Roundheads
Richard Marshall
Corner Richard Marshall
Played By: Ian Ogilvy
A Roundhead who seeks revenge against Hopkins and Stearne for their torment of Sara and murder of John Lowes.
- It's All About Me: He seems more concerned with his revenge against Hopkins and Stearne than Sara's well-being.
- Nice Guy: He's a polite, honorable man who rarely has a bad word for anyone besides Hopkins and Stearne.
- Sanity Slippage: He gradually loses it throughout the film, and snaps entirely during the climax where he beats Hopkins within an inch of his life and loses it when Swallow puts Hopkins out of his misery.
Swallow
Trooper Swallow
Played By: Nicky Henson
Marshall's best friend.
- The Lancer: To Marshall. He accompanies him - albeit reluctantly - in his quest to kill Hopkins if only to make sure he doesn't get himself killed.
Witch Hunters
Matthew Hopkins
Matthew Hopkins
Played By: Vincent Price
A notorious witch hunter who uses his authority to impose a reign of terror over East Anglia.
- Age Lift: The real Hopkins died at the age of twenty-seven. Here, he's portrayed by Vincent Price who was thirty years older.
- Beard of Evil: He sports a bushy, distinguished-looking beard that emphasizes his evil nature.
- Evil Is Bigger: He stands at an imposing 6'4 and is a truly vile piece of work.
- Faux Affably Evil: Hopkins is superficially polite and has Vincent Price's natural charm, but in truth he's a misogynistic, sadistic monster.
- Not Even Bothering with the Accent: Vincent Price makes no effort to cover his natural American accent.
- Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: He claims to be doing God's work, but it's clear that Hopkins is really motivated by the money he gets and the opportunity to extort sex out of women.
- Sadist: It's implied Hopkins takes just as much enjoyment in causing suffering as Stearne.
- The Sociopath: He has absolutely no regard for human life beyond his own and is even able to get Stearne to back down by pointing out he won't hesitate to kill him.
- The Stoic: He's quite stern and reserved at all times.
John Stearne
John Stearne
Played By: Robert Russell
Hopkins' sadistic assistant and lead torturer.
- At Least I Admit It: He chides Hopkins for refusing to admit enjoying the suffering he inflicts, and gleefully admits he's in it for his own sadism.
- Beard of Evil: He sports a beard and is undeniably evil.
- The Dragon: He's Hopkins' right-hand man.
- Eye Scream: He's killed when Marshall gouges out his eye.
- Faux Affably Evil: He's jovial and comes across as the life of the party amongst his friends. However, in reality Stearne is a sadistic monster who only cares about being able to torture and murder with impunity.
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: He rapes Sara just so he can get Hopkins to order her father tortured and killed.
- Sadist: He deeply enjoys hurting other people, making his job as a glorified torturer a boon for him.
- The Sociopath: He has no regard for other people except with how much he can hurt them.
Others
Sara Lowes
Sara Lowes
Played By: Hilary Dwyer
Richard's fiancé and the niece of priest John Lowes.
- Cosmic Plaything: Nothing goes right for her. She's extorted for sex by Hopkins, raped by Stearne, has her father figure John killed, and is finally tortured by the pair to make Marshall confess to being a witch.
- Guile Hero: She's very cunning, and quickly realizes that she can get Hopkins to free John if she has sex with him. Unfortunately, Stearne ruins it by raping her in front of a witness, knowing Hopkins will turn on her and order John killed.
- Nice Girl: She's friendly and polite to everyone, and not nearly deserving of what happens to her.
John Lowe
John Lowe
Played By: Rupert Davies
A kindly priest and Sara's uncle.
- The Good Shepherd: He's a generally nice guy who only wants Sara to be happy.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's somewhat judgmental, but a generally good man.
- Kick the Dog: He angrily lambasts Marshall for killing fellow Christians in the English Civil War, though in his defense he quickly apologizes.
- Parental Substitute: While he is Sara's uncle, he took her in after her parents died and raised her as his own.
