Diary Entry forThe Devils
I've got a lot to say about this so here we go. The film is stunning visually, with rich and vibrant colours throughout. The set designer did a fantastic job and the use of multiple beautiful locations was a sight to behold. Secondly, the performances were spectacular, with everyone involved giving everything they'd got. Michael Gothard's (Farther Barre's) performance in particular impressed me. He was the most dislikeable character and he absolutely killed the role. By the end I genuinely hated him, which was the desired effect of the film. Thirdly, I really enjoyed the depiction of how religion can corrupt and harm all those who follow it. As an atheist it baffles me how far people would go in the name of a mystic higher power, but I'm not one to judge. The clever use of religion as an excuse to gain control of France is done perfectly, showing how corruption can ruin anything. Father Grandier (Oliver Reed) is a saviour of the city of Loudun, yet the people turn against him when he gets falsely accused by the corrupt establishment of Cardinal Richelieu. Everything about this is done very well. Now onto what I didn't really like. The film felt long and dragged at certain points. The plot, despite it being a clever depiction of corruption, felt far fetched and unrealistic to me. The mass hysteria and pushing peoples beliefs to the limit both felt too much. The sisters all becoming erratic was also very odd, I get why those women may have been very horny, but the depiction of them as crazed blood and sex hungry people felt a bit harsh. Overall, I enjoyed this and respect the message it was trying to deliver. One day I will revisit this, but not any time soon. I would recommend watching it at least once though, even if its just for the colours and sets alone.
Other Diary Entries forThe Devils
The Devils
Night 1 of 31 Nights of Halloween Ken Russel's The Devils has been a film that has eluded me for many years. It has come and gone off of streaming services, but finally, FilmStruck happened to put it on, and I knew that it was going to be the film that I would start my horror marathon with. And I am so glad that I did, since The Devils is a horrifying story, not only in the depiction of madness, but on how powerful the Church is, and how there really was no separation between Churh and State, forcing religion to be everywhere. It's not a traditional horror film, but it still does have it's moments that make chills run down the spine. The climax of the film happens to be one of those moments, a scene that I will surely never forget. I've seen that many people seem to have difficulty enjoying the film due to it's chaotic nature. Throughout the film, there are many scenes that keep on going, seeming to switch back and forth, creating a disorienting experience. It is understandable on how this can be difficult to understand, but with the subject matter of the film, it makes sense. The film depicts madness, as well as potential possession, so it possibly was a creative decision to edit the film to create a maddening sensation while watching. I've waited many years to be able to watch The Devils, and I am so glad that I was able to watch it for my horror marathon this year. This is one of many films that I will be watching this month, but this film set the perfect tone for the rest of the films. I'm actually really excited to be able to watch this film again, just to unpack even more of what Ken Russel has to offer here.
The Devils
Cult of Personality 2024 (https://letterboxd.com/allbeef/list/cult-of-personality-2024/) #42 of 52 | Directed by Ken Russell (https://letterboxd.com/director/ken-russell/) The Loudun Witch Trials Religion really is the worst. Nope, scratch that. Overly-religious people really are the worst. 90% of the time it makes for a weird and boring movie. Just look at what sexual repression does to a motherfucker.
The Devils
That’s some good trash.
The Devils
“But of course I can prove nothing. This Mother Superior may be a little more than a hysterical nun.” Quite frankly, this is the most transgressive film ever made, and a provocative one at that. Ken Russell has truly crafted a masterful tale of religious hysteria and the horrors of human arrogance, and the fact that this hasn’t been properly released and restored by the studio that owns it (Warner Bros.) is blasphemy in itself.
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