Night of the Eagle, also known by its American title Burn, Witch, Burn!, is a refined British supernatural thriller directed by Sidney Hayers, based on the novel Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber. The film stands out for its eerie atmosphere and psychological approach to witchcraft, far removed from the flashy special effects typical of the era.

The story follows Professor Norman Taylor (Peter Wyngarde), a rational and skeptical man of science whose orderly life begins to unravel when he discovers that his wife (Janet Blair) is secretly practicing witchcraft to protect him. The line between reality and paranoia grows increasingly thin, and what begins as a simple marital conflict spirals into a nightmare of unseen threats, spells, and deadly dangers.

Hayers’ direction builds a steady tension using subtle but effective means: light, shadow, sound, and visual suggestion create a constant sense of creeping dread. The film doesn’t rely on monsters or gore, but on the disturbing idea that reality itself can be manipulated by dark forces.

An elegant and unsettling work, enhanced by a screenplay from Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson — two masters of the fantastic — Night of the Eagle is a forgotten classic worth rediscovering, especially for fans of psychological horror and gothic cinema.

A hidden gem of tension and suggestion, caught between skepticism and black magic.