“Hypocrisy, vengeance, the Black Death, and –most chilling of all – a 14th century village with people with Shane MacGowan – type teeth.

Director Alberto Sciammia’s modest-but-gripping supernatural thriller never looks cheap or plays dumb to its tale of mysterious French war hostage who seems to be implicated in the plague-y retribution that descends on his captors. Treading a fine line between occult hamminess and the underlying contention that flesh-and-blood human beings can be just as malevolent as Dark Forces, ANAZAPTA rarely looses its balance. It also feels partly like an affectionate homage to the gothic classics of Hammer-era horror.

Factor in the grim period detail, neat plotting and solid acting – David Le Haye as the tortured stranger and horror veteran Jon Finch as the Lord of the Manor with a bloody secret – and you’ve got something of a nail-chewer.

And that’s before the Grand Guigol carnage kicks into gear….”

Jennifer Nine, TOTAL FILM
****

“Doing a period piece is a gamble, especially on a tight budget, this film succeeds on several levels. A brave and interesting attempt….good performances…some amusing moments…comedic as well as gripping…and a handful of ambitious ideas."

Rupert Laight, FILM REVIEW
***

NUTS
*** out of 5