Prolific author Dennis Wheatley wrote several novels that Hammer Films adopted as motion pictures, including THE LOST CONTINENT and TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER. But the best Hammer adaptation of Wheatley’s works has to be 1968’s THE DEVIL RIDES OUT. Christopher Lee, a close friend of the late author, used his clout to bring the project to fruition at Hammer films. At the time, censorship laws were receding enough in Europe to translate the controversial novel to the big screen. Hammer’s best director, Terence Fisher was bought in to direct it, and veteran cinematographer Arthur Grant was assigned to photograph it. Richard Matheson successfully crafted a screenplay from Wheatley’s novel. With this combination, how could this film be anything except a winner?

When the DEVIL RIDES OUT was finally released, the British censorship bureau had some difficulties with the depiction of the ritual and Sabbat scenes, especially those showing the Satanists reveling in debauchery. This controversy resulted in the film not doing as much business as anticipated. 20^th Century Fox distributed the film in North America, but not before they excised several seconds of the controversial footage. Furthermore, fearing that U.S. audiences would think that the film was a Western, they changed the name to THE DEVIL’S BRIDE. Anchor Bay comes through again, and presents the film uncut its original uncut version on DVD.

When young Simon (Patrick Mower) skips his annual reunion with Rex Van Ryn (Leon Greene) and the Duc de Richelieu (Lee), friends of his deceased father, the two men waste no time in investigating Simon’s opulent digs. There they find their standoffish ward hosting a meeting of his thirteen-member ‘Astrological Society’; soon to be revealed as an unconvincing front for a satanic coven led by the powerful Mocata (Charles Gray). Fleeing with Simon back to the Duc’s estate, Rex and de Richelieu are unable to free the boy from Mocata’s long reaching spell, and he escapes along with another disciple, Tanith (Nike Arrighi), to a black mass ceremony in the woods. Rex and de Richelieu arrive just as Mocata summons an incarnation of the Devil known as The Goat of Mendes.

Using their automobile, they crash the ceremony and steal away with Simon and Tanith. They take refuge at the house of de Richelieu’s niece, Marie (Sarah Lawson). With Mocata and his fanatical followers intent on taking back their hopefuls, Rex and de Richelieu barricade themselves inside a protective circle summoned by de Richelieu’s own mastery of White Magic. Mocata uses all the dark forces that he commands to lure our heroes out of the protective circle. There they must face phantoms, giant spiders, time shifts, and the Angel of Death himself, to save Simon and Tanith from Mocata.

Terrence Fisher turns in one of his best directorial efforts of all time, with plenty of style, wit, and thrills. Fisher not only excels at depicting realistic psychological melodrama, but also excels with his fantasy elements as well. His set pieces overflow with awe, no matter how implausible or fantastic they may be. Though the special effects may be outdated, his conviction resonates throughout his films. Richard Matheson has that Midas touch, whatever he works on turns to gold. Matheson crafted Wheatley’s novel into a coherent, adult, and intelligent script. The filmmakers wisely set the film during the 1930’s when Wheatley originally conceived the story.

The character of the Duc de Richelieu, was created by novelist Dennis Wheatley. The character is knowledgeable in the black arts, and appeared in many of Wheatley’s works including STRANGE CONFLICT. It is a very suitable role for Christopher Lee, as he brings aristocratic and authoritative qualities to the character. Lee was very happy to play the good guy for once, and it shows—he turns in the most outstanding performance of his career. And Charles Gray, as Mocata, is equally good as Lee’s nemesis. Gray’s performance and presence as Mocata is very Jackal-like; he exudes charm and menace at the same time. Sarah Lawson is also good as Marie, a brave female character who literally takes the devil into her home.

THE DEVIL RIDES OUT is a fast moving, episodic film that features many memorable moments including the Duc’s discovery of a pentagram in Simon’s observatory, the black mass ceremony in the woods, and the climax in which the Satanists are destroyed by the Duc. However, the most suspenseful part of THE DEVIL RIDES OUT is the lengthy sequence in which the Duc, Rex, Simon, Marie, and her husband are trapped inside the protective pentagram. Mocata uses all his psychological tricks to lure them out of the circle where they will be susceptible to his evil control. He conjures illusions of giant spiders, puts Marie’s own child in danger, and performs other deceitful tricks.

- Aaron Miller