Kenneth Russell The Devils (film)

 

This 1971 movie is Ken Russell's adaptation of Aldous Huxley's book The Devils of Loudun, which was a depiction of a true story of a Catholic priest who was accused of witchcraft and possession of local nuns, although there were political reasons for his persecution.

I haven't read Huxley's book yet (although my lovely wife has it on order) but I'm certain that Ken Russell has taken his usual liberties with the tale and with his imagery and made the movie outrageous enough in sexual and religious terms that it garnered an X rating initially. It was then edited in order to earn an R, although many said that this made the story even more confusing. The unedited version is making the rounds now and we were surprised to see that it made its way to Vegas.

While nowhere near as surreal as some of Russell's work, the tale isn't completely linear and not everything makes complete sense, but the basic plot is comprehensible. Oliver Reed's popular character is trying to protect his walled city from outside forces, but he impregnates the wrong young lady while he is also an object of sexual obsession by the local nuns, which combines to give his enemies the power to take him out, via slander, torture and murder, and take over the town.

Being as it is Ken Russell, there are plenty of sexual scenes, including a wild orgy where the nuns defile a crucifix (among other things) and torture galore, although there are some powerful speeches given that are oddly prescient for the current times. And, of course, it has fabulous visuals.

Certainly blasphemous and overtly sexual but there is also some fine acting and underlying messages. And the exorcist/torturer looks like Jack Cassidy of the Jefferson Airplane!