THE DEVILS: Ken Russell; 2xDVD and booklet (BFI)

Controversial, Masterpiece, Religious Fanatic, Brutal, Nasty, Banned, Uncensored; 2xDVD and booklet – Ex Used condition

A few movies are so controversial that the Movie industry does their best to kill them off (see Terry Gilliams’ “Brazil”). Such was the case with “The Devils” First, to clear a few things up…this did NOT come from a play, nor was it a novel. It is based on Aldous Huxley’s painstakingly researched religious history of the famous Loudun exorcisms during the time of Richelieu. Two years before ‘The Exorcist’ hits the screen, Ken Russell puts the Catholic Church in the spotlight by filming one of the most disturbing films of all times. Except from being a sheer technical and aesthetic masterpiece, ‘The Devils’ provokes as a film with its relentless sense of anarchy. Religious hysteria and illusions, the horror of human arrogance and depravity and the love that turns to cherishing that turns to hatred. It’s hard to put it in words, one must simply watch it to understand the simple splendor of this film. This film was met with great controversy and opposition due to its contents and depictions of blasphemy.  Cited by director Alex Cox and critic Mark Kermode as one of the ten greatest achievements in cinema of all time. This film is for open-minded viewers only…