I love it when Hammer actually tried and this was one of the last attempts by the studio to make something really special. They were no doubt hoping to kick off another cycle, a black magic one, but this didn’t become a big hit. (It is however a deserved cult favourite.)
The Hammer A list was on show – Bernard Robinson, Terence Fisher, Chris Lee, and for a writer, Richard Matheson joined the company. It’s a very good script, although might have been better had it departed from the novel a bit more – made the object of devil scrutiny say, a brother of Lee rather than just an old friend, and given the romance between Lee’s friend Leon Greene and the girl some more kick. Also they should have hidden out in Lee’s house rather than that of some random friends (including Paul Eddington aka Jim Hacker from Yes Minister) who feel roped into the story. This sort of stuff makes sense in England where upper class types stick by their school friends even years after school – but maybe it’s why the film didn’t strike a chord for American audiences.
Lee is effective in a rare hero role but the film is stolen by Charles Gray, as the brilliantly evil devil guy. Leon Greene is some random chubby actor and a rather odd choice for romantic lead; rest of the cast are okay, although hard to distinguish at times. The story is sometimes repetitive (rescue person and escape, rescue and escape) but is full of action and pace and there is excellent creepy stuff involving devil worshippers. And I loved the climax with Lee and the others hiding in the devil circle thingy being attacked by visions of their subconscious fears.
3 comments:
Enjoyed your review, as well as your earlier posts on DE SADE and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN. Dennis Wheatley was very pleased with Matheson's adaptation of his novel, and it's a shame that the relatively poor performance of both DEVIL and Michael Carreras's vastly inferior THE LOST CONTINENT scuttled plans for further Wheatley films, which were to include a reunion of Matheson and Fisher on THE HAUNTING OF TOBY JUGG. As for DE SADE, you are correct: the orgy scenes were indeed directed by an uncredited Corman. I interviewed both Matheson and Dullea, and although accounts differ as to whether director of record Cy Endfield actually suffered a nervous breakdown, it's clear that he was uncomfortable with filming those scenes. You can read more in my forthcoming book RICHARD MATHESON ON SCREEN.
Matthew
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my blog - I'm always surprised someone reads it, let alone likes it, let alone puts up a positive comment. Richard Matheson is one of my favourite screenwriters and it's great you've written a book about him. Thanks again.
My pleasure. The fact that you are the namesake of one of my favorite directors doesn't hurt! :-) FYI, RICHARD MATHESON ON SCREEN is tentatively due out in early October. Of course, you can always pre-order it.
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-4216-4
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