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The Devils

Play trailer Poster for The Devils R 1971 1h 49m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 101 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In 17th-century France, Father Grandier (Oliver Reed) is a priest whose unorthodox views on sex and religion influence a passionate following of nuns, including the sexually obsessed Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave). When the power-hungry Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue) realizes he must eliminate Grandier to gain control of France, Richelieu portrays Grandier as a satanist and spearheads a public outcry to destroy the once-loved priest's reputation.
The Devils

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Grimly stylish, Ken Russell's baroque opus is both provocative and persuasive in its contention that the greatest blasphemy is the leveraging of faith for power.

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Critics Reviews

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Penelope Houston The Times (UK) Aug 24, 2026
Denying his characters so much, Russell denies himself nothing. Go to Full Review
Julian Norridge London Evening Standard Aug 24, 2026
The obscenity and torture are so overdone that they will either drive you from the cinema or reduce you to a state of numbness. Go to Full Review
Jeff Millar Houston Chronicle Aug 24, 2026
At times I found myself surrendering to Russell's excess and getting some sort of vertiginous cheap-thrill reaction to the carryings-on. Russell does know what he's doing and how to get what he wants. Go to Full Review
P.S. Morris Sarasota Herald-Tribune Aug 24, 2026
Because Redgrave and Reed are fine actors and because there is a story with credible dialogue, their movie is, perhaps, more sinister than horrifying. Go to Full Review
Monica O'Hara Liverpool Echo Aug 24, 2026
I'm not disputing Mr. Russell's undoubted talent, just wondering what sort of nuns he has met up with to get such a crazy idea of what makes them tick. Go to Full Review
Giles M. Fowler Kansas City Star Aug 24, 2026
Some directors can get away with epic horror, but Russell doesn't know where to let up. His offense is less to good taste than to good dramatic sense. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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1701- G @CastleJSkull 8 hrs ago I'm so sad that Oliver Reed didn't live to see this film get a new life. He was told his whole life it was a mistake and now it's getting its critical accolades. His performance is incredible and his dialogues/monologues are philosophical masterpieces. And Vanessa Redgrave! Rather than this film being shunned, they both should have received Oscars. Huge BUMMER of an ending, though. See more michael C @RT34451814 8 hrs ago Like Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, The Devils was punished for asking whether the sacred can be used against people. Rushdie paid with years in hiding and, later, his own body. Russell paid with his reputation and the film's near-disappearance. In both cases, the reaction proved the point. A work that power works this hard to silence is a work telling the truth about power. See more Dallas H @FozzieMcFly 2 days ago As with any of Ken Russell's movies, my first thought when I watch them is usually, "Cocaine is a powerful drug!" This movie is no different. There is a lot of intensity going on with the culmination of religion, sex, and politics. To the conservatives or the religious, this would be a sacrilegious movie. To the atheists, it could be a story about personal freedom and integrity in a highly volatile world of political warfare. I don't think I can fully understand the movie or its thematic meaning after a single viewing. I did, however, change my perspective about Father Grandier's character by the time he was dragged before the court and sentenced to death. He remained committed to his personal values and obligations, staying true to his integrity. He did not falter in his personal beliefs, despite the intense level of pain and torture he was forced to endure. I respect that. See more Christopher B @Ikari777 3 days ago I've heard about the films for decades now but I always hate having to see censored or cut up films and try and hold out, not knowing if I will ever be able to see it how it was meant to be seen! This opportunity was too good to pass up and I wasn't disappointed in the least. The "Devils" really had a strong and brutal message with over the top and insane (and many would consider blasphemy) imagery. It's at times funny, absurd, and even flamboyant but it never pulls you fully out of the seriousness of the situation. In fact, many of them added or committed towards the depravity and overall disturbing nature of the characters themselves. Waiting so long was a shame, but it was well worth it and a great film that had heavy themes and messages but one that told it with full abandonment of the status quo. Indeed, this is what makes it so thrilling and captivating, even despite its disturbing and highly upsetting set pieces. If you're easily offended or close-minded don't see it. See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch 3 days ago The Devils is not the kind of film that works for me. It feels cheaply made, even though it attempts to use an old-school filmmaking approach. Early on, during the crowd scene introducing the connection between two religions, three girls look directly into the camera. As a filmmaker, that immediately pulled me out of the experience and made me question the editing. The story follows a Catholic priest engaging in inappropriate relationships with women and getting them pregnant, yet he is treated like a local legend while the women are portrayed as tarnished. That contrast bothered me, and the film's approach to religion ultimately felt like a constant battle between opposing sides rather than a story that genuinely drew me in. I understand that audiences and critics have responded positively to The Devils, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, the film fell flat for me. Between the presentation, the editing issues, and the way its subject matter See more B P @Bradster69 Oct 9, 2026 Definitely Recommend It See more Read all reviews
The Devils

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 17th-century France, Father Grandier (Oliver Reed) is a priest whose unorthodox views on sex and religion influence a passionate following of nuns, including the sexually obsessed Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave). When the power-hungry Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue) realizes he must eliminate Grandier to gain control of France, Richelieu portrays Grandier as a satanist and spearheads a public outcry to destroy the once-loved priest's reputation.
Director
Ken Russell
Producer
Ken Russell, Robert H. Solo
Screenwriter
Ken Russell
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
Warner Brothers, Russo Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 16, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.7M
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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