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When Uncle Kenny told me to go into the vaults this time I went knees trembling (well you don’t know what he keeps down there!) However I was relieved to find it was just his classic horror film collection, so blowing the dust and cobwebs off one, I bring you this month ‘The Devil Rides Out’.

The Devil Rides Out (1968)

Synopsis: The Duc de Richleau and Rex van Ryn are horrified to discover their friend Simon has joined a devil worshipping sect overseen by the powerful Mocata.The Duc takes Simon back to his house in a bid to free him of Mocata’s influence, yet when he is compelled to escape with another novice Tanith and into Mocata’s clutches it is up to the Duc to save them before the darkness takes over them all.

Director: Terence Fisher
Writers: Richard Matheson, Dennis Wheatley
Cast: Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Nike Arrighi

Review:

The first thing that strikes you about The Devil Rides Out compared to the other films Hammer Horror has made; this is a puppy trying hard to bear its teeth. Set around 1930 and in the beautiful English countryside, it was made at Christopher Lee’s insistence and was also his favourite film.
He doesn’t disappoint as the Duc de Richleau and although he is on the good side in this one, he still manages to steal the film and is still a scary BAMF. (Bad Ass Mother Fu**er – as I had to explain to Uncle Kenny).

The supporting cast are brilliant, especially Charles Gray (Mocata) who famously went on to narrate the cult Rocky Horror Picture Show.

There are no Vampires in this one sadly and no shots of women showing off their gratuitous heaving bosoms (hey every hammer film needs them!) What we have instead is a film on the occult.
The first half is very slow going and the film score saves it from being boring by making you feel something is about to happen any moment. The special effects are corny and some of the sets are as dodgy and reliable as Wesley Snipes paying his taxes.

We find out Duc and Rex must try and save their friend Simon from devil worshipper's, to do this Duc keeps him in his house, which works for a while until Simon escapes.

The highlight of the film for me was when Mocata gathers his cult together, you get a sacrifice scene (yes it’s a goat) who’s blood was very Kensington Gorish (Sorry Uncle Kenny I just had to!) this leads us to lots of people dancing and generally going crazy, which reminded me of the annual Gore family Halloween party. Then the devil himself appears and when Christopher Lee states ‘God help us all’ you know he is about to kick the dark sides ass.

The rest of the film is spent with the Duc and friends all back in the house watching Simon and Tanith, who has arrived and needs protection too as Mocata is using her as a medium to get her and Simon in his clutches. It is here that Mocata (Gray) out acts Lee for a while and is hypnotising to watch. This time Tanith escapes and the Duc is not impressed.

The next memorable scenes are set in an empty room where the Duc draws a circle of protection to keep them all safe. The scene is simple yet powerful as it relies on its dialogue for a while, but not for long and the effects are soon back. Lee plays up to each effect brilliantly but if you suffer from arachnophobia then you may want to look away at this point.

After this scene the film gets a little confusing, they spend all of it trying to save Tanith yet happily let the Angel of Darkness take her. Cue having to go after Mocata again as he takes someone in her place, by the end of the film you have a lot of questions and Christopher Lee looks knackered but it is still worth a watch.

So if you fancy watching a classic when you roll in from the pub on a Friday night, then pull this one up from the crypt and settle down with a kebab.

I give this a gore rating of....... 4 buckets of blood

Deadly kisses from Holly till next time readers.