Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Ariella Broughton It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Cissy Évelyne It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Edgar Allan Pooh . . . before "Blue Velvet" rips apart a fake pregnancy which has nothing to do with being afraid of Virginia Woolf. SECRET CEREMONY makes far less sense than the sentence above. This flick is set FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, with some or all of its main characters sentenced to death for being too implausible to be brought to life. Who wants to hear "pot-head Bob" bragging about canoodling his step-daughter as if he's on an ACCE$$ H0LLYWOOD tape or something? Folks who eat up bulimia, incest, suicide, pedophilia, family affairs, pillaged estates, incoherence, child abuse, eating disorders, derangement, ham acting, sleazy creepiness, and the "Ick Factor" to get their jollies no doubt will love SECRET CEREMONY. However, those of us who are NOT perverts will question the sanity of the leads in this film. Certain career decisions can be seen as making "Pacts with Old Scratch." The latter individual has a notorious sense of perverse humor. Sometimes the "price" of such an ill-advised deal might be that your husband will dump you to marry your daughter. Other consequences might see you cursed to spend your declining "Walrus Years" hooked up with a notorious Real Life pedophile. That's why they say, "Be careful for what you bargain."

billcr12 Elizabeth Taylor starred along with Mia Farrow and Robert Mitchum in this campy drama filmed in England in 1968. Liz is a lady of the night who meets an extremely strange young woman played by Mia Farrow. Mia's character believes that Liz is her recently deceased mother. "Mummy, Mummy" says Mia throughout this disturbing film. Mitchum shows up as Mia's step-father who had been tossed out of the big, beautiful manor house by mummy due to his unhealthy interest in his step-daughter. Mia speaks in a bizarre manner and Liz plays along in order to remain in her newly discovered lavish abode. Step-dad returns to get his grubby hands on the estate. If you are not in a good mood to begin with. I strongly suggest that you avoid this downer of a film at all costs.

HotToastyRag If this movie didn't come out the same year as Rosemary's Baby, I'd wonder what possessed anyone to make it. I'll chose to believe everyone wanted to help launch Mia Farrow's spooky movie by releasing a similar film at the same time. That's my standard for recommending this movie: if you actually liked Rosemary's Baby, rather than just appreciated it, then you can feel free to watch Secret Ceremony.Elizabeth Taylor's daughter is dead, and Mia Farrow's mother is dead. Miraculously, Liz looks like Mia's mom, and Mia reminds Liz of her daughter. Somehow they find each other, bond quickly, and become enmeshed in each other's strange, sick lives. This is a very weird film, with unexplained plot points, melodramatic acting, and mentally-ill characters. Mia repeatedly reenacts a rape scene while she's alone. She calls Liz "Mom" and takes a bath with her, and the two girls giggle about what nuisances men and sex are. Robert Mitchum costars as Mia's stepfather, but unless he, too, wanted to support Rosemary's Baby, I don't know why he agreed to be a part of this movie.This movie is so strange, awful, and convoluted, it makes the 1968 horror flick seem like a Mister Rogers' episode. If I'd cared enough about it, I would have been seriously disturbed, but thankfully, I didn't let the film get the better of me.Kiddy warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to some very strange and upsetting content, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

jery-tillotson-1 After winning an Oscar for her role as the shrieking, voluptuous, vicious harridan in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe?", Elizabeth Taylor felt encouraged enough to look for riskier parts where her beauty and star power were deliberately played down. In SECRET CEREMONY, she had one of her most cutting-edge, risky role as the aging, down-trodden prostitute whose little daughter drowns. She meets a strange, mad girl, Cenci (Mia Farrow) who's convinced Liz is her recently dead mother, Leonora and takes her home where both women play a game: Elizabeth becomes Leonara and Cenci has found her mother alive and well. Director Joseph Losey creates a sumptuous world where most of the action occurs in this fabulous Victorian mansion, jammed with striking lamps, toys, dolls, furniture, lighting,etc. IT all contributes to making this an A Plus horror film where madness rules. A haunting musical score, outstanding lighting and camera-work and an unforgettable wardrobe for the star all combine to make this a true cult movie--which was lambasted by critics and audiences at the time of release but has since grown in stature as a treasured art-house classic.