Controversial Film Releasing NC-17 Cut Over 50 Years Later
Nerdist • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Ken Russell’s 1971 film The Devils, long censored for its blasphemous content, will receive its first uncut theatrical release in over 50 years this October, presented in a new 4K restoration.
- The movie, based on Aldous Huxley’s The Devils of Loudon, depicts the 1600s religious and political hysteria in Loudon, focusing on Father Grandier’s conflict with Cardinal Richelieu and the obsessive Sister Jeanne.
- Previously heavily edited by Warner Bros. due to its shocking themes, the restored version reflects Russell’s original 2004 private edit, offering audiences the full, unfiltered experience he intended.
- The film carries an NC-17 rating for sexual content and graphic nudity and will be shown in select North American cinemas for one week starting October 14, 2026.
- The Devils is noted for its unsettling, provocative nature, blending political and religious controversy, and remains one of Ken Russell’s most distinctive and challenging works.
