The Devil Rides Out

Director - Terence Fisher (Horror of Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein)
Starring - Christopher Lee (The Wicker Man, Horror Express), Leon Greene (Flash Gordon, The Avengers), and Patrick Mower (Tales of the Unexpected, The Devil's Advocate)
Release Date - 1968
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "The beauty of woman - the demon of darkness - the unholy union of the Devil's bride"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     About 10 years ago or so I went through a seriously hardcore Hammer phase.  I was buying up any and every Hammer horror VHS and DVD I could find.  I didn't care what the movie was but if it was marked Hammer I had to have it.  It was around this time that I uncovered the 1968 Satanic cult film The Devil's Bride.  I found a copy of the film that was recorded from T.V. at a yard sale.  It was a blind buy with just Devil's Bride written on the side but for 25 cents I couldn't leave it behind.  I soon discovered that it was a Hammer film mostly known as The Devil Rides Out.  The movie is fucking fantastic and still one of my favorite Hammer releases to date.  Sometime back Scream Factory announced their release of the film on blu and I reached out for a review copy.  Scream Factory was kind enough to send one over.  Thanks guys!
     The film follows long time friends Rex (Greene) and Duc de Richleau (Lee) who meet up with the son of their friend that has passed away.  Simon (Mower) likes his seclusion in the English countryside and is reluctant to welcome Rex and Duc into his home while he is hosting an event.  Soon Duc discovers why Simon wants them gone.  He is now part of a Satanic coven and will soon have his Satanic baptism.  It's up to Rex and Duc to stop him before he forever loses his very soul.
     I remember watching this one may years ago and was floored by how awesome it was.  I'm almost certain that this is the film that started my fascination with horror and exploitation flicks centered around cults.  The movie is rather cheesy but I enjoy the atmosphere and the story regardless of how cheesy it is.  The acting in this one is great.  The entire cast work beautifully together and the characters are rather enjoyable.  Christopher Lee, as always, is the star of the show.  He steals the show and does an absolutely fantastic job in his role.  I also enjoyed the supporting roles from Leon Greene and Patrick Mower.  The characters are also very enjoyable and they did a great job at bringing their characters to life.  The story for this one works for what it is but it does come across as extra campy at times.  The Satanic cult angle it extremely fun but it doesn't feel as menacing as one would think.  The camp does bring the chilling story down somewhat but it still delivers.  Finally, those of you looking for blood and gore will surely be let down.  The film does lack conventional practical effects but we do get some classic camera magic here and there that reminds the viewer of the charm drive-in era horror movies had.  Overall, The Devil Ride's Out is a must for any Hammer horror fan or Scream Factory collectors.  The blu looks great and this is essential for fans of classic horror.  Check it out now on blu!