to find a way out of the dangerous and unpredictable situation in which he finds himself.

Wyngarde, Blair, and Johnston are all skilled actors who lend their performances to this eerie and haunting tale. From Wyngarde's portrayal of a skeptical professor who is slowly drawn into the world of the supernatural, to Blair's intense and frenzied performance as a witch under siege, the cast brings Night of the Eagle to life with skill and precision.

In addition to its expertly crafted suspense and horror elements, Night of the Eagle is also notable for its examination of the concepts of belief, faith, and the power of suggestion. As Norman is forced to confront the reality of witchcraft, he is also forced to confront the limits of his own belief system, and the fragility of the academic and scientific paradigm that he has long subscribed to.

Ultimately, Night of the Eagle is a spooky and thrilling tale of horror that expertly blends supernatural scares with expert performances and a deep exploration of the human psyche. With its stylish direction and haunting visuals, it remains a classic example of horror cinema that is not to be missed.

Night of the Eagle is a 1962 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 73.