Secret Rites
1971 · Directed by Derek Ford · UK
Secret Rites (1971) is a pseudo-documentary dressed in ceremonial robes which promises an open-door insight into England’s biggest witchcraft coven. It is directed by Derek Ford, who was “famous” for his sexploitation films The Wife Swappers (1970) and Suburban Wives (1971). Ford focuses his attention on the “top witch of Britain”, Alex Sanders, and his wife Maxine.
The film concerns the initiation into the coven of eager recruit Penny. Having read Sanders’ book King of the Witches, she is keen to experience their way of life. Sanders tells Penny, “in the book, it shows us dancing around the fire naked”, but reminds her “there is a lot of hard work, lectures, reading and writing the book of shadows out.” With that in mind, it is the dancing naked that takes precedence in Ford’s documentary. Once initiated, Penny gets to meet new people, go shopping for black candles and participate in sex magick rituals.
Alex and Maxine Sanders got a gig as technical advisors on the MGM occult thriller Eye of the Devil, and by 1971 they were never out of the tabloids or off the TV. They were effectively the John and Yoko of the occult world. Music is provided by The Spindle, who supply Faustian kraut-rock electronic minimalism and free-jazz experimentalism.
Secret Rites is a real step up from Scattini’s Witchcraft ‘70. At 45 minutes, its compactness provides no flab. Sanders, Penny and the coven provide useful insight into the workings of a modern coven. Secret Rites is essential viewing for anyone interested in the occult mania that gripped Britain in the early 70s.
