After making its debut at the Cannes Film Festival this summer, the long-awaited restoration of Ken Russell‘s controversial horror movie The Devils will finally make its debut stateside.
The Devils restoration arrives in theaters on October 16 for an exclusive one-week engagement. Put this on your calendars now.
Assembled from the original camera negative, this new 4K restoration presents Ken Russell’s definitive vision by referencing the edit he privately constructed in 2004. It’s the uncut and unfiltered theatrical experience that Russell always envisioned – and the first time the film will be presented restored and in 4K.
Based on Aldous Huxley’s 1952 non-fiction novel The Devils of Loudun and its 1961 stageplay adaptation, The Devils is set in 17th-century Loudun, France.
Oliver Reed stars as Grandeur in the film, complete with the sex appeal that has all the ladies swooning, including the hunchbacked Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave). Jeanne is exceptionally lustful for Grandeur, which pushes over into wrathful jealousy when she learns of his relationship with the young and stunning Madeleine (Gemma Jones). Cue the demonic seduction accusations, and hysteria and chaos ensue.
The Devils was always intended to be incendiary. Horror, at its most depraved and sadistic, tends to make casual viewers uncomfortable. Ken Russell’s 1971 epic takes it to a whole new squeamish level with its nightmarish visuals steeped in some historical accuracy.
Don’t miss this rare chance to catch The Devils as it was intended.
As the press release details, “This new 4K restoration of Ken Russell’s masterpiece was assembled from the original camera negative. The film’s sound has been remastered from original English Composite 35mm Mag Film, transferred at 96kHz, plus other original film elements in selected spots as needed. The Picture and Sound restoration was performed by Warner Bros. Post Production Creative Services, Water Tower Color, and Warner Bros. Sound.“
The exciting announcement comes with a stunning new poster, below.
