The Devils

Censored for more than half a century, Ken Russell’s visionary masterpiece returns to the big screen fully restored in 4K and cut to Russell’s direction — the first publicly released version of the film as intended by the filmmaker.

Unveiled at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, the definitive version arrives 55 years after the film’s original release. Starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, Ken Russell’s The Devils remains a landmark exploration of religious persecution, hysteria and institutional corruption.

Cardinal Richelieu and his power-hungry entourage seek to take control of 17th-century France, but need to destroy Father Grandier, the priest who runs the fortified town that prevents them from exerting total control. So they seek to destroy him by setting him up as a warlock in control of a devil-possessed nunnery, the Mother Superior of which is sexually obsessed with him. A mad witch-hunter is brought in to gather evidence against the priest, ready for the big trial.