Near Boston lies a small town, Eben Rocks, a quiet and peaceful community- at least on the surface. Three hundred years ago, the town saw significant upheaval as innocent people were branded as witches. As a result, some were unjustly condemned to death and burned at the stake. In the present day, many in the community, including Reverend Jim Stevens (Otto Kruger), are aware of the old stories. A crypt remains under the town’s church, housing documents that serve as silent witnesses to the past. Stories abound amongst town members, including that of Judge Elijah Webster, who condemned eighteen women to fiery deaths. By the shores of beautiful Shadow Lake stands a shrine dedicated to the memory of Jezebel Trister, who, when burned at the stake with her dog, screamed that one day she would come back to get revenge on the man who condemned her.
In the present day, we follow Lorna Webster (Nancy Kelly), who is travelling to Eben Rock by bus. Along the way, the bus stops for an old lady (Elspeth Dudgeon), who boards with the other passengers and sits next to Lorna. After engaging in small talk, the old lady claims to have once known Lorna’s great-grandfather, who was alive over three hundred years ago. When the old lady delivers this revelation, along with the fact she is Jezebel Trister, Lorna is so frightened that she causes a major distraction. The bus driver is so diverted that he accidentally drives the bus and its passengers off a cliff, killing everyone except for Lorna, the sole survivor. Treating Lorna is Dr. Matt Adams (John Loder), who had a past romantic relationship with Lorna; in fact, they almost got married two years ago. While Lorna appears okay from the accident, she remains haunted by everything Jezebel said on the bus. As time passes, Lorna begins to experience strange and unexplainable things, such as haunting visions and fresh flowers around her dying. Lorna feels she is changing, and as more creepy incidents occur, people in the community begin to stir fear and accuse her of being a witch. Is she dealing with a curse, or is it all in her head?
Woman Who Came Back has aspects of a horror film and a fun mystery that quickly unfolds. It exudes a sense of creepiness as community members grapple with deep fears about witches and their past as a town. The central mystery of whether Lorna is transforming into a witch or descending into madness is engaging, keeping the audience guessing and intrigued. The additional romantic storyline as Lorna reignites her past romance with Matt feels forced and somewhat awkward, weakening the film’s overall impact.
The locations used throughout this feature were fantastic, and the same could be said about the mise en scène. Each scene had many props, details, and stunning designs. I enjoyed Nancy Kelly’s portrayal of Lorna, and her character undergoes a considerable transformation as the film progresses. However, John Loder’s performance as Matt disappointed me, as it felt bland and lacked energy.
Overall, this is an average horror film with a compelling mystery. The mystery was the most intriguing aspect of the story for me, along with the well-designed sets and detailed locations. As for the performances, Nancy Kelly was great as the main lead, but I found John Loder’s acting unimpressive and lacklustre. The ending of the film felt weak and somewhat predictable. If you’re a fan of old classic horror films filled with talk of curses, witches and mystery, this is definitely worth watching.
Woman Who Came Back (1945) is Now Available on Blu-ray thanks to Imprint Films & Via Vision Entertainment
5.4/10
2nd July 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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