(United Kingdom/1968)
Reviewed By-Kit Gavin Directed by Terrence Fisher Starring Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Patrick Mower, Nike Arrighi and Sarah Lawson. Source: Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD Region 0 NTSC [United States]
Simon Aron [Mower], misses a reunion with his two best friends, the Count de Richeleau [Lee] and Rex Van Ryn [Leon Greene]. Sensing something is wrong, the two men pay Simon a visit at his new home, complete with observatory, where they walk in on a meeting with Simon and his thirteen member "Astrological Society", headed by Mocata [Gray]. Also in attendance at the "Society", in a reality a coven of Satanists, is Tanith [Arrighi], a beautiful girl whom Rex has had his eyes on for some time. When the Duke and Rex ask to see the observatory, Simon reluctantly shows it to them. His suspicions peaked by the esoteric symbols on the floor and on the walls, and discovering a black cock and white hen for a sacrifice, de Richeleau knocks Simon unconscious and flees with him across London from the coven.
Returning to the house after Rex has fled from the Counts house, after attempting to throttle himself with a crucifix, the Duke and Rex return to Simon’s abandoned house. There they encounter one of the Devil’s servants and only just escape. The next morning, Rex meets with Tanith and suggests taking her to lunch. He learns that both she and Simon are still unbaptized so that they are safe for now. However Simon and Tanith plan on attending a Sabbat in the woods where they will become initiates in the Left Hand Path. Rex takes Tanith to the house of Richelieu’s niece, Marie [Lawson], in the countryside, however no sooner has he arrived when Tanith flees. Persuing Tanith, Mocata blocks his view and creates a fog and the girl escapes.
Later that evening, Rex and the Duke discover the location of the coven. Mocata summons up the goat of Mendes, a form of the Devil, however before he can initiate Simon and Tanith, the coven is gate crashed by Richeleau and Rex. Once again, they return to Marie and her husband’s home, taking refuge there. Mocata himself arrives at the house, demanding Simon and Tanith, and hypnotizes Marie, taking control also of Simon and Tanith who he commands to kill Marie’s husband and Rex respectively. However, mid hypnosis, Marie is interrupted by her daughter and neither Tanith nor Simon complete their murderous task. Rex takes Tanith to the outhouse and ties her up and gags her to prevent Mocata from taking possession of her. Meanwhile, the Duke, Simon, Marie and her husband, barricade themselves within a magic circle to protect themselves from the forces of Darkness. Throughout the night they are lead to believe through Mocata’s use of hallucinations, such as an enormous spider attacking Marie’s daughter Peggy, that they must leave the Circle. All this proves unsuccessful and the foursome must confront the Angel of Death himself.
However, the four overcome the will to leave the Circle but the Angel claims it’s victim, Tanith. Also Mocata has kidnapped Peggy. Using Marie as a medium, the Duke contacts Tanith, through Marie, he hopes will lead them to Mocata’s hideaway.
Dennis Wheatley is one of the most prolific British authors of supernatural, as much as espionage, fiction in the 20th century, yet a sizeable majority of his well written novels remain sorely unread, out of print and relatively few of the works have been dramatised for the screen. In the early part of the 1960’s, the UK’s leading horror production house, Hammer, acquired the rights to two of Wheatley’s more successful novels, To the Devil a Daughter and The Devil Rides Out, followed by Uncharted Seas [which became The Lost Continent] in the mid 1960s. Despite the novel, The Devil Rides Out, having been written by Wheatley in the 1930’s, the content was relatively heady and potent, and it took until the late 1960’s, when censorship laws were less puritanical to bring this classic of supernatural horror to the big screen. Christopher Lee, a popular international actor by this time as well as a friend of Wheatley, used his force at Hammer Films to bring this project to the screen, and agreed to star in the film as the lead role of the Count de Richelieu. As well as Lee’s star presence, the film was further backed by the directorship falling into the hands of Terrence Fisher, one of Hammer’s best directors, Arthur Grant as cinematographer, and Richard Matheson to craft an acceptable screenplay from the material.
