The Devils

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Sam N The Devils is absolute madness — part history lesson, part full-blown nightmare — and still feels dangerous over 50 years on. Ken Russell doesn’t hold back, throwing everything at the screen in this wild, visually bonkers fever dream. Censors and studio execs butchered it when it came out in ’71. Warner Bros still won’t touch the fully uncut version, even though the missing bits were found and restored in 2004. The infamous “rape of Christ” scene? Still locked in the vault. But plenty argue it critiques blasphemy rather than indulging in it. At its heart, The Devils is a furious, no-holds-barred rant about what happens when religion and politics get too cosy, and how those in charge can whip people into a frenzy to keep their grip on power. Oliver Reed is pure charisma as Grandier, swaggering through the chaos, while Vanessa Redgrave is hypnotically unhinged. Russell directs like a man possessed, and Derek Jarman’s sets are weird, stark, and unforgettable. It’s messy, noisy, and suitably uncomfortable — which is entirely the point. Despite all the drama around it, The Devils still hits hard today, especially in a world where truth feels optional and politics is pure theatre. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Audience Member This movie was def an experiece, i can't say it was pleassant, tecnically it's a good film, but i don't want to watch it ever again. Pd: the scene with the crazy zoom ins cracked me up Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/25 Full Review thiago s Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é mais ou menos, o filme mostra freiras jovens se masturbando em algumas cenas em moldes de figuras religiosas por cima, lambendo, se esfregando, tocando na parte genital, essas cenas foram pesadas por mexer com as figuras religiosas de Jesus e outras coisas. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 12/09/24 Full Review John B I consider this piece of filmmaking to be one of the most important films in British Cinema Ken Russell has change the face of 1970s cinema with this film and many other films that he Directed. I Find it today still hard to find that this film has been heavily edited and I would agree that this was Ken Russell at his absolute best Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/07/24 Full Review Courtney K hmm... i'm not real sure what i just watched. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Audience Member Ken Russell's The Devils is labeled "one of the most controversial films ever made." But what is so controversial here is not its depictions of repressed sexuality gone mad, but its fierce treatment of religion being used as a weapon by the powerful. Studio movies normally veer far clear of this hot topic, since it treads on the tails of many dangerous tigers. Russell stomps away on those tails, and it is interesting how reflexively critics of the time reacted in shock and dismay -- religion must ALWAYS be treated with sugar-coated respect! Plus these same critics were doubtless unnerved by seeing 1960s icon Vanessa Redgrave’s beautiful face turned sideways on top of a twisted, hunchbacked body – what a sacrilege to Hollywood’s cult of Venus! Russell’s 1971 film remains surprisingly fresh to this day, as current governments continue to wield religion as a powerful weapon against their citizens. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The Devils

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