The Devils (1971)
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Synopsis
In 17th-century France, Father Urbain Grandier's protection of the city of Loudun from the corrupt Cardinal Richelieu is undermined by a sexually repressed nun's accusation of witchcraft.
Letterboxd User Reviews
4.2
112.4K
75.7K
44.3K
- Nov 1, 2014
so movie money sure isn't as brave as it used to be, huh? good god. this was put out (or not) by WARNER BROS! how timid and small-minded our commercial art has become. such gloriously righteous indignation, and Jarman's neo-futurist design still gives the madness a…
davidehrlichApr 19, 2014One of THE most excruciatingly difficult cinematic experiences out there. It probably wasn't beneficial for my mental health to watch this and Under the Skin in the same evening. I hated Vanessa Redgrave's character so much that I might honestly hate Vanessa Redgrave now,…
Eli HayesNov 29, 2021beautiful movies make life worth living!!!
sarah squirm - Oct 4, 2021
too many hoes in this house of sin
DanteMay 14, 2026Finally restored to its intended majesty and as thrilling, scary, funny, and holy as ever. Seen as part of Cannes Cinema Classics with a room full of converts.
Sean FennesseyAug 1, 2024God isn’t real take ur clothes off
Blue Ghosts - Feb 12, 2018
90 Unrivaled debauchery. Depicts Church and State as two extremes, the happy medium only uncovered when any disconnect from either is attempted. That a priest is portrayed as a drunken playboy billionaire only to lose his influence over the prospect of sexual freedom for…
SilentDawnJan 20, 2024Oliver Reed is probably the highest T individual in human history.
Will MenakerOct 2, 2025The most controversial film of the 1970s was banned across the world for its deliriously overheated, shockingly blasphemous tale of sexual frenzy and demonic possession in a seventeenth-century French convent. Based on Aldous Huxley’s novel “The Devils of Loudun” and John…
Criterion
Queue Community Reviews
83%
Community 581
Top Reviews
- Landon Kenner likedThe Devils
I think the greatest moment was in the last 20 minutes, showing the true evil being spread by fear and propaganda. Pretty slow burn, but a good watch. 7/10
Wagner Freitas likedThe Devils⚠️ "The devils is a harsh film, but it's a harsh subject. I wish the people who were horrified and appalled by it would've read the book, because the bare facts are far more horrible than anything in the film." —Ken Russell, who won Best Director for it at 33rd Venice Festival.
jam jammy jambam lovedThe DevilsTIFF26 #1 So glad i held off watching til now. Gorgeous 4k restoration. Incredible picture.
- Vogue Italia lovedThe Devils
i cannot describe how deeply incredible and insane this movie is
Charlie Baltimore lovedThe DevilsOliver Reed is so extremely handsome
Kim Brioso likedThe DevilsThey burned him alive.
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
Russell’s penchant for aesthetic excess is thoroughly indulged, as the director stages grotesque human tableaus straight out of Hieronymus Bosch over Derek Jarman’s intricately detailed sets. The result gives the story a sort of wanton, overripe feel, with such ostensibly austere environments as a cloistered convent about to explode with repressed sensuality.
Katie Rife
The A.V. Club
It's a see-through movie composed of a lot of clanking, silly, melodramatic effects that, like rib-tickling, exhaust you without providing particular pleasure, to say nothing of enlightenment.
Vincent Canby
The New York Times
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Devils (1971) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is The Devils (1971)?
The movie is 1hr 51min long.
What's The Devils (1971) about?
In 17th-century France, Father Urbain Grandier's protection of the city of Loudun from the corrupt Cardinal Richelieu is undermined by a sexually repressed nun's accusation of witchcraft.
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