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.
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.
