‘The Devils’ Gets Its Due

Key Points:

• Ken Russell’s 1971 film The Devils, based on Aldous Huxley’s book The Devils of Loudun, depicts a 17th-century convent possession and the politically motivated execution of priest Urbain Grandier, using stark visual design to evoke themes of religious and political corruption.
• The film was heavily censored upon release for its graphic and blasphemous content, including the infamous “Rape of Christ” scene, which was restored in a recent 4K director’s cut, allowing audiences to experience the full political and religious commentary intended by Russell.
• British critic Mark Kermode played a key role in rediscovering lost footage and advocating for the film’s restoration and reevaluation, highlighting its enduring relevance as a critique of how religion can be manipulated for political ends.
• The Devils combines historical drama with modernist aesthetics and remains a powerful exploration of mass hysteria, demagoguery, and the abuse of power, resonating with contemporary issues of misinformation and authoritarian control.
• Despite its scandalous reputation, Russell considered The Devils his only political film, aiming for a popular audience and lamenting its initial critical rejection and censorship, which mirrored the film’s own themes of persecution and suppression.