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Film: The Devils
Year: 1971
Director: Ken Russell
Writer: Ken Russell
Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Oliver Reed and Dudley Sutton
Review:
This was a film that I didn’t know a lot about and had never heard of until listening to podcasts. It was on the Podcast Under the Stairs’ Summer Challenge series when they covered the best horror films of the 1970s. Now this film isn’t listed as a horror film, but where it goes with the imaginary, depravity and the implications of the events. I’ve now given it a second watch as an Odyssey through the Ones.
Synopsis: in 17th-century France, Father Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed) looks to protect the city of Loudun from the corrupt establishment of Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue). Hysteria occurs within the city when he is accused of witchcraft by a sexually repressed nun.
We start this off seeing a presentation of the ‘Birth of Venus’. Playing the star role of Louis XIII (Graham Armitage). Watching is a large coward and among them is Cardinal Richelieu. At the end of it, he asks Louis XIII if he can expect the country of France to be in line with the church to which he agrees.
It then shifts to Loudun. The city is not currently ruled by a governor, as the earlier one passed away. It is pretty much the church which is run by Grandier. He doesn’t follow the doctrine as much as he should as he has relations with women, among other sins. He leads the funeral procession that is going past monastery full of nuns. They are clamoring to get a glimpse of Grandier and the nun in charge, Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) scolds them. Despite what she says, she moves to a window to catch a glimpse of him herself.
Things take a turn though when Grandier marries Madeleine (Gemma Jones) in secret. This bothers the sexually repressed Sister Jeanne. Also, during this time is when Cardinal Richelieu gets Louis XIII to agree that to prevent uprisings, all cities should have their walls removed. Baron De Laubardemont (Dudley Sutton) comes to Loudun to enact this, but Grandier stops him. The edict has not arrived yet, so the townspeople and the guards’ side with Grandier.
Laubardemont looks for ways to rid the city of Grandier. This leads him to Sister Jeanne’s monastery. She accuses Grandier of crimes he didn’t commit out of jealousy. Father Barre (Michael Gothard) is a witchfinder who is called in and believes that all of the nuns in the monastery are possessed by the devil. The fault is bestowed upon Grandier. Barre also has the help of Mignon (Murray Melvin) and his cousin, Louis Trincant (John Woodvine), who is upset with Grandier for impregnating his daughter, Philippe (Georgina Hale). Their goal is to exorcism the nuns. Hysteria and debauchery take place as they go about proving their ‘point’.
That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. I’ll say that this sets the tone in the beginning with production of the ‘Birth of Venus’ that this film is going to look stunning. Visually there are great set pieces, partially with how they’re filmed as well as setting up the era this takes place. It also is an arthouse film and wild.
I’ll be honest that I wasn’t expecting the depravity and debauchery we got either. If you know me, you know that I despise organized religion. This is going to the extreme, but it is showing my disdain. Sister Jeanne is in love with Grandier, even though they’ve never met. She even tells Madeleine that nuns at her convent are from wealthy families who couldn’t find a husband or their dowry wasn’t enough. This makes sense when the ‘hysteria’ kicks in. They repressed their carnal desires and when Father Barre gives them an excuse, they go over the top with it. The nunsploitation aspects to it are great. Seeing them running around naked and doing the things they are doing drives their point home.
Grandier isn’t innocent though either. He is a priest, so he is supposed to be celibate and never marry. He is using his position in the church to sleep with young women he finds attractive and using it as well to support a lifestyle that is above what he should be. He does good things and performs his duties, but his faith is a farce. I will give him credit that he somewhat redeems himself. He does love his city and wants to save it, even though the citizens do not see what those in power are doing. It is an interesting parallel to things happening in the world today. It does seem though that if Grandier was a protestant, the issues here wouldn’t be one. He’s a catholic though so that in lines the issue. I also think the things he’s doing was to maintain his lifestyle, which he shouldn’t have.
I then want to shift to the other religions leaders. They’re using the nuns by having them claimed that they are possessed. This is all to knock down the city walls. It is wild to see them and Grandier being used as pawns. It is in turn ruining their lives. Grandier is a threat to them. His charisma and the power he has amassed here being the major parts. I do like the commentary here on religion and how things like this have been done in history. There is a basis in fact of this film.
One last aspect of the story that I noticed, there always seems to be a crowd watching the events that are happening. This starts with the opening play. Then again when we see the nuns running around naked for the first time as well as during the visit of Louis XIII and the trial of Grandier. I’m taking this as not only the citizens of the town, but also representing us. We are as complacent with what is happening and watching when we could have influence. We don’t because of the mob mentality. I thought that was clever.
Let’s then go over to the acting which I thought was great. I was surprised to see Redgrave in her role. She was great. I haven’t seen much of her earlier works, so this one was interesting. Her character bothers me, but I can’t hate her. She got caught up and then used. Reed is one of my all-time favorite actors. He is such a horrible guy in the beginning, but the arch and growth we see is great. It is a clever thing to do. Sutton was solid as the villain. He will do whatever he wants to get his mission completed. Gothard was another one that works along with Laubardemont. He embodies something I hate about religion in forcing confessions. He also takes things that are said and twists the words to prove his point. I’ll also credit Melvin, Hale, Armitage, Woodvine and the rest of the cast to round this out for what was needed.
All that is left then is filmmaking. I’ll start with the cinematography. To not only capture the era, but also the set pieces is master work. The framing along with that is great. Just bringing the depravity to life captures the tone and atmosphere. I’d also say that the effects were great. The brutal realism is there without necessarily needing to use in this department. We do get blood, which looked real. There are also torture scenes that made me think of the witch hunts of Salem or the Spanish inquisition. All well done. The soundtrack also fit what was needed.
In conclusion, this is one that I loved the first time around and it just has gotten better with the rewatch. The commentary of the corruption of religion and how it can be used to manipulate is spot on. The depravity and the debauchery we see in the film are impactful. Filmmaking is solid with the cinematography, framing and effects being on point. If I have a gripe here, it runs a bit too long. The acting is great across the board. This isn’t one that I can recommend to everyone, especially if you are religious. I think that this has a point to make and still has relevant commentary as well. My favorite nunsploitation film currently and Ken Russell film.
My Rating: 9.5 out of 10