7. Don't Deliver Us From Evil (1971)
Don't Deliver Us From Evil languished in relative obscurity for decades. Several years ago, I saw the poster for the film and immediately wanted to see it. I had something like a 15 year wait until a film company released it on Region 1 DVD. Tantalisingly advertised as "The French film banned in France!", Don't Deliver Us From Evil is one of the most transgressive films you will ever see. It concerns the lives of two young convent school girls who are dedicated Satanists. They break up for the holidays and decide to spend the summer together. Their behaviour soon escalates out of control. They commit arson, tease a mentally challenged man, kill pet birds and hold a Black Mass. When they get back to the convent, they immolate themselves on stage during a school performance. A film that deserves better recognition and more praise than it currently has, Joel Seria's transgressive masterpiece is an absorbing piece of cinema which will shock and appal you as the girls' evil ways get out of hand. I can see how it ran into trouble with the censors. There are several scenes of outright blasphemy and the idea that two school girls could be so wicked to both people and animals, is hard to stomach. I think the problem people have had accepting this film is that two young girls are Satanists and they act of their own accord, without any outside influence. They determine their own devilish deeds. Very transgressive deeds that are well worth your time and money.