Based on a true story about a priest accused of defiling a convent of nuns by making a deal with the devil, The Devils polarised audiences when it was originally released in 1971. Ken Russell was already familiar with controversy surrounding his films, but this one in particular upset viewers due to its graphic depictions of sex and torture and its heretical portrayal of the church. Due to this, multiple scenes were cut from the film, including the infamous orgy in the church.
These cuts left the film missing key sequences – yes, the orgy is very important to the plot – and so, years later, Russell and his editor Michael Bradsell began searching for them. After years of searching, a low-quality cut was assembled in 2004. Now, this reconstruction has been restored using the original camera negatives to bring audiences this masterpiece in stunning 4K.
But what is the film, and especially this new version, actually like?
The Devils is a masterclass in character writing. For example, when we first meet our main character Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed), he stands tall above a crowd, leading a funeral procession. This paints him as an authoritative figure, later reinforced by how revered he is in town. But this perception of him is challenged when we see him next. He lies in bed next to a woman who tells him she's pregnant, and Grandier regards her with a surprising lack of care for her well-being. After walking out on the pregnant woman, he calmly saunters past burning streets and piles of plague-riddled bodies, painting a haunting image of a man desensitised to the suffering of others. This is all in stark contrast not only to how he appeared before but also to how a priest should act, and this conflict is exactly what makes him such a well-written character. Many others, such as Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave), challenge the audience in a similar manner, a testament to the writing, Russell's direction, and the actors' performances.
While this has been said many times before, Oliver Reed, Dudley Sutton, and Vanessa Redgrave are unbelievably good in this film. Reed seamlessly balances his character's struggle with lust and religion, while Sutton nails the sadistic and apathetic nature of Baron De Laubardemont. But Vanessa Redgrave is who really steals the show. Her portrayal of Sister Jeanne is haunting, as she stalks through the corridors of the convent with her hunched back. Redgrave sells the religious fanaticism in Sister Jeanne and the repressed feelings that eat away at her insides until she cannot hold herself back anymore, culminating in the orgy scene. The inclusion of this scene in the restoration fills the gap present in the 1971 version, making Jeanne's character, as well as the other nuns, much more comprehensible. It shows us exactly how far their mass hysteria has spread.
Visually, The Devils has little competition. Derek Jarman's production design gives the town its stark, monochromatic appearance, filled with harsh lines that create a uniquely oppressive look. The camera also plays with unusual framing, aggressive zooms, and picturesque crowd shots. Especially as the film descends into madness, its visual language really drags you down with the characters into their feverish mental state.
Ken Russell's The Devils is the definitive version of the film, both visually and thematically, and is the first time audiences are officially able to see Russell's intended vision, including all its gory details. The film bewitches you through its eclectic cast of characters, stellar performances, and unmatched visuals. It's controversial, grotesque, and debatably heretical – and all the more intense in 4K on the big screen.
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