The Devil Rides Out (1968)
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Satan. Lucifer. The Morning Star. Beelzebub. The Beast. The Devil. The names differ, and although they can all mean different things depending on who you ask, it’s usually pretty obvious what the reference is when the topic of Satan comes up. As a figure so indelibly linked with subject matter that has traditionally been portrayed as “evil”, it’s no surprise that The Devil has long been an attention-grabbing tool used for plenty of films, books, artworks and music over time. Hollywood classics like The Exorcist and The Omen still retain their potency in the present day, and the libraries of cvlt films pertaining to “The Devil” are almost as vast as the mysteries surrounding the figure of Satan.

For the purposes of this piece, it’s the “classic” stereotype of The Devil we’ll be focusing on. The one that is used for representing evil and wicked deeds. The one with the cloven hooves. The one who appears as a hybrid man/goat. A more gimmicky version if you will. The Devil from the movies. And so, The Devil Rides Out is our focus here.

Adapted from a Dennis Wheatley novel of the same name and released in 1968, The Devil Rides Out is one of the best known cvlt films associated with Britain’s famous Hammer Films horror studios. Starring Christopher Lee and Charles Gray, the film is a fairly straightforward and conventional scare flick about a Devil worshipping cult who have “brainwashed” a friend of Lee’s Duc de Richleau character. Lee and his companions attempt to free him.

Η Ερωμένη του Διαβόλου (The Devil Rides Out… by myfilm-gr

While this film isn’t really scary by today’s standards, it’s a quirky take on the late 19^th century/early 20^th century British resurgent interest in the occult and what is referred to as “black magic.” Set in the late 1920’s, the film maintains a uniquely British theme throughout. Everyone is incredibly polite, almost to the point of hilarity. The scenes involving group worship are co-ordinated to precise details and we wouldn’t be surprised if Devonshire tea was served after the invocation of The Beast.

It’s a movie that has cvlt written all over it. We see scenes of theatrical Devil worship, psychic attacks by sinister occult practitioners and strange ritualistic ceremonies. The soundtrack is excellent, providing ominous orchestration for the spooky events on screen. Lee plays his role dead seriously and as always, delivers an incredibly strong performance in a leading role. Saddle up!