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The Devil Rides Out

The Devil Rides Out

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent, Hammer Horror, One of their Last
Review: "The Devil Rides Out" (US title: The Devil's Bride) is an excellent Hammer horror film, one of their last good ones before their decline in the early 1970s. Directed by Terence Fisher, and starring "Dracula" and "Fu Manchu" star Christopher Lee in a rare heroic role as occult master the Duc de Richeleu, the film still manages to create considerable dramatic tension and excitement 30 years after its release. While no masterpiece (that giant spider is pretty fake looking), it is a fast-moving, wellmade piece of Hammer entertainment. The book of the same name , written in the 30s by Dennis Wheatley, is much more frightening. With the superb Charles Gray ("Rocky Horror" and "Diamonds are Forever") is the evil sorceror Mocatta. END

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent, Hammer Horror, One of their Last
Review: "The Devil Rides Out" (US title: The Devil's Bride) is an excellent Hammer horror film, one of their last good ones before their decline in the early 1970s. Directed by Terence Fisher, and starring "Dracula" and "Fu Manchu" star Christopher Lee in a rare heroic role as occult master the Duc de Richeleu, the film still manages to create considerable dramatic tension and excitement 30 years after its release. While no masterpiece (that giant spider is pretty fake looking), it is a fast-moving, wellmade piece of Hammer entertainment. The book of the same name , written in the 30s by Dennis Wheatley, is much more frightening. With the superb Charles Gray ("Rocky Horror" and "Diamonds are Forever") is the evil sorceror Mocatta. END

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Excellent Hammer Thriller
Review: Excellent Hammer version of Dennis Wheatley's fine Gothic novel. Christopher Lee stars (in a rare heroic role) as Duc de Richleau an occult scholar battling a Satanic cult in 1920s Europe.

Director Tarrence Fisher and Screenwriter Richard Matheson create a wonderful period atmoshphere; and the supporting cast, including genre favorite Charles Gray, give terrific performances. The film, however, belongs to Christopher Lee who brings much pathos and dignity to his role. It is a shame more filmmakers have not tapped into Lee's unlimited acting potential.

Anchor Bay's VHS edition looks great and sounds better with a new Dolby sound track. The DVD version also from Anchor Bay (Due July 11) looks to be even better as it includes a Dolby Digital (5.1) track and a commentary from Christopher Lee.

The Devil Rides Out is a classic Hammer thriller sure to please fans.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Devil Rides Coach - the Cast Rides First Class
Review: Faithful adaptation, by screen vet Richard Matheson, of Dennis Wheatley's typically talky book of the same name.

If you've ever read Wheatley, you already know what to expect. If you haven't, The Devil Rides Out is a period melodrama (1920s) involving black magic and a Satanic cult. Christopher Lee, in a rare go-round at playing the hero, is a cultured Duke who is an accomplished mystic and expert on the occult. The son of a friend has been hypnotized and drawn into an unsavory Satanist bunch, who plan to steal his family fortune and do the poor fellow in. Lee rescues the lad, and crosses swords with superior wizard Mocate (Charles Gray), a suave cad and powerbroker. Trances, abductions, summoned demons and spells galore result.

This is as simple a melodrama as you're ever likely to see, more in the nature of a mediaeval morality play than anything else, though it performs like Agatha Christie. What elevates it above the norm is the splendid production (though the effects are cheap) and a great cast. Matheson is an experienced scriptwriter, who pares down Wheatley's verbosity to its fundamental components without losing any of the charm.

A great piece if you like this kind of thing, but average viewers may be bored by it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Devil Rides Coach - the Cast Rides First Class
Review: Faithful adaptation, by screen vet Richard Matheson, of Dennis Wheatley's typically talky book of the same name.

If you've ever read Wheatley, you already know what to expect. If you haven't, The Devil Rides Out is a period melodrama (1920s) involving black magic and a Satanic cult. Christopher Lee, in a rare go-round at playing the hero, is a cultured Duke who is an accomplished mystic and expert on the occult. The son of a friend has been hypnotized and drawn into an unsavory Satanist bunch, who plan to steal his family fortune and do the poor fellow in. Lee rescues the lad, and crosses swords with superior wizard Mocate (Charles Gray), a suave cad and powerbroker. Trances, abductions, summoned demons and spells galore result.

This is as simple a melodrama as you're ever likely to see, more in the nature of a mediaeval morality play than anything else, though it performs like Agatha Christie. What elevates it above the norm is the splendid production (though the effects are cheap) and a great cast. Matheson is an experienced scriptwriter, who pares down Wheatley's verbosity to its fundamental components without losing any of the charm.

A great piece if you like this kind of thing, but average viewers may be bored by it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Christopher Lee vs. the Powers of Darkness!
Review: First off, for the Great Unwashed Movie Fan, seeing the name "Richard Matheson" as the screenwriter usually indicates an imaginative and intelligent treatment of original source material, being a veteran of the original Twilight Zone series nd countless other works. This is a perfect example of his work, with a nicely-paced film as a result. The Great Christopher Lee plays the good guy for this effort, helping to save his friends from a local devil worship group, led by the genuinely creepy Charles Gray. Yes, ol' Splitfoot makes an appearance, along with a rogues' gallery of cronies for your money. This is no Anti-Satan Afterschool Special. It's rarely boring, with plenty of movement and an uncomplicated script. Also, some truly nice surprises (the startling kind!) for the first-time viewer to boot. You'll spend a lot of the movie wondering "How Are They EVER Gonna Get Outta This One?",but the ride is the fun of it. Christopher Lee enjoyed it too, and you can tell he relished its twists and turns. Go have fun!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of Lee's Best!!!
Review: Great British horror flick with Christopher Lee in one of his best roles. Base on the classic by Dennis Wheatley. If you are a fan of Lee or good vs. evil this is a film for you!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of Lee's Best!!!
Review: Great British horror flick with Christopher Lee in one of his best roles. Base on the classic by Dennis Wheatley. If you are a fan of Lee or good vs. evil this is a film for you!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A superb film of a battle of good against extreme evil!
Review: Hammer, known for making its B-movies look like A-Movies, releases another triumph. The movie based on Wheatley's novel, which I have not read, but am looking for, is just superb. Though some of the special effects are campy, due, of course, to the low budget of the movie, they still pull off an eerie effect for this ultimate clash between good and evil. James Bernard, once again, creates an excellent score for this fine supernatural chiller. This is a must-have for Hammer Horror fans! The casting is wonderful, though I would like to see it with Cushing in place of Lee as the Duc de Richleau, and Lee in place of Gray as Mocata. Just wonderful. If you are tired of seeing the darkside win in new horror films that leave you feeling depressed, then see this. In Hammer, good always triumphs over evil!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: de Richleau Vs Mocata - the fight for the soul
Review: I love Hammer studios films for their atmosphere, pacing, & the classic theme's of good and evil. And this would have to be their high water mark. I like their subsequent films, I'm not afraid to have a bit of sex thrown in (which is what they started doing), but in this - everything was still done in earnestness. They were really fighting for the souls of people, and you believed it. I really admire this film, because Richard Matheson has taken Dennis Wheatley's story, pared it down, and made a very tense film, that still manages to have at least three genuine moments of terror - even after 32 years, and many viewings. Christopher Lee as deRichleau (good) and Charles Grey as Mocata (Evil) make very good adversaries, and the black magic elements are very believable and frightening. I highly recommend this film, and suggest others who like it check out the similarly themed Burn Witch Burn aka Night Of The Eagle (1962).


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