When the Devil Commands

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09/04/2014 An atmospheric horror yarn in the vein of Universal's spook cycle but from rival Columbia Pictures. The pseudo-scientific backbone of the the mad scientist hokum is admittedly a little silly (okay, VERY silly), but there's an earnest charm to it that is very enjoyable. Plus, you've got a wonderful assortment of genre tropes: raging thunderstorms, eerie and mysterious houses, whizzing and buzzing laboratory equipment, angry mobs of townsfolk, seances, and a side helping of Gothic melodrama. It's kind of a strange mixture (what with its attempt to fuse science and the supernatural), but director Dmytryk holds it all together as best he can, and with a straight face. It's also a treat to see Boris Karloff begin the tale as a relatively normal and sincere guy, rather than a weirdo, which probably would have been the more expected route. THE DEVIL COMMANDS is a very slight film, and it's not even close to the level of the Universal greats, but as a cheap knockoff from a rival studio, it's definitely an entertaining (in an non-ironic way) little chiller. See more 07/19/2013 Starts off pretty good but then gets a little rediculous and ends a bit lame See more 05/09/2013 A good Karloff horror movie made at Columbia Studios. Interesting plot and special effects. See more 01/05/2012 Not much to say about this one. Edward Dmtryk directs a Boris Karloff Mad Scientist film. The ending echoes Frankenstein in a strange way but this otherwise a generic movie. See more 11/20/2010 He's like a big ugly dog. Doctor Julian Blair's life is turned completely upside down when his wife passes away. Dr. Blair will stop at nothing to create a way to communicate with the dead so he can speak to his wife one last time. In the process of working on his invention Dr. Blair alienates his daughter, colleagues, and countrymen. How far will Dr. Blair go to accomplish his goal? "There are things humans have no right to know." Edward Dmytryk, director of Mirage, The Carpetbaggers, The Young Lions, The Reluctant Saint, The Juggler, Soldier of Fortune, Mutiny, Hitler's Children, and Secrets of the Lone Wolf, delivers The Devil Commands. The storyline for this picture has fantastic potential but wasn't as intense as I anticipated. The acting is first rate and the settings are well selected. The cast includes Boris Karloff, Anne Revere, Amanda Duff, and Richard Fiske. "They say my father's spirit still lives in that house." The Devil Commands aired during a Boris Karloff marathon on The Movie Channel (TMC) this past Halloween season. This was an interesting movie that was well written and had an interesting plot; however, the action scenes were scarce and not overly intense. Overall, I recommend seeing this film if you are a fan of old school horror movies or Karloff but this does not belong in your DVD collection. "Science can unlock the mind." Grade: B- See more 09/12/2010 Not a classic, but a good little Boris Karloff thriller. He plays a mad scientist trying to communicate with his dead wife. Mainly worth watching for Karloff. See more Read all reviews

When the Devil Commands

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