Ken Russell's 'The Devils' Finds New Audience

Ken Russell's 1971 film, 'The Devils,' originally considered a shocking exercise in extreme blasphemy and horror, is now drawing significant crowds following its full-scale restoration and re-release by Warner Bros. Clockwork. The uncut version premiered at Cannes, exceeding expectations by playing in 350 theaters and earning nearly $2 million on its opening weekend, indicating a surprising cultural relevance fifty years after its initial release.

The film, set in 17th-century France, centers on Father Urbain Grandier, a charismatic but libertine priest played by Oliver Reed. Grandier's defiance against King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu sets in motion a plot to destroy him. This plot exploits the obsessive desires of the nuns at the Ursuline convent, led by Sister Jeanne des Anges, to falsely accuse Grandier of witchcraft and demonic possession.

'The Devils' transforms political oppression into a nightmarish spectacle, illustrating how fascist leaders can create and exploit chaos. This allegorical power speaks profoundly to the current era's multifaceted chaos. The film's descent into madness, with the nuns' frenzied "possession," highlights Russell's visionary filmmaking and creates a disturbing reflection of contemporary societal breakdown.