William Herbert
Biography
William “Bill” Herbert was the enigmatic writer, producer, director, and editor of the 1973 cult horror film Warlock Moon. Working under the pseudonym John Sykes, he crafted the low-budget psychedelic thriller on a $25,000 shoestring, filming in abandoned California locations with a cast of local theater actors. He even appeared uncredited as a corpse. After a brief local premiere in Livermore, Herbert vanished from filmmaking. No interviews, no follow-ups, no photographs. Rumors persist that he was an early alias of TV director Gregory Hoblit, fueled by actor Joe Spano’s cryptic comments, but no proof exists. A true one-and-done auteur, Herbert left behind only one weird, unforgettable gem—and a mystery that outlives the moonlit spa.
Known For & Full Filmography1 Titles
Movie - 1973, 2h 15m • as Dead Body (uncredited)
Young lovers John and Jenny decide to go for a drive in the countryside one day when they happen upon the remains of a long-abandoned resort spa. After doing some exploring, they find that an elderly woman, Agnes Abercrombie, is living in the crumbling building. As they learn the gruesome history of the place, involving cannibalism and a ghost bride, Jenny becomes the victim of violent attacks and supernatural visions. But no one will believe her and now she's stuck in the dilapidated resort overnight. Will she survive until morning?