Uckfield Screening The Devils in 4K

Ken Russell's notorious masterpiece is coming to the Picture House in Uckfield, fully restored in 4K. The film's graphic content and themes have made it a landmark of controversy in cinema history.

Dir: Ken Russell

Cast: Vanessa Redgrave, Oliver Reed, Dudley Sutton, Max Adrian, Gemma Jones, Murray Melvin, Michael Gothard, Georgina Hale

112 mins · 1971 · United Kingdom · Cert 18 · English, Latin

IMDb 7.7/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 55% · Metacritic 52/100 · TMDB 7.5/10 · Trakt 74%

Awards: 4 wins total

The Devils in 4K

31 Oct 2026 – 5 Nov 2026

Picture House (Uckfield)

The Devils has garnered significant attention for its graphic content and themes, earning scores of 7.7/10 on IMDb, 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, 52/100 on Metacritic, 7.5/10 on TMDB, and 74% on Trakt. Directed by Ken Russell and starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, this 1971 historical psychological horror drama film is a dramatised account of the fall of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century Catholic priest accused of witchcraft.

The film's plot focuses on the accusations of witchcraft against Father Grandier by Sister Jeanne des Anges, a sexually repressed nun, and explores themes of religious persecution, hysteria, and institutional corruption. The Devils is based on the 1952 non-fiction book The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley and John Whiting's 1960 play of the same name.

The Picture House in Uckfield will screen The Devils in 4K on Friday, 30 October 2026. Tickets and details are available with the button beside this article. This screening is a rare opportunity to see the film as intended by the filmmaker, and it is strictly for over 18s only due to its graphic content.

Stills

What viewers say

moonkodi · 7/10

I first watched this in 1995 on the BBCs forbidden weekend. I was 14. And yes, television was way better. I never watched The Devils since. It left me with an intense feeling and imagery of sexual and scary things. I gave it another go now many years later, expecting no more than a revisit of a movie I'd now probably find laughable. No. It's still as brutal as I remember. Less so on the sexual aspects now I'm older but more on the actual story…

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mediumdave · 8/10

Man, I get it. Oliver Reed is fucking smoking in this, big studly stout manly man.

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siggi963 · 8/10

A weird and intriguing masterpiece in cinema history. Beware, this is not for the faint of heart or for people with strong catholic believes (though they could learn something if they would be able to open their minds to reality). It is though, to my mind, closer to the reality of what faith was (and is), namely a vehicle of power and perversion to control and abuse the simple minds. Very graphic, very direct and very strong in its message. Note…

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Redd Folger · 9/10

I thought this was a horror film and so I'm watching it as one of my Halloween season pictures. It's not that kind of horror though. I thought it actually had real possessions but tgis is really a historical psychological drama. As that it is an amazing film and one that I will be adding to my collection soon. The imagery is just phenomenal with amazing camera work for 1971 with extremely crisp shots and lighting. The plot delves into mass…

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kwontuum · 7/10

It’s a blessing not to have lived through the 17th century, which really wasn’t all that long ago in the grand scheme of history, and The Devils reminds you why. Writer-director Ken Russell doesn’t hold back in exposing the dark truths behind this historical tale set in France. He also incorporates the ethos of the 1960s, when the film was made and pushing the boundaries of violence, sexuality, and religion was increasingly fashionable, while…

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Tom_Frontman · 9/10

\[9-\] Perché non me lo hanno fatto vedere a catechismo?

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murarogool · 10/10

> The devil is a liar Absolute cinema and a blast being able to see it in theater 🍿

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FLY_

I can see why it was so scandalous at the time. It depicts a damning image of the Church. From Richelieu's political scheming, to the main protagonist being a priest but also impregnating young girls here and there. Then showing the travesty of exorcism, the use of torture to bring fake confessions, etc. However, the torture is not shown. There are orgy adjacent scenes but you actually just see some nuns t&a. There are not many graphic images.…

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