News

Horror in Black and White: ‘Eye of the Devil’ (1966)

Published

5 years ago

December 20, 2018

Eye of the Devil, written by Robin Estridge and Dennis Murphy and directed by J. Lee Thompson (Cape Fear [1962]), was one of those films that seemed troubled from the start.

Based on a novel written by Estridge under the pen name “Philip Loraine”, the film tells the story of Phillipe de Montfaucon (David Niven), a marquis and vintner, who must return to his family’s estates in Bellenac when their vineyards have failed for the third year in a row.

He leaves his wife Catherine (Deborah Kerr) in Paris with their children, Jacques and Antoinette, with instructions that they are not to come to Bellenac for any reason. However, after he has been gone for a few days, young Jacques begins to exhibit strange behavior and Catherine decides they must be with Phillipe.

Little does she know that the denizens of Bellenac follow very old traditions, and that one of those beliefs entails the willing sacrifice of the Marquis in order to save the dying fields.

The film had an amazing cast alongside Kerr and Niven.

Donald Pleasance (Halloween) appears as Pere Dominic the local priest who may or may not be involved in the pagan rituals. Pleasance is at his subtle and most understated best in the role, and his performance is more than worth the price of admission!

The oh-so-handsome David Hemmings (Deep Red) and the bewitching Sharon Tate (The Fearless Vampire Killers) draw focus in almost every scene they appear in as siblings Christian and Odile de Caray.

It was Tate’s feature film debut. Sadly, she would be brutally murdered only three years later at the age of 26 by members of Charles Manson’s cult.

David Hemmings and Sharon Tate as Christian and Odile de Caray in Eye of the Devil

Eyes of the Devil is genuinely spooky with an excellent score by Gary McFarland and it makes beautiful use of black and white photography at a time when monochromatic films were beginning to be the exception rather than the norm.

There is a particularly beautiful scene where Kerr finds herself in the forest near an old family mausoleum. As she decides to go back home a hooded figure in dark robes steps from the shadows of a tree. That figure is joined by another and another and another, the dark black of the robes standing out against the grays around them as they circle her and begin to close in.

The scene was terrifying and all the more so because of those gray and black contrasts.

As I mentioned earlier, however, the film seemed plagued by issues from the very beginning.

Michael Anderson, who would later direct Logan’s Run, was originally tapped to direct the film but due to scheduling constraints and rumored disagreements with the studio, he was replaced with Thompson. Thompson completed the film, but Sidney J. Furie and Arthur Hiller were both brought on to film additional scenes for the final production.

Kim Novak (Bell, Book, and Candle) who was originally cast in the role of Catherine had to leave the production after a few weeks of shooting supposedly because of an injury she sustained when she fell from a horse.

Hemmings would later write in his autobiography, however, that she was fired from the production after she argued with one of the producers when he discovered that she and the younger actor were having an affair.

Deborah Kerr took over the role of Catherine de Montfaucon after Kim Novak had to leave the production.

Whatever the reason, Novak was gone, and while Kerr was brought on quickly to take over the role, all of the previously filmed scenes with Novak had to be thrown out and re-shot.

After its completion, it seemed that MGM was uncertain how to market it, or perhaps they were afraid of how audiences might react to the film’s themes of witchcraft, human sacrifice, and pagan rituals.

The film was completed in early 1966, but it was late 1967 before it saw a release in the U.S. and it was not until the spring of 1968 that it finally made its way onto screens in the UK.

Unfortunately for the studios, the film’s initial release was not a great success, though it did enjoy more popularity in Europe. However, after Tate’s death, demand to see the film grew and it soon found its fan base in the States, as well.

Interestingly enough, after viewing, you can see the film’s influence on other films that followed it.

The Wicker Man, which was released almost seven years after Eye of the Devil was completed, immediately springs to mind after one particular scene involving a strange parade through Bellenac with dancers and oddly costumed citizens.

Eye of the Devil still holds up as a classic chiller with only one really problematic scene by contemporary standards. When it is discovered that Odile has tried to murder Catherine, Phillipe whips her with a horsewhip and she writhes with seemingly simultaneous pain and pleasure at her punishment.

While it is very effective, modern audiences, outside of the 50 Shades community, may find the scene difficult to watch.

Still, overall, this is a film that bears watching. Its rich landscapes, shot on location in France, along with phenomenal performances by its leading and supporting cast make it a film you won’t soon forget.

Eye of the Devil is available for rent on both Amazon and Vudu for only $2.99.

