Starring Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Nike Arrighi, Leon Greene, Patrick Mower, Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, Sarah Lawson and Paul Eddington
Written by Richard Matheson, based on the book by Dennis Wheatley
Directed by Terence Fisher
A Satanic cult attempts to induct two new members as their friends attempt to save them. Initially successful, this only brings on the wrath of Satan himself.
Here's a twist: Christopher Lee's in this movie but he's not the bad guy! He's the hero. Many things make this movie great, but this might be the one single thing that makes it the greatest.
The bad guy's pretty good too: it's Charles Gray, who you may recognize as the criminologist from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. He's very convincing as a charismatic cult leader who can get you to do his bidding just by looking at you a certain way.
But back to Christopher Lee -- he's so great as a character who has a no-nonsense approach to things. Upon visiting his friend, who is secretly being lured in by the cult, Lee almost instantly figures out what's going on and takes quick, decisive action to stop it.
The movie is similarly quick and decisive -- it never slows down and has as many action scenes as it has horror scenes, including a Satanic ritual that would be the climax of any other movie, but oh no, this one's just beginning!
If I had to make a top ten or maybe even top five list of Hammer horror films, this would be on it. So if you dabble in Hammer, make sure to check out THE DEVIL RIDES OUT.
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