The Devil Rides Out (1968)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Richard Matheson (writer)
Dennis Wheatley (novel)

Release Date:

20 July 1968 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The beauty of woman . . . the demon of darkness . . . the unholy union of "The Devil's Bride"

Plot:

Some followers of Satan want to sacrifice the niece of the Duke of Richeleau. But they did not think...

Plot Keywords:

Sacrifice | Car Chase | Black Magic | Blood | Giant Spider

Cast

Christopher Lee	...	Duc de Richleau
Charles Gray	...	Mocata
Nike Arrighi	...	Tanith Carlisle (as Niké Arrighi)
Leon Greene	...	Rex Van Ryn
Patrick Mower	...	Simon Aron
Gwen Ffrangcon Davies	...	Countess
Sarah Lawson	...	Marie Eaton
Paul Eddington	...	Richard Eaton
Rosalyn Landor	...	Peggy Eaton
Russell Waters	...	Malin

Also Known As:

The Devil's Bride (USA)

Runtime:

Spain:96 min | USA:95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:15 | Finland:K-16 | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Black Park Country Park, Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Associated British-Pathé

Trivia:

The movie's US title was changed to "The Devil's Bride" because its original title made it sound much too much like a Western.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rex arrives at the forest to witness the Black Mass, it is almost totally dark. Later in the evening when he phones de Richleau, however, the view outside de Richleau's window shows it is broad daylight.

Quotes:

Marie Eaton: [to her servant about Mocata] Show him out!
Mocata: I'm leaving.
[walks towards door and stands behind Marie]
Mocata: *I* shall not be back... but something will.
[pauses menacingly]
Mocata: Tonight! Something will come for Simon and the girl!
[leaves]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Riders of the Storm (1986)

One of Hammer's all-time best.

The beloved horror star Christopher Lee gets a rare chance to be the heroic lead in this well- done terror tale. He plays Duc de Richleau, who with his friend Rex (Leon Greene) seeks out their friend Simon (Patrick Mower) when Simon fails to attend a reunion. When they find him, the Duc realizes that Simon has become involved with a cult of Satanists. As the story progresses, it's not just Simon who must be rescued, but innocent young Tanith (Nike Arrighi) as well.

Director Terence Fisher was at the helm of many a Hammer horror picture; he ranks as one of the most prolific directors ever in the genre and delivered some bona fide classics. "The Devil Rides Out" rates as one of his best efforts. Scripted by author Richard Matheson from the novel by Dennis Wheatley, it's an extremely classy and very well made film. It takes the familiar, eternal battle between good and evil and develops it in interesting ways. Full of atmosphere, portents, and escalating tension, it delivers not one but two climaxes and some surprises as well. The premise is treated with the utmost seriousness, with genuinely believable and unsettling scenes of Devil worship.

Lee is wonderful as the gentlemanly, dapper hero who knows what needs to be done, with Charles Gray an excellent opponent as the eerie villain Mocata. Gray's scenes are among the creepiest in the film, as he successfully manages to hypnotize and manipulate those around him. Greene lends some solid support as the loyal Rex, who finds himself falling for Tanith. Arrighi has a delightfully ethereal appeal and beauty in this role. Mower displays a strong likability as the weak Simon. In a small role, Gwen Ffrangcon Davies is remarkable as the Countess.

James Bernard gives us another of his overpowering, thoroughly menacing music scores, with stylish and moody cinematography by Arthur Grant. Grant and production designer Bernard Robinson definitely help Fisher capture the ambiance of each and every scene.

For good old-fashioned horror, one would be hard pressed to find as effective a picture as this. The ending is especially impressive as it utilizes a concept that's certainly not usually to be expected in this sort of fare. It's a good-looking, spooky, and tense film that wastes not a single moment.

9/10