In the attic, we have a secret sacrificial altar where the former owner, Avery Lauter (J. P. Luebsen, Witchboard) was found dead. His heart brutally cut from his body… his restless spirit rumored to still be wandering these halls.

In the living room, we find a team of experts (among them, WITCHBOARD’s James Quinn and Judy Tatum) assembled here at the request of Avery’s sole heir and nephew Devon Lauter (director Kevin Tenney himself), along with the sexy Ms. Ginger Kowowski (Linnea Quigley, The Return of the Living Dead) who have no inkling as to the dangers that are about to befall them as they attempt to trap the evil spectre.

From director Kevin Tenney (Night of the Demons, Witchboard) comes a supernatural cat-and-mouse horror show of deadly deception!

For thoughts on Witchtrap, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/Ytx1z8cSy70?t=3396]

Video Quality

Witchtrap comes to Blu-Ray via the MVD Rewind Collection with a 1080p transfer that was scanned and restored in 2K in 2016 from the 35mm interpositive. This film was first released on Blu-Ray in 2017 courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome, and, while we don’t have that disc, we are fairly certain this is the same master used for that release. The results are very good given the budget-conscious nature of the production with a naturally filmic presentation that probably looks even better than it did during its initial release. Instances of nick and scratches have been cleaned up substantially for a clear viewing experience, and any softness seems to date back to the nature of the source.

Colors are nice and vibrant during the daytime portions of the film, and the hues retain some nuance in the shadows. The black levels could be a bit more robust, but it provides some amount of depth. The transfer exhibits some favorable detail, although some shots experience fluctuations in density. The most enjoyable visual elements are the facets of the makeup, production design and clothing. MVD seemed to have a good source to utilize, and they presented it without any flubs.

Audio Quality

MVD Entertainment brings us this new Blu-Ray with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original English which presents this as well as the source will allow. This film sounds like it was dubbed over for a significant portion of the production, which gives the viewing experience a slight feeling of uncertainty. The dialogue sounds slightly hollow, but it represents the source well without being overshadowed by anything. Environmental effects are distinguished without issue, especially when trying to buoy more thrilling moments. There are minor moments when the track shows its age, but largely the track holds its own. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Kevin Tenney, Producer Dan Duncan, Cinematographer Tom Jewett and Actor Hal Havins provide a pretty lively commentary track in which they reflect on making the film, the quick and low budget nature of the production, working with performers from their previous efforts, the production elements, the special effects and more. This is an enlightening listen which shows how self-aware they are about the overall quality of the feature.

Interview with Director Kevin Tenney: A 24-minute interview in which Tenney discusses his background and early career, the desire to make a film in which he could be more hands-on, the development of this film, shooting on a limited budget, hiccups during the production, pranks pulled on set, the film’s legacy and more.

Interview with Actress Linnea Quigley: A 14-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses how she got into the film business, her career in horror films, working with Kevin Tenney, the atmosphere on set, memories of shooting her death scene and more.

Interview with Cinematographer Tom Jewett: A 15-minute interview with the cinematographer in which he discusses getting into filmmaking, his work with Kevin Tenney, the collaboration on set, shooting on location, his thoughts on his work, the technical details of the production and more.

Interview with Special Effects Supervisor Tassilo Baur: A 17-minute interview with the special effects supervisor in which he discusses getting into filmmaking, his work with Kevin Tenney, developing his techniques over the years, his thoughts on horror, how they pulled off various effects and more.

Witchtrap VHS Version (1:31:20): An option to replicate the old video store experience by watching this in rough standard definition and in 1.33:1 complete with a trailer for Witchboard playing before the feature.

Photo Gallery: A two-minute collection of images from the production and marketing.

Trailers: A two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided for Witchtrap. There are also trailers provided for The Dark, House on Sorority Row, One Dark Night, Mortuary and Forbidden Zone.

Poster: A fold-out poster of the cover art is included in the case.

Final Thoughts

Witchtrap is Kevin Tenney’s attempt to recapture his low budget roots, but his personal enjoyment of the process does not really translate over to the audience. The production value is actually pretty strong for the budget, especially when it comes to the gnarly makeup effects and elements of the production design. The positives start to dwindle when you head over to the story and the performances. The film is often dull with moments sprinkled in that make you perk up. It’s not a disaster, but it is mostly forgettable. MVD Entertainment has delivered a new Blu-Ray which sports a good A/V presentation, some terrific supplements and some spiffy packaging. If you are a fan of the film, you will be pleased to see it treated right.

Witchtrap will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on June 13, 2023.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.