The Devils (1971)

If you've seen The Devils a long time ago and wondered why I would include it alongside the many other horror movies I have chosen to watch at this time of year then I would suggest to you that it's time you revisited The Devils. This is a horror film, and it's as powerful and wild to watch today as I'm sure it was when first released in 1971. In fact, having heard all about it for many years, both the content and the power of it, I was worried about it feeling a bit dated and diluted nowadays. Trust me, this is one that remains a test for hardy viewers.

What you need to know is that Oliver Reed portrays Urbain Grandier, a holy man who has his own particular way of living a holy life. He doesn't deny himself some pleasures of the flesh, but he does try to ensure that those around him are safe and spiritually-nourished. Vanessa Redgrave is Sister Jeanne, a woman who becomes obsessed with Grandier, believing that he can be her saviour. It's not long until frustration and resentment lead to some accusations that allow some powerful figures to cut Grandier down to size.

While Ken Russell isn't a director I will always respond positively to, it's undeniable that he has directed a number of features throughout his career that different people could refer to as masterpieces. This one would be my choice, and I know I am far from alone with that opinion. Based on a play by John Whiting, itself based on a novel, "The Devils Of Loudun", by Aldous Huxley, Russell fearlessly looks at religious hypocrisy and the kind of ridiculous show trials that could be used to get rid of anyone deemed to be a threat. It could all be laughable, and there are some fleeting moments of amusement here, if it wasn't all so cold-hearted and deadly.

Reed is as brilliant as he needs to be in his role, embodying his character with the gravitas and brooding presence of, well, peak Oliver Reed. Redgrave also does very good work, as do Gemma Jones, Georgina Hale, and the many others portraying women who feel themselves getting a bit flustered and faint in Reed's presence. Dudley Sutton and Brian Murphy are familiar faces in supporting roles, but the other key player to mention is Michael Gothard, playing one of the most cretinous and punchable villains I have seen in any film of any genre.

It's a shame that we STILL cannot see the full and uncut version of this (the controversial content has ensured that Warner Bros. keep doing their best to control what version is available), but it's a testament to the film, and to Russell, that what we have is already such an incredibly powerful work, full of astonishing imagery and moments that convey absolutely horrendous pain and trauma. Part of me never wants to watch this again, but another part of me thinks that I could watch it every day for the rest of my life and never get sick of appreciating the blend of the beautiful and the grotesque.

I implore others to avoid making the same mistake that I did. Watch this as soon as you possibly can, and see it in the best possible quality. It's a masterpiece. And to the devil with those who say otherwise. 

10/10

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