The Devils (United Kingdom: Ken Russell, 1971)

 

The Devils (United Kingdom: Ken Russell, 1971: 111 mins)

Crouse, Richard and Vincenzo Natali. "The Devils." The Projection Booth #168 (May 27, 2014)

Dry, Jude. "‘The Devils’ Is Just As Blasphemous, Bawdy, and Relevant Today As It Was When It Was Banned In 1971." IndieWire (March 22, 2017) ["Ken Russell's epic religious horror is a scathing critique on abuse of political power that new audiences will find prescient as ever in the age of Trump."]

Gallagher, Paul. "What a pact with the Devil (supposedly) looks like." Dangerous Minds (April 9, 2014)

Goldsmid, Edmund. "The Devils of Loudon." ("This is a 19th century translation of the primary account of the episode, originally written in French by Des Niau in 1634.")

Morgan, Kim. "The Devils are Here." Sunset Gun (October 16, 2026) ["Certain audiences, however (and some critics at the time), stunned by the film’s splendor and shock understood there was much more to the film than frenzied masturbating nuns and the violent martyrdom of Oliver Reed. Through time the cult grew and those who loved the film, appreciated not only its acting, cinematography (by David Watkin) and production design (by Derek Jarman), but its fiery politics, its inditement of Church and State, it’s condemnation of brainwashing, and it’s, at times, satirical edge. They saw that Ken Russell was more than just a demented provocateur – though to his eternally eclectic credit, he could be that too – and that this was a pollical film, his most political film – and one that has stood the test of time. Through his powerful fevered frames, the movie was a visceral wonder, unforgettable and finally, mythic. Those who saw it at the time, and loved it (or hated it), likely never forgot it. I can imagine some theatergoers felt as if they almost dreamt it."]

Riley, John A. "Great Directors: Ken Russell." Senses of Cinema (July 2009)

Thomas, Gordon. "'Nun-Lust, Torture-Porn, Church-Desecration and Bad Taste"': Reconnecting with Ken Russell's The Devils." Bright Lights Film Journal #76 (May 2012)

Wise, Damon. "Mark Kermode & Daphne Dentz On Restoring ‘Ken Russell’s The Devils’: “There’s A Balance Between The Grain, The Dirt, The Vibe And The Look.” Deadline (October 21, 2026)