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Horror in Black and White: ‘Eye of the Devil’ (1966)
Eye of the Devil, written by Robin Estridge and Dennis Murphy and directed by J. Lee Thompson (Cape FearĀ [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.
Eyes of the DevilĀ 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 directĀ 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.
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.Ā
The Wicker Man, which was released almost seven years afterĀ Eye of the DevilĀ was completed, immediately springs to mind after one particular scene involving a strange parade through Bellenac with dancers and oddly costumed citizens.Ā
Eye of the DevilĀ 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 theĀ 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 DevilĀ 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 ofĀ The Old Dark House, click here to check it out!
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Movies
Part Concert, Part Horror Movie M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Trap’ Trailer Released
In true Shyamalan form, he sets his film Trap inside a social situation where we aren’t sure what is going on. Hopefully, there is a twist at the end. Furthermore, we hope it’s better than the one in his divisive 2021 movie Old.
The trailer seemingly gives away a lot, but, as in the past, you can’t rely on his trailers because they are often red herrings and you are being gaslit to think a certain way. For instance, his movie Knock at the Cabin was completely different than what the trailer implied and if you hadn’t read the book on which the film is based it was still like going in blind.
The plot for Trap is being dubbed an “experience” and we aren’t quite sure what that means. If we were to guess based on the trailer, it’s a concert movie wrapped around a horror mystery. There are original songs performed by Saleka, who plays Lady Raven, a kind of Taylor Swift/Lady Gaga hybrid. They have even set up a Lady Raven website to further the illusion.
Here is the fresh trailer:
According to the synopsis, a father takes his daughter to one of Lady Raven’s jam-packed concerts, “where they realize theyāre at the center of a dark and sinister event.”
Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Trap stars Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills and Allison Pill. The film is produced by Ashwin Rajan, Marc Bienstock and M. Night Shyamalan. The executive producer is Steven Schneider.
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News
Woman Brings Corpse Into Bank To Sign Loan Papers
Warning: This is a disturbing story.
You have to be pretty desperate for money to do what this Brazilian woman did at the bank to get a loan. She wheeled in a fresh corpse to endorse the contract and she seemingly thought the bank employees wouldnāt notice.Ā They did.
This weird and disturbing story comes via ScreenGeek an entertainment digital publication. They write that a woman identified as Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes pushed a man she identified as her uncle into the bank pleading with him to sign loan papers for $3,400.Ā
If youāre squeamish or easily triggered, be aware that the video captured of the situation is disturbing.Ā
Latin America’s largest commercial network, TV Globo, reported on the crime, and according to ScreenGeek this is what Nunes says in Portuguese during the attempted transaction.Ā
āUncle, are you paying attention? You must sign [the loan contract]. If you donāt sign, thereās no way, as I cannot sign on your behalf!ā
She then adds: “Sign so you can spare me further headaches; I canāt bear it any longer.āĀ
At first we thought this might be a hoax, but according to Brazilian police, the uncle, 68-year-old Paulo Roberto Braga had passed away earlier that day.
Ā āShe attempted to feign his signature for the loan. He entered the bank already deceased,āĀ Police Chief FĆ”bio Luiz said in an interview withĀ TV Globo. āOur priority is to continue investigating to identify other family members and gather more information regarding this loan.ā
If convicted Nunes could be facing jail time on charges of fraud, embezzlement, and desecration of a corpse.
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News
Spirit Halloween Unleashes Life-Size ‘Ghostbusters’ Terror Dog
Halfway to Halloween and the licensed merch is already being released for the holiday. For instance, the seasonal retailer giant Spirit Halloween unveiled their giant Ghostbusters Terror Dog for the first time this year.
The one-of-a-kind demonic dog has eyes that light up in a glowing, terrifying red. It’s going to set you back a whopping $599.99.
Since this year we saw the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, it’s probably going to be a popular theme come October. Spirit Halloween is embracing their inner Venkman with other releases tied to the franchise such as theĀ LED Ghostbuster Ghost Trap,Ā Ghostbusters Walkie Talkie,Ā Life-Size Replica Proton Pack.
We saw the release of other horror props today. Home Depot unveiled a few pieces from their line which includes the signature giant skeleton and separate dog companion.
For the latest Halloween merch and updates get on over to Spirit Halloween and see what else they have to offer to make your neighbors jealous this season. But for now, enjoy a small video that features scenes from this classic cinematic canine.
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