The Devils takes place in 17th-century France. Father Urbain Grandier is trying to protect the city of Loudun from the evil Cardinal Richelieu but this is threatened by a sexually repressed nun’s accusation of witchcraft.

The Devils is bonkers filmmaking, and I mean that in the best possible way. It’s frenetic, frenzied and hits a certain tone that I’ve never known a film to accomplish so completely except for 1981’s Possession. I love that in the 70s, filmmakers were willing to go the extra mile for their art, and that these films still have the power to shock, repulse, and delight in equal measure. The Devils is a prime example of this.

Ken Russell is at the height of his powers as is Oliver Reed, Derek Jarman whose sets are amazing, and Vanessa Redgrave as the transgressive nun Sister Jeanne. It’s also worth noting the rest of the cast, some of whom went on to careers in TV here in the UK (such as Dudley Sutton in Lovejoy and Brian Murphy in George and Mildred).

The censors went into overdrive when the film was released with multiple cuts demanded in multiple countries. Thankfully, the film has now been released uncut after detective work in Warner Bros vaults and Mr Russell’s archive. It should be coming to a cinema near you. I dare you to go and see it!

5 out of 5 stars