Ken Russell's The Devils Screening
A 1971 historical psychological horror drama film is coming to Brighton. The Devils, directed by Ken Russell, tells the story of a 17th-century Catholic priest accused of witchcraft.
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
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Ken Russell's The Devils took place 30 Oct 2026 – 31 Oct 2026 at Duke of York's Picturehouse (Brighton).
Ken Russell, known for his bold and provocative filmmaking style, directed The Devils, a film that has been cited as one of the most controversial of all time.
What is the film about? The Devils is set in 1634 France and follows the story of Father Urbain Grandier, a charismatic priest who becomes the target of accusations of witchcraft by Sister Jeanne, a sexually repressed nun. The film explores the corrupt officials of church and state who exploit these accusations, leading to a dramatic and intense confrontation.
Who made it and who's in it? The film was written, produced, and directed by Ken Russell, and stars Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, alongside a cast including Dudley Sutton, Max Adrian, and Gemma Jones.
What kind of film is it and how was it received? The Devils is a 112-minute drama, history, and horror film, rated 18, and has received significant attention for its graphic content and religious themes. It has scores of 7.7/10 on IMDb, 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, 52/100 on Metacritic, 7.5/10 on TMDB, and 74% on Trakt, and has won several awards, including Best Director at the 33rd Venice International Film Festival. The film will be screened at the Duke of York's Picturehouse in Brighton on Friday, 30 October 2026, and tickets or details are available with the button beside this article.
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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