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Ken Russell's The Devils

Play trailer 1:25 Poster for Ken Russell's The Devils NC-17 Now Playing 1h 54m Horror Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 250+ Verified Ratings
An enduring, singular masterpiece of cinema starring Academy Award®-winner Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, KEN RUSSELL'S THE DEVILS is a prescient epic of obsession and corruption -- and a defining work of art from seminal filmmaker Ken Russell. Assembled from the original camera negative, this new 4K restoration presents Ken Russell's definitive vision of THE DEVILS by referencing the edit he privately constructed in 2004. KEN RUSSELL'S THE DEVILS is the uncut and unfiltered theatrical experience that Russell always envisioned -- and the first time the film will be presented restored and in 4K.
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Ken Russell's The Devils

Ken Russell's The Devils

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Critics Consensus

In its restored form, The Devils reveals the keen precision and focus beneath director Ken Russell's excesses, turning lurid religious hysteria and mob cruelty into a grotesque spectacle with profound moral force.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Kermode and Mayo's Take Podcast 3 hrs ago
I think it's absolutely Russell's best work. Go to Full Review
Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 1 day ago
3/5
It’s visually stunning, courtesy of Derek Jarman’s eye-gouging production design, and it’s certainly a must-see film. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian Oct 28, 2026
5/5
Reed is a revelation with his intelligent, focused, charismatic and dignified performance as the sensualist cleric who submits to injustice like a dissolute version of Thomas Becket. Go to Full Review
Armond White National Review 4 days ago
A startling, very necessary examination of decadent power. Go to Full Review
John Paul King Washington Blade 5 days ago
Full of superb performances and an immersive sense of period oppression. Go to Full Review
Mel Valentin That Shelf 6 days ago
By 1971, Russell had established a reputation as an iconoclast and provocateur. The Devils left no doubt that his reputation was more than well-deserved Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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David 7 hrs ago They dont make movies like this anymore. Sacrilegious, graphic, haunting, beautiful. Go see it you cowards! See more Kay G 10 hrs ago Reflects the myriad of things wrong with a healthy percentage of the human race. From misogyny, religious zealots, patriarchy, greed, sadism, insatiable thirst for power &/or possessions...the list goes on and ON! See more Mr Hollywood 2 days ago Entertaining but very disturbing. Even after all these decades it holds up. Crazy to say the least See more Austin 2 days ago For better and worse, I’ve never seen anything like this. I love movies so much, man. See more Justin G 2 days ago Not sure why this was rereleased around Halloween, as it’s not a scary movie, and I do not understand all of the great reviews, and it’s not like I don’t see a lot of movies because I do. I just don’t get how this would’ve ever been considered good, and the title showing 2026 made me think that it was a brand new movie, this is a movie from 1971 and the acting is I guess you could say OK for 1971, but for today’s standards it was terrible, way overly theatrical and I get that it’s based on a true story and these things probably happened, but my God, I don’t think anybody wants to see it, and if they do, they’re pretty sick. See more Roberto 3 days ago Ken Russell's The Devils treads a fine line between psychological horror and political drama that ultimately becomes an allegory for government inflicted indoctrination, political corruption and the ruthless alliance for power between church and state. As far as the psychological horror aspects of this film, rather than it relying on traditional scares, it examines how sexual repression, structural influence and collective hysteria warps the human mind and creates mass delirium. It intricately explores the weaponization of religion and paranoia by state authorities to dismantle any sort of resistance and setting off theatrical demonstrations of affirmations to create skepticism and panic. And it's the horrors of the aftermath of these unchecked operations and bureaucratic cruelties that ultimately leaves its scathing mark behind. The Devils is an unapologetic, relentless and unrestrained critique on power structures, the use violence for political spectacle, modern totalitarianism and institutional hypocrisy. This fully remastered and restored director's cut is truly a marvelous achievement and to be able to witness it in theaters is truly an unforgettable experience. 5/5. See more Read all reviews
Ken Russell's The Devils

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Ken Russell's The Devils

Ken Russell's The Devils: Exclusive Movie Clip - Purge Ken Russell's The Devils: Exclusive Movie Clip - Purge 0:48 Now Playing View more videos

Movie Info

Synopsis An enduring, singular masterpiece of cinema starring Academy Award®-winner Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, KEN RUSSELL'S THE DEVILS is a prescient epic of obsession and corruption -- and a defining work of art from seminal filmmaker Ken Russell. Assembled from the original camera negative, this new 4K restoration presents Ken Russell's definitive vision of THE DEVILS by referencing the edit he privately constructed in 2004. KEN RUSSELL'S THE DEVILS is the uncut and unfiltered theatrical experience that Russell always envisioned -- and the first time the film will be presented restored and in 4K.
Director
Ken Russell
Producer
Ken Russell, Robert H. Solo
Screenwriter
Ken Russell
Distributor
Warner Bros. Clockwork
Production Co
Russo Productions
Rating
NC-17
Genre
Horror, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 54m
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