8. The Devils (1971) The Devils is a tale of a Bunny Boiler, hunch backed nun called Sister Jeanne who is madly infatuated with a handsome, charismatic priest called Father Grandier. Unfortunately this libertine man of the cloth only has eyes for other women - one of whom he marries in a mock wedding ceremony. This sends Sister Jeanne over the edge and she makes allegations of Grandier being involved in witchcraft and seducing her. Witch hunting priests come to Loudon and a grim farrago of exorcism begins which drives Sister Jeanne and her nuns half crazy. The authorities are made to look really stupid in front of not just the people of Loudon but also the King. Killing Grandier is the only way they will look effective and so Grandier is tortured and burnt at the stake. Sister Jeanne is given one of his charred bones to masturbate with. Vanessa Redgrave is fantastic as the Bunny Boiler nun - she isn't really what you would call a villain, just a very disturbed woman who gets into a situation that spirals out of control. Her adoration of Father Grandier (Oliver Reed in a stand out role) is another case on this list of erotomania - an all consuming passionate love that sends reason out of the window. Sister Jeanne could have saved Grandier's life, but she gets wrapped up in all of the madness around her and this leads to Grandier's death. She would rather have him dead and with no one rather than alive and with another woman. Father Grandier, when he is arrested, shows no ill will to Sister Jeanne - he knows she is merely a woman in the grip of obsession and he feels compassion for her. Oliver Reed is so good in his role as Grandier, it is easy to imagine women falling at his feet. Before being a priest, he is a man, very good looking and with considerable charm. Throughout the film, his is the voice of reason in all matters pertaining to the town of Loudon. It is easy to see why a nun like Sister Jeanne would fall for a priest with so much going for himself. Oddly enough, although she is a Bunny Boiler, we do not feel contempt towards Sister Jeanne, we can gauge that the extent of her feelings towards Grandier have wiped all reason from her mind.
My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!