The film itself, although somewhat constrained by still prevalent 1960’s sensibilities as regards nudity, and with some very dated special effects still can hold it’s head high as one of the best horror films, and certainly one of the best films produced by Hammer Studios. Indeed, although Wheatley’s portrayal of the Sabbat was rampant with nudity, the film orgiastic scene at the Sabbat was considered too strong for audiences at the time and was trimmed for it’s release. Here it is presented fully uncut. The film is exciting, well scripted and faced, and very well performed by all round. Christopher Lee turns in a superb performance as the Count, although by his admission on the audio commentary, he is really too young to be playing such a role. Also Lee is playing against type, as his roles for Hammer had pretty been as forces of Evil, here he represents the forces of good. Equally good is his foe, Charles Gray, as the head of the coven of Satanists. Gray apparently was not the first choice of the producers, and Wheatley’s portrayal of the character couldn’t be further from Charles Gray, yet with his icy blue eyes and considerable screen presence, imbued with menace, Gray is perfectly cast. The Australian Leon Greene [dubbed by one of the most Britain’s most recognizable voices, Patrick Allen] also turns in a good performance as the simple Rex. Simon Mower seemed to make a career of being a man possessed throughout his British horror career, and here is no exception. Nike Arrighi is beautiful and enchanting as the young medium Tanith, and there is nice support from Sarah Lawson (who also appears in the audio commentary) and Paul Eddington, familiar to most audiences from his later title role in the hit British comedy series Yes Minister.
Some horror fans might feel short changed by the film as there is no real blood nor killing in the film. Also the special effects may well (and are indeed) dated to a modern audience in this day and age of CGI, and some may find them laughable. However the film chooses to stick to atmosphere, storyline and suspence to carry it, and it does carry it well. The Black Mass is somewhat tame with all it’s participants staying clothed as well. But it is important to remember that this is a British Hammer film. Other than atmosphere, the mood is perfectly contained, and the film, set in the 1930’s, retains that feel throughout, with cast, costumes and sets retaining that authentic mood.
Anchor Bay have really pulled out all the stops with the video and audio for this release. The DVD is presented in it’s correct aspect ratio and in 16x9 enhanced. The print which has been used (possibly even the original elements) is outstanding, looking fresh, extremely clean ( a few barely noticeable scratches) and with a fresh vibrancy which is incredible given that the film is nearly 40 years old. There is a little bit of color fading in some of the exteriors but again it is barely noticeable and certainly no signs of artefacting. Sound too has been remixed and the splendid music score by James Bernhard is done true justice thanks to this new version, rather than the previous mono dub. Voices too are clear, and the atmosphere of the film is enhanced. Anchor Bay have also included the original French track.
The extras include first of all two trailers, one from the UK using the original title "The Devil Rides Out" and the second being the US trailer under the title of "The Devil’s Bride". Apparently 20th Century Fox, when distributing the film Stateside saw fit to retitle the film "The Devil’s Bride" for audiences might feel the British title might more akin to a film along the lines of a Western. The main extra takes the form of an audio commentary moderated by the author of The Hammer Story, Marcus Hearn, and featuring mostly Christopher Lee and with occasional comments by actress Sarah Lawson. The erudite Lee talks with authority, and with a good memory about the making of the film. As well as being a friend of the late author, and having read up considerably on the Occult, Lee seems well versed and shares some amusing tales, and even jokes with Lawson at times about she is quite different from how Wheatley envisaged her character. Lawson doesn’t say a great deal, but occasionally the two actors talk over each other which can irritate but that aside, together with interesting but non-intrusive moderation, it is an enjoyable listen. However, something seems to have gone wrong when recording the commentary as, especially when Lee talks, there sounds like a faint echo and it sounds like the audio commentary was recorded in a tunnel rather than in a studio or at one of the participants home. Despite this minor irritation it makes no difference to the enjoyment of the content.
Capping of the extras is the World of Hammer episode, simply entitled "Hammer" and once again narrated by the great Oliver Reed. Other episodes of this entertaining series have cropped up on other Hammer releases by Anchor Bay, and all have proved interesting, entertaining and with plenty of scenes and clips from Hammer Films throughout it’s lifetime as a production house. An enjoyable little extra indeed. It would have been nice to see Christopher Lee and Sarah Lawson on camera, maybe even making an introduction to the film, as it is always enjoyable to see the stars of these films are today, but this is just a preference, by no means does it take any of the enjoyment away from the DVD of this wonderful film. A masterwork from the glory days of Hammer, and British horror, most highly recommended!!
Story: 4.5 BITCH SLAPS Audio: 4 BITCH SLAPS Video: 4 BITCH SLAPS Extras: 3.5 BITCH SLAPS Overall: 4 BITCH SLAPS
