The Devil Rides Out Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Devil Rides Out Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 28, 2019

While Hammer Films has taken on the wrath of the Devil before, they go all-in on Satanic happenings in 1968’s “The Devil Rides Out” (aka “The Devil’s Bride”). Directed by Terence Fisher (“Frankenstein Created Woman,” “The Hound of the Baskervilles”), the feature takes the world of black magic seriously, as the adaptation of a 1934 novel by Dennis Wheatley strives to build a world where such evil exists and remains determined to become the dominant force of the world. However, matters start small in the story, and Fisher does a fine job expanding early suspicions into all-out panic, joined by star Christopher Lee, who receives a rare shot at playing a hero of sorts, taking on darkness with a reliably focused performance in what turns out to be a surprisingly eventful picture from Hammer.

Lee stars as Nicholas, who suspects something isn’t right with the son of his dear friend, visiting Simon (Patrick Mower) while he’s preparing occult services, joined by high priest Mocata (Charles Gray). Taking the young man and fellow newcomer Tanith (Nike Arrighi), Nicholas hopes to find safety, only to plunge deeper into a Satanic world as Mocata returns to claim the missing members, preparing to welcome the Devil as his cult gathers for this momentous occasion.

“The Devil Rides Again” features an impressively suspenseful introduction for Nicholas and his mission to check on Simon. He’s crashing a party, trying to catch the young man off-guard, and he refuses to go quietly, making sure to inspect the rest of the house, finding one specific clue that sets the plot in motion: live chickens. Nothing good ever comes with live chickens in the attic, and “The Devil Rides Again” commences a strange chase of sorts, with Nicholas struggling to defend the innocents from the commanding power of evil. How this wickedness manifests itself throughout the picture is cause for some cringing, as Hammer locked the movie before it was completed, leaving behind a few unfinished special effects, including an exposed blue screen and a spider attack sequence where it’s obvious the creature is behind glass. Unintentional laughs are triggered, but Fisher isn’t messing around with the rest of the endeavor, ordering up a car chase, battles with malevolent spirits, and he explores the psychic powers of Mocata.

The Devil Rides Out Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is billed as a "New 2K scan of the 20th Century Fox interpositive." The results are impressive, gifting fans of "The Devil Rides Out" an appealingly clear look at the feature's creative achievements. Detail is strong throughout, best with facial surfaces and interior decoration, offering viewers a chance to study design choices and pagan art. Costuming is fibrous, from the wooly stiffness of suits to the satin sway of ceremonial robes. Distances are dimensional. Colors are respectfully refreshed, giving reds and blues a major push through, most notably on furniture upholstery, while purple wear for cult leaders is equally vivid. Greenery is striking. Delineation is supportive, losing nothing to solidification. Grain is film-like. Source is in satisfactory condition, without major areas of damage.

The Devil Rides Out Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix reveals a bit more age, offering hiss and pops throughout the listening event. Music is also a tad shrill at times, with screeching highs fuzzing out just a bit. Scoring cues are more appreciable when calmer, contributing to suspense needs with adequate instrumentation. Dialogue exchanges are enjoyable, surveying accents and thespian choices, retaining dramatic urgency when necessary. Atmospherics are expectedly blunt, but never obscured.

The Devil Rides Out Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features Steve Haberman, Constantine Nasr, and Richard Christian Matheson.

• Commentary #2 features Christopher Lee and Sarah Lawson.

• "Kim Newman Recalls 'The Devil Rides Out'" (29:59, HD) is a very informal chat with the film critic, who never remains on any single topic for very long, preferring to jump around in time to examine the 1968 picture. The interviewee details work by screenwriter Richard Matheson, the original Dennis Wheatley novel, British influences on the feature, cast achievements, previous black magic movies, its position as a sequel to "The Forbidden Territory," the influence of Aleister Crowley, the professionalism of director Terence Fisher, and the effort's marketplace position during its release period. Most interesting is an assessment of the unfinished special effects and Newman's own thoughts on "The Devil Rides Out," which he eventually gets to.

• "Jonathan Rigby on 'The Devil Rides Out'" (24:08, HD) is a slightly calmer understanding of the feature, sitting down with the critic to explore the lasting appeal of the movie, Fisher's work on the endeavor, Christopher Lee's place in the production, casting highlights, special effects, timing with the release of "Rosemary's Baby," marketplace performance, period setting, and cult fame.

• "The Making of 'The Devil Rides Out'" (34:59, HD) is an overview of the production experience, with insight provided by screenwriter Richard Matheson, film historian Marcus Hearn, author Denis Meikle, critic Jonathan Rigby, Kiffy and Dan Stainer-Hutchins (the children of special effects supervisor Michael Stainer-Hutchins), writer Mark Gatiss, actor Patrick Mower, and author David Huckvale.

• "World of Hammer" (25:53, SD) is a 1990 episode of the British clip show, with narration provided by Oliver Reed. The focus here is on Hammer Films and their brand, featuring snippets from "Camp on Blood Island," "The Curse of Frankenstein," "Plague of the Zombies," and "Quatermass 2."

• Image Gallery (4:37) collects publicity snaps, films stills, BTS shots, lobby cards, and poster art.

• And Theatrical Trailer #1 (2:30, HD) and Theatrical Trailer #2 (2:32, HD) are included.

The Devil Rides Out Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lee is wonderful here, remaining professional while facing some goofy visuals, and his dedication to the cause gives "The Devil Rides Out" a sincerity that's enchanting. Concentration on the black magic elements of the material are also enjoyable, as hellish encounters often reach unexpected conclusions, adding to the mystery of the effort. Some technical limitations are unavoidable, but "The Devil Rides Out" is entertaining and, at times, superbly bizarre, doing well with the uneasiness of satanic panic.