Join us next week for another installment of Horror in Black and White. If you missed last week’s coverage of The Old Dark House, click here to check it out!

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Movies

Mike Flanagan Comes Aboard To Assist in Completion of ‘Shelby Oaks’

Published

24 mins ago

May 1, 2024

Timothy Rawles

If you have been following Chris Stuckmann on YouTube you are aware of the struggles he has had getting his horror movie Shelby Oaks finished. But there’s good news about the project today. Director Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor Sleep and The Haunting) is backing the film as a co-executive producer which might bring it much closer to being released. Flanagan is a part of the collective Intrepid Pictures which also includes Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka.

Stuckmann is a YouTube movie critic who’s been on the platform for over a decade. He came under some scrutiny for announcing on his channel two years ago that he would no longer be reviewing films negatively. However contrary to that statement, he did a non-review essay of the panned Madame Web recently saying, that studios strong-arm directors to make films just for the sake of keeping failing franchises alive. It seemed like a critique disguised as a discussion video.

But Stuckmann has his own movie to worry about. In one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns, he managed to raise over $1 million for his debut feature film Shelby Oaks which now sits in post-production.

Hopefully, with Flanagan and Intrepid’s help, the road to Shelby Oak’s completion is reaching its end.

“It’s been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago,” Flanagan told Deadline. “It’s been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path, and to offer support for Chris’ vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”

Stuckmann says Intrepid Pictures has inspired him for years and, “it’s a dream come true to work with Mike and Trevor on my first feature.”

Producer Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures has been working with Stuckmann since the beginning is also excited about the collaboration.

“For a film that had such a hard time getting going, it’s remarkable the doors that then opened to us,” said Koontz. “The success of our Kickstarter followed by the on-going leadership and guidance from Mike, Trevor, and Melinda is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

Deadline describes the plot of Shelby Oaks as follows:

“A combination of documentary, found footage, and traditional film footage styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Mia’s (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley, (Sarah Durn) who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her “Paranormal Paranoids” investigative series. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood may have been real.”

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Movies

New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core

Published

5 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Timothy Rawles

A24 has unveiled a captivating new image of Mia Goth in her role as the titular character in “MaXXXine”. This release comes approximately a year and a half after the previous installment in Ti West’s expansive horror saga, which covers more than seven decades.

MaXXXine Official Trailer

His latest continues the story arc of freckle-faced aspiring starlet Maxine Minx from the first film X which took place in Texas in 1979. With stars in her eyes and blood on her hands, Maxine moves into a new decade and a new city, Hollywood, in pursuit of an acting career, “But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”

The photo below is the latest snapshot released from the film and shows Maxine in full Thunderdome drag amid a crowd of teased hair and rebellious 80s fashion.

MaXXXine is set to open in theaters on July 5.

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News

Netflix Releases First BTS ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ Footage

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

It’s been three long years since Netflix unleashed the bloody, but enjoyable Fear Street on its platform. Released in a tryptic fashion, the streamer broke up the story into three episodes, each taking place in a different decade which by the finale were all tied together.

Now, the streamer is in production for its sequel Fear Street: Prom Queen which brings the story into the 80s. Netflix gives a synopsis of what to expect from Prom Queen on their blog site Tudum:

“Welcome back to Shadyside. In this next installment of the blood-soaked Fear Street franchise, prom season at Shadyside High is underway and the school’s wolfpack of It Girls is busy with its usual sweet and vicious campaigns for the crown. But when a gutsy outsider is unexpectedly nominated to the court, and the other girls start mysteriously disappearing, the class of ’88 is suddenly in for one hell of a prom night.”

Based on R.L. Stine’s massive series of Fear Street novels and spin-offs, this chapter is number 15 in the series and was published in 1992.

FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN IS NOW IN PRODUCTION 🩸 Welcome to Shadyside High. We're gonna have a killer time. pic.twitter.com/jDl0zRa2CH
— Netflix (@netflix) April 30, 2024

Fear Street: Prom Queen features a killer ensemble cast, including India Fowler (The Nevers, Insomnia), Suzanna Son (Red Rocket, The Idol), Fina Strazza (Paper Girls, Above the Shadows), David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty, Cinnamon), Ella Rubin (The Idea of You), Chris Klein (Sweet Magnolias, American Pie), Lili Taylor (Outer Range, Manhunt) and Katherine Waterston (The End We Start From, Perry Mason